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
A hero is defined as someone who in the face of danger steps up and puts others needs before theirs, expecting no reward in return. In the article “What Makes a Hero?” by Phillip Zimbardo, the author expresses that everyone has the ability to help others, whether it is a small deed like leading a guiding hand to someone who needs it, or it can be as intense as pulling someone out of a burning car. The writer attempts to emphasize the importance of doing the right thing by stating, “Few people do evil and fewer act heroically.” (Zimbardo). In addition, heroes act not for the fame or the money, but for their own satisfaction. Knowing they helped save a life is all the reward they could ever want. “The key to heroism is a concern for other people
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
“It’s not easy to be a hero. You do it because of what you believe, not because of what other people deserve.” Anyone can face a challenge or a hardship. But what makes a true hero is how the person takes on the challenge. Often, heroes show feats of ingenuity and acts of bravery. Two heroes that acted during the American Civil Rights Movement, were Martin Luther King Jr, and Rosa Parks. A hero is a person who has demonstrated behaviors to ethically receive our appreciation and respect. A hero is an ordinary person who finds the strength within themselves to persevere and undergo hardships and calamity.
Could a fugitive and drugged girl be consider a hero? Hero is a person who stand by the others, is brave, and risk her/himself on a journey to achieve justice. Sarah Manning from the TV show Orphan Black used to use drugs, and she stole money from a drug dealer to give a better life to her daughter. After she takes her child back, she finds out that she has ten more sisters, or clones. Therefore, Sarah is a hero because of her journey and her personality.
What are Heroes “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” Joseph Campbell.
Heroes care not only for themselves, but for others. In the White House Funeral Sermon for Abraham Lincoln, “...not for himself only, not for us only, but for all people in all their coming generations till time shall be no more…” This means that President Lincoln took risks not to ensure his safety but to make sure that he would be known as a doer. Lincoln knew that what he was doing would revolutionize the way not only the way his generation would live but all future ones. This showed that he cared not only for himself but for people he would never get the pleasure of meeting. Back in World War II a true hero was born. One of the bloodiest battles of WWII, Hacksaw Ridge, was lucky to have Desmond Doss as a part of their medical team. He saved 75 people. Most in which others had left behind, for they thought that they weren’t saving. He cared about every single one making it back to base to be helped despite who was after him. Or even in the 9/11 boatlift many heroes stepped up to the plate. Vincent Ardolino, Captain of the Amberjack V,
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
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
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.
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.
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
Heroes have many goals and many challenges, but whether they are successful or not is a whole different story. Always trying their best to achieve their certain goal and risking to help others is what heroes live for. For example, during the attacks of 9/11, boat drivers such as were rescuing people from the island of Manhattan in New York. There were thousands upon thousands of people, but with enough support, the boat drivers were able to rescue everybody. Vincent Ardolino, one of the boat drivers during the 9/11 boatlift, said in the documentary “Boatlift” that he tells his children to “never go through life saying you should have. If you want to do something, do it.” This mindset is what all heroes should adopt for the future. These people may not have the most difficult job in the world, but they carry out small challenges with a lot of passion. Likewise, were the heroes during Hurricane Harvey and Irma, two very devastating Hurricanes that have costed the USA many lives. Many people from outside of the area have done countless things to help like rescue people with their boats, donate money, and help rebuild. Many of these heroes have risked their lives and struggled on for the greater good.
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.
“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.