James Bradley, the son of a World War II navy veteran, said, “Today the word ‘hero’ has been diminished, confused with ‘celebrity.’ But in my father's generation the word meant something. Celebrities seek fame. They take actions to get attention. Most often, the actions they take have no particular moral content. Heroes are heroes because they have risked something to help others. Their actions involve courage” (Flags of our Fathers). Celebrities don’t do things for others, just for themselves. Heroes aren’t like that. Heroes exist for the people, not for their own gain. Because heroes never let go of hope, inspire others, and can put their lives on the line for others, they earn their title of hero. A true hero inspires others, even in their …show more content…
One such example is the firemen who ran into the radiation and fires of Chernobyl, in a desperate effort to put out the fires and stop the radiation. Though it was against regulation, they ran to serve. As fireman Anatoli Zakharov said in 2008, “Of course we knew! If we'd followed regulations, we would never have gone near the reactor. But it was a moral obligation – our duty.” All the firemen who put out the fury of Chernobyl are true heroes because of their unceasing courage, unyielding determination, and selfless attitude. They didn’t care for themselves, but for others. That is true heroism. Years before the Chernobyl disaster, in 1965, war in Vietnam raged. Down on a small, winding, jungle trail, a 5 man patrol crept forward. When a hand grenade was thrown into their midst, they all dove to the ground. Except one. 17 year old Milton Olive III dove onto the grenade, absorbing the blast, to save 4 other soldiers he barely knew. For this final action in life, he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, America’s highest honor. He was the first African American in the Vietnam War to be awarded this honor. At Milton Olive’s Medal ceremony, President Lyndon B. Johnson said, “He was compelled, instead, by an instinct of loyalty which the brave always carry into conflict.” President Johnson didn’t just mean war. He meant any situation where the needs of others override your own needs. Olive is a true hero because he, as Abraham Lincoln would say, “gave the ultimate sacrifice” to save his patrol. Their lives were truly changed by the small kid from Chicago’s South Side. Because of Olive, generations of Americans can live in freedom. Heroes, with only one life, can save the lives of
Heroes willfully put their own life in the place of someone else’s. In other words, a hero risks their life for another person because they wish to benefit the society they live in. This creates a more superior society for the
What are Heroes “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” Joseph Campbell.
There are many different ideas of what a hero is and it has varied throughout history. Today a hero is someone who stands up to the popular power or gives service to helpless people. A hero is simply someone who works at being the best they can as well. In modern day society, some look to Kim Kardashian to be a role model or Bruce Jenner as a symbol of bravery, but the real heroes in modern day society are the servicemen who all the sudden get attention for doing their job in a crisis. People like the New York Fire Department are heroes because of 9/11. The servicemen are a closer match to what heroes looked like through history, but the Kim Kardashian heroes of today present a completely different picture of a hero than history had suggested.
Arthur Ashe once said, “True heroism is not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Someone who stays strong in their heart and shows selflessness towards others even though he or she could be in the risk of personal risk and danger is what makes a true hero. Anyone could be recognized and admired as a hero if they could, but there's a big gap in front of that because it adds on with the hero showing compassion in spite of the obstacles that they are faced with. It could make someone more heroic than he or she ever was by just showing selflessness to others. Clara Barton put herself in danger to treat the wounded during the Civil War and not only that, but she founded what is known today the American Red Cross (History.com). Harriet Tubman helped many slaves to freedom in the north, also placing herself in peril. (History.com). Florence Nightingale, who was a nursing innovator did the similar as Clara Barton, but during the Crimean War (History.com & Biography.com). All of these women stressed the idea of helping others before they did so for themselves, but that took bravery to do so. Whether the challenges that a hero has to endure, a true hero puts others before themselves no matter what the position he or she is set in.
Often the media portrays athletes or politicians as heroes but without certain traits they mock all that true heroes stand for. What makes someone a true hero, is their willingness to selflessly sacrifice for the good of others. They find the courage to face the most difficult and dangerous the world decides to throw at them. They truly care because their heart is full kindness and love for their fellow man. In the end these heroes are humble, accepting only the personal satisfaction that comes from doing something great.
An example is this outstanding man, Welles Crowther. This 24 year old man was a true hero on that terrible day of 9/11. He was in his deck in the South Tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit. At 9:02 the second plane hit the second tower, making a diagonal path with it swings between the the 78 and 84th floors. He then began to lead people to stairway A, and down to the 61st floor where firefighters were waiting. Instead of going back down with the rest of the group, he then went back again to help more people. After leading some more people back down the stairwell, Welles went back up a third time to help even more people. At 9:59 am, Welles third trip back up, the South Tower collapsed. In the video “Man in the Red Bandana on ESPN, Ling Young, a woman that Welles saved, talks about Welles’ decision. “I mean he could have continued going down with us, but he didn't. He decided to go back up.” Welles never thought about his safety, or getting back home with the others. He just went back up that building as many times as he could to save as many people as he could have. Welles is remembered as a hero by everyone he saved and anyone who heard of his heroic and brave story. Another example is about 5 men, Christopher Norman, Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Mark Moogalian, who helped stop a possible terrorist on a train in France. When Sadler
Bob Riley is an American author who once said , “Hard times don’t create heroes it’s during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed.” Heroes don’t have to be people that went through a difficult challenge and has a struggle in life , heroism is the people that aren’t giving up and persevere and strive to overcome things and go through the struggle and challenges that come toward them during the hard times. Hero’s are people that are willing to put others first , for example a hero is someone who helps other people and thinks of others and not just himself .and hero’s can be anyone not just soldiers or characters you see on tv, Heroism involves a person that understands the situation others are in.
In the end, looking back at people we consider to be 'heroes' in our world, we understand they cannot live up to impossible standards of perfection and satisfy everyone. But it is their true compassion for others at heart, and their positive influence in the world, despite the challenges facing them that makes one heroic.
Imagine waking up one day to find that the civil rights that you had possessed the day before were deprived. Would you be the one to initiate a civil rights movement to regain it? Rarely are there cases of a true hero that’s willing to fight for, not just their rights, but others in their group. Even if they didn’t intend to gain recognition for doing it, many are written down in history as a major influence in society. These heroes could look like the average citizen, however, when circumstances call for it, they’ll step up and be a hero with a courageous mentality. They display characteristics that society values in a hero, such as determination, courage, and altruism.
A perfect example that would correlate directly with this notion of heroicness would be Phillip Bullard, a 13-year-old boy, living in the town of Biloxi. Bullard, was much younger then Zeitoun, but possessed the same courageousness and caring as him, when acting at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Now, just like Zeitoun's circumstances, Bullard also had certain obstacles to make matters even tougher for him. First off, his mother, grandmother, and his brother couldn't swim, so naturally Bullard knew that he needed to take quick action in order to help save them. On top of that, the last of his family members were a young infant, who would surely not be able to be directed to safety on its own. Now, after taking a quick moment to scout out the seemingly impossible odds of this situation, Bullard instilled sheer confidence that was unlike anything he'd even imagined he had the potential to unleash, and that was "pure heroism unlike anything you'd see in a 13 year old boy his age"(Carnes 74). This confidence that Bullard had instilled in him, was of the same heroicness and resilience that Zeitoun had shown when he was trying that save the old woman from drowning. Bullard didn’t show any sign of giving up, regardless of how the odds were stacked against him. Instead, he rose up to the challenge, and used his intelligence in order to figure out the
One way a hero can be considered a hero is to save someone's life. One example of this is United States Army soldiers that are fighting a war in iraq for our country and they protect the citizens there but they don't have to they can let them die. The Reason is their not fighting for them their fight for the United States of America and the people in
Heroes are not always people who lead marches or do things for their country. For example policemen, firefighters, nurses, lifeguards etc. are heroes everyday because they take the time to save lives. When they’re going through a challenge or trying to overcome a conflict they always have courage. These people risk their own life to save someone else’s. To be more specific Dr. Ginger Holt from Dallas had saved a little boy’s leg. She was confident and determined to finding out what went wrong in the boy’s leg and went through many procedures looking at the tests.
“I hope I see the world as you did cause I know / A life with love is a life that’s been lived” (Ed Sheeran). Ed Sheeran wrote Supermarket Flowers when his grandmother died, and he wrote it from the perspective of his own mother. This just goes to show, a hero does not have to be famous, they can be someone as simple as a mother. The thing that makes a person a hero is the decision to do what is right. Another important part of heroism has to do with doing something good and not looking for anything in return. Someone can be an inspiration and still only be known to a small community. Although heroes never look for a reward, they still persevere and use their strength for the greater good.
Heroism doesn’t include fame, it includes selflessness. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr. People don’t have anything to gain from being a hero from others, that's what being a hero is, stepping up and giving others help with nothing to gain. An act of selflessness. Heroism is a big part of America, it’s the most famous thing that America is about, freedom, and selflessness. People fighting for what they believe is right, even if others don’t believe it’s right. Martin Luther King Jr. had fought for what he believed was right, not just for him, but for others as well, even if it meant putting his life on the line. Heroism can’t be
Today in the modern era, people think that others have to be famous or rich to be considered a hero, but this statement is false. Many people including myself, look up to others that are well known or have riches, when in reality the real heroes are the people that are non-famous and own less. To be a hero in the 20th century, people need to be confident in their decisions, and a good role model to kids around the world. America needs to open their eyes and see that real heroes are all around, but to find them, others need to look in the right places.