What is a hero? Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” That is just a dictionary definition and it can be different for every person. What is a hero to a police officer, a firefighter, a student, a solider? What does it take to be a hero? What kind of acts makes someone a hero? What some people see as a hero to themselves others see as a villain. A hero can be anyone; everyone in this world is a hero to somebody.
People argue that not everyone has the same drive and determination that others do and not everyone is willing to go the extra mile therefore not everyone can be a hero. They are afraid to step out of their comfort zone or do anything that takes risks. People that hurt or kill for no reason also cannot be heroes. Those people would claim that the men and women of the armed forces are over there to kill people and are not accomplishing anything. They argue that war has no reason and only creates economic strain. People that seem to not have the ability to be a hero have it in them and may just need a push. The armed forces are overseas fighting for our country to protect and allow us to do what we do every day. They are not just there for nothing, the men and women have a reason why they are there.
In the book Even Eagles Need a Push; David McNally wrote “The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. She could feel her offspring’s resistance to her nudging. “Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?’ she thought. An eagle’s nest is high on the shelf of a sheer rock face. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. There was one final task—the push. The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom...
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...an inmate, and a green beret are all heroes to someone. When needed, a hero will spread his wings and take action no matter the situation.
Works Cited
Dozier, Rodney. "What's Your Definition of a Hero?" Personal interview. 26 Mar. 2014.
Fritz, Floyd. "What's Your Definition of a Hero?" Telephone interview. 27 Mar. 2014.
Goede, Ryan. "Hero Definition/Why Did You Join the Army?" Telephone interview. 8 Apr. 2014.
"Hero." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
Johnson, Comfort. "What's Your Definition of a Hero?" Personal interview. 26 Mar. 2014.
Kinght, Etheridge. "Hard Rock Returns to Prison." Reading Literature and Writing Argument. By Missy James and Alan Merickel. Boston: Pearson, 2013. 194-95. Print.
McNally, David. Preface. Even Eagles Need a Push: Learning to Soar in a Changing World. New York, NY: Delacorte, 1991. Xiv-Xv. Print.
The word "hero" is so often used to describe people who overcome great difficulties and rise to the challenge that is set before them without even considering the overwhelming odds they are up against. In our culture, heroes are glorified in literature and in the media in various shapes and forms. However, I believe that many of the greatest heroes in our society never receive the credit that they deserve, much less fame or publicity. I believe that a hero is simply someone who stands up for what he/she believes in. A person does not have to rush into a burning building and save someone's life to be a hero. Someone who is a true friend can be a hero. A hero is someone who makes a difference in the lives of others simply by his/her presence. In Tim O'Brien's novel, The Things They Carried, the true heroes stand out in my mind as those who were true friends and fought for what they believed in. These men and women faced the atrocities of war on a daily basis, as explained by critic David R. Jarraway's essay, "'Excremental Assault' in Tim O'Brien: Trauma and Recovery in Vietnam War Literature" and by Vietnam Veteran Jim Carter. Yet these characters became heroes not by going to drastic measures to do something that would draw attention to themselves, but by being true to their own beliefs and by making a difference to the people around them.
Being a hero means to be willing to risk your life for others. Such as, Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman was a fantastic football player and he loved playing it too. Despite that, Pat Tillman turned down a 3.6million dollar contract to the Arizona Cardinals to go fight the war against terrorism. He ended up dieing from friendly fire. All this goes to show how brave Pat Tillman was to risk his life and give up his football career to go fight in Afghanistan to help protect the American people. Likewise, the people that helped evacuate New York City after the
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a hero is an individual who is admired for great bravery or fine qualities. To me a hero is so much more than a person who shows great bravery. When I think of a hero many fine qualities come to mind; intelligence, courage, altruism, compassion and great bravery.
The main idea of the story The Great Eagle is to “stay persevered”. I know this because in the book, on page 27 Noshen says, “I am hot and thirsty. There are beads of sweat on my nose. I am getting tired but I do not slow down.” If Noshen did not stay persevered he could not reach his destination or goal. Another example is evident on page 30 when Noshen says, “I do not move, not one part of my body. Oh, how I want to hold on to Grandfather. But I do not. My heart is pounding like the beat of the drum.” when facing the Eagle. If Noshen did not stay persevered he would never get to experience the eagle in a unique and different way. The last example is from my own connection. My connection is that, I made it to the girls volleyball team only
Generally when you think of a hero, who do you envision? Most likely, you picture a strong and imposeing figure, someone capable of performing in high pressure situations, demonstrating bravery and passion to help his/her fellow man. Those who typically fit that role in society are firefighters, policemen, and soldiers. Those people deserve all the credit and recognition they receive for their courageous acts. However, what about individuals or groups who aren’t necessarily on the “frontlines” physically protecting others and saving lives, but who work extremely hard to improve the lives of others in some way? These everyday people deserve credit as well. After all, to the people they help, these volunteers or activists are heroes. An example of such a group is the Greensboro Four, a few African American college students in the early 1960s who helped change the landscape of segregation in the Jim Crow South.
When a person thinks about what it means to be a hero to another person, generally they believe it just means doing something nice or kind for that person. Now if you were to ask the same question of that person that was helped, they would probably give you a far more detail description of what a hero is or meant to them. The difference in understanding what people believe a true hero is, you first must understand what it takes to be a real hero. A hero is not just about people who perform simple acts of kindness for others, it is more about the magnitude of those acts they perform, which will usually determine their hero status.
In the end a hero has a different definition for everyone. They come in all different shapes,sizes and colors. Heroes put themselves in danger and anticipate nothing in return except for a change in the world. They stand for what is justice. They believe everyone is equal no matter what. They stand for what they believed in even if they are the only ones standing. I believe Cesar Chavez and Dr Martin Luther King Jr were, are, and always will be heroes .
If there were no policemen or firefighters, or army. The world would be in danger or even destroyed. Heroes help people in need and who are in harm’s way without being asked. Heroes are not picked by the society or the world. They choose to help society and we have to thank them for that. Anyone can be a hero, but you have to be up for the challenge. The guts it takes for the army to go to work everyday for the country. Heroism means to save people or to take care of people in need, heroes are brave, courageous, and intelligent.
Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as any man admired for his courage, qualities or exploits, especially in war. Some people attribute the term hero mostly to war. My personal definition of a hero is someone who takes a stand against evil or an unjust cause. The term hero can be applied to anyone, it isn’t necessary to save the world from explosion to be a hero. The act of standing up for a friend can also be called a heroic act.
Those characteristic traits are what I think makes a hero. We come in contact with heroes everyday. We may not know they’re heroes but whether we know or not doesn’t matter as long as the person they protected believes they are a hero. Just like the people serving our country...heroes, they are pure, true heroes. They have the courage to serve, they have the integrity to serve for America’s morals, they have the fidelity to keep their promises made to this country, and they have the determination to stand and fight for the United States of America. To me those qualities make a
...without giving up in order to achieve their goals. And that is what you call a hero.
In today's modern times we hear the word hero all of the time. The news media throws the term around as if it is an everyday word. What exactly is a hero? Who, or what, can be classified as heroic? The correct definition of the word hero is: One invested with heroic qualities in the opinions of others. That is a fine definition for books and intellectual minds. To the average person, however, a hero is much more.
You also don’t have to kill anyone, conquer foreign land, or risk your life to be a hero. Anyone who influences anyone else by saving or helping save his or her lives is a hero. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the lives of millions of people by bringing justice to minorities. Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest heroes, led a nonviolent revolution to free his country.
Heroes can be can be anyone; they can be everywhere. But every society needs heroes (The Making of a Hero). Surprisingly every society has one; we just don't see them because we don't bother to open our eyes. But if you open them you shall see, they can be anyone, and that's why you must look carefully.
These heroes are not the equivalents to the Lone Ranger or Superman; they might even flee instead of fight a dangerous situation. However, when they do fight, they fight with flesh and bone. They fight with emotions and tears. They fight with anger and fears. They fight with confusion. They fight for their country. They fight to avoid the shame and embarrassment. They fight because of obligations to the family, to the country, and to themselves. The heroes that come to mind through these descriptions are the ones fighting in uniforms. They are fighting in lands unknown. They are captured and tortured. They are young and naïve but they are obligated to perform their patriotic duties. They are the soldiers of my country, your country, and our country. They are the protagonists and characters of The Things They Carried, The Sorrow of War, and Crossing ...