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The Real Meaning Of Heroism
The Real Meaning Of Heroism
The Real Meaning Of Heroism
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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no its Superman! You remember these comic book heroes don’t you? For decades comic book characters such as Superman, Spiderman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have captured the imaginations of American children and adults alike. “Superheroes” they have been coined. But these figures only exist in our imaginations. Batman is not really there to save us from villains such as the Joker and the Riddler is he? Because these heroes are fictional, we are left without real life heroes, or are we? There must be heroes or there would never b e a peaceful night’s rest, we would be afraid to go outside for fear of being hurt, and our life would be lived in a constant paranoia that something or someone is going to kill us. But, thankfully this is not so because there are heroes. But just who are these heroes? What do they do? What “powers” do they have? How do they help us live in America without constant fear?
In America, as children, we take our parent’s love and affection for granted because we don’t know what it is like not to have this love. As adults we thank God for every second we have left with them because we realize just how precious their love is. Our parents are the ones who shelter us from the winter cold by working as hard as they can to keep a roof over our heads. They are the ones who fill our tummies with delicious foods others in the world only wish they could sample. The little things such as bedtime stories are taken for granted because we don’t know what it’s like to have parents who can’t read. Looking back at your childhood you see all the things they have done for you and all you can do is look at them with awe and respect when remembering their great deeds. So what if they don’t fly or shoot we...
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...can live in America and enjoy freedoms only imagined by others, because their mom or dad is making it possible. When people think about heroes they envision Superman or a celebrity but they forget those behind it all making it possible for the idea of Superman to exist or that celebrity to be a celebrity. Because of these brave men and women, it is possible for regular American citizens to be able to read that bedtime story or fight crime. This is why soldiers are truly one-of-a-kind-American-heroes.
There are multitudes of heroes that walk among us in America and some who are out fighting for us every day. They don’t fly or shoot webs from their wrist; they unselfishly step up to the plate when they are needed. All we have to do is stop, look around, and take the time to notice them, and even throw in a little thank you when we finally do.
A hero is someone you look up to, someone who has done something to inspire you, someone who is your role model. In our society, there are many different types of heroes—family, friends, teachers, firefighters, and police officers to name a few. But a hero that stands out to me is a U.S. soldier. Soldiers risk their lives every day just so we can have our freedom.
...ther materialistic indulgences. As children, we begin to grow accustomed to a certain lifestyle. The transition into adulthood can prove to be incredibly challenging if we have an unrealistic expectation of how our needs are met, due to the sense of entitlement our parents instilled. In contrast to the involved parent, the absent parent may neglect several, if not all, of their parental duties, being physically, emotionally and financially absent from their child’s life. This often bears resentment in the child that can transcend long into adulthood. As children, we blame our parents for our misfortunes; the absent parent is no exception. Rather than accept personal responsibility, many often use the absent parent as a scapegoat for not achieving one’s full potential. Whether present throughout our lives or not, Americans have deep rooted parental dependency issues.
Loewen defines heroification as “a degenerative process (much like calcification) that makes people over into heroes” (Loewen 11). During this process, negative or controversial facts are often ignored or altered in regards to these heroes, which create “perfect creatures without conflicts, pain, credibility, or human interest (Loewen 11). When one changes or omits facts concerning figures in history for this type of glorification, we are left with an invented story of the event or person; in other words, history has become a myth. History textbooks are filled with these types of glorifications, especially older texts. The purpose of heroification is to present events or people in a favorable light and to give ideal role models in which to follow. In my own words, I call Loewen’s heroification an effective form of brainwashing. For example, I was always taught that the Civil War was fought to free slaves, but later learned this war was about states succeeding from the Union. Many people still believe the Emancipation Proclamation’s purpose was to free the slaves; however, it was actually the last resort Lincoln used to win the Civil War. Of course, this is not how these events were portrayed to most of us in History class. Heroification alters the purpose of these events so that we, as citizens, can feel proud that America did away with slavery because our forefathers felt it was morally wrong. Loewen also points out how heroification can lead to role models in the case of Helen Keller, “the blind and deaf girl who overcame her physical handicaps, as an inspiration to generations of schoolchildren” (Loewen 12). The problem with Keller being used as an exemplary model for American schoolchildren is that only her early life is portr...
... is sent away from their homes and families to fight for the citizens of war torn countries. American soldiers volunteer their lives to defend these freedoms, both in America and abroad. America has built a foundation in history for its strength and resolve, and its citizens are willing to fight to keep this foundation in place for future generations.
Many kids see "super heroes" a man wearing a mask or a cape, but the real superheroes are the ones wearing a full on camouflage suit and a helmet. Veterans are actually better than superheros, they don't tell you they are veterans they are veterans unless you ask, they aren't boastful. They do take pride in what they do so they perform it at their 100%, but what I really admire is that they don't ever expect anything in return. And this is why I appreciate Veterans- this is the reason we should all appreciate Veterans. So next time you see a Veteran or anyone that is or has served, go and say thank you and make their
A person that has earned the title of veteran is an American Hero, simple as that. The top three qualities that stand out to me when reflecting on veterans are selflessness, courage, and commitment. I come from a long line of military veterans on all sides of my family. Writing this essay is very easy when I think about those family members. However, the most important point of this essay is to address how ALL Americans should recognize our veterans as being our real life super heroes. What they do for us as civilians is, in my opinion, the definition of heroism. Veterans don’t stop giving of themselves when their service is done. The AMVETS and other veteran organizations continue to give back by volunteering, helping those in need, and of course, providing scholarship opportunities like this one.
An English proverb states, “ A hero is a man who is afraid to run away”. I agree with this proverb, because when you see a hero in a comic book, they have super cool back stories, are not afraid to fight, and stare danger in the face and not blink. They are not afraid of anything. That’s nice to look up to, but they are not real. Our definition of a hero is too much for one man to become, you can do something honorable, heroic, but you will never actually be a hero because it's too much, in real life. Heroes don’t just do it so they can get paid, or respect. What really determines whether someone is a hero is if they choose to do something about it in a bad situation. We have people that do heroic acts, for example, people putting their lives before others. Those people cannot be heroes because they get paid to do it, they are, firefighters, cops, and military, they get paid to help people, so they aren't considered a hero.
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.
In different areas where people live around the world, they interact with a lot in life. They also encounter many changes. Some say that a Hero is someone who saves the day from evil and hell. Others say that it’s also someone who does what’s best. While people see what’s known as a hero, others come into mind asking about the hero how to can be around others. In world anything, or anyone anywhere regardless of background.
...cial powers, or an ability that no one else has, a hero is someone with great courage, and great bravery. They are willing to put their life in danger of someone else. Whether it is in the army, or firefighters, Heroes will always be in the eyes of everybody and a role model to all
And that, ironically, is heroism: not to be recognized” (Stone 73). In this writing Stone explains how everyday people are heroes. In addition another example being the daily struggle of being a parent. Parents everyday work for their children to provide everything they want for them. They go to work to bring back dinner for their kids, and continue it everyday. In conclusion heroes can be anyone, and anybody that you may just not see.
Parents go through a lot of problems in their life, but they never stop providing for their family. Parents always make sacrifices to provide for their family. In the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Huges, the mother is trying to motivate her son by explaining to him the sacrifices she made in her live to get to the point where she was. She told her son to never look back or give up in life and just keep moving forward. In the poem “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, the speaker talks about the sacrifices and hard work his father had to do to satisfy the family needs, even though nobody really appreciated him enough. Our parents are willing to do whatever it takes to make us happy. We should acknowledge their effort and appreciate them.
When you think of a superhero one normally thinks of Spiderman, Batman, or Superman, but there were superheroes long before these characters were created. First one must understand that the basis of this name is hero. What is a hero? A hero is a person who does something special or out of the ordinary in order to help others. It could also be someone who is admired for a characteristic about them, be it physical or mental. They are individuals that normal everyday people can look up to. This being the case, a superhero is nothing more then someone who is a hero, but not just that once and for that one person, but someone who helps many people, or leads them. As time went by the number of people who were true heroes diminished and just doing something for someone was no longer big news. There had to be something more to make them stand out. The American culture needed someone or something to admire and that is where our common day superheroes come into play. It gave them a goal which could never be reached in hopes that people would never stop trying.
Heroes are ordinary people who do unbelievable things. Heroes are people who stand up for what they know is right no matter the consequences. Most of all, heroes are men and women who see an opportunity for change and seize it. They use these opportunities to not only make things right, but to make things happen.
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 ...