Society portrays heroes as doing good, as defending against a clear evil. Our society has Superheroes whom we idolize, but is that a true hero? Is it someone who dies with a clear conscience, or is it someone who has had to make some of the most difficult decisions to allow them to serve, protect, and survive. “Hero of War,” a song by Rise Against, and American Sniper by Chris Kyle show that the definition of hero is not as cut and dry as we might think. A soldier is a hero until someone hears what happened over seas, when they hear of the horrific things that happened in another country; but those exact experiences are what make them a true hero.
“Hero of War” opens with a civilian talking to a recruiter. That moment when you are excited to serve your country, and even will be paid for it.
He said "Son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?
Just carry this gun and you'll even get paid."
I said "That sounds pretty good."
When a soldier leaves, we send him off with tears and well wishes, thankful that they are willing to protect us even if it means losing their own lives. The soldier is fresh and has no idea what is to come. Movies cannot accurately portray what will happen, other soldiers cannot tell you how you will feel; it is a journey that will be entirely your own, even when surrounded by your company.
The military does save young men and women from a life where they could be lost. However that is not the opinion of everyone. In an article by Laurence M. Vance, he shares a different perspective. Here we see the view that the military has no right to interfere in other countries, implying that we do not need recruits because we should not allow our country to continue what it...
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...e sense of honor, they would go insane. They constantly remind themselves that there was a purpose, that the flag is something they love and serve. “I totally oppose the Iraq war. I have written frequently about my opposition. Still, I call those men and women fighting that war heroes, and I will continue to do so.” (Wind) She then goes on to challenge, would you rather call soldiers murderers collectively because of a few people who commit some horrendous acts, or would you want to call them heroes because they are risking their lives daily, and for those who have shown true heroism in the worst situations. They have honored the flag, have defended the country they chose to live in, and have overcome situations a civilian could never dream of understanding. If you have no idea what a soldier goes through, do you have the ability or right to criticize their actions.
The soldiers were isolated from the outside world, and felt solidary confined within the oi rigs. They entertained themselves by playing football, shooting their rifles into the air and getting wasted with alcohol. Eventually, the soldiers were going insane and was tire of doing the same thing for the past six months and felt their “purpose” were served at all. The purpose of their duties were to guard the oil fields until their allies arrive to take control but the soldiers joined the military with the purpose to “serve and protect the united states of America against all foreign enemies”. The idea of serve and protect is completely differ from their point of view, and that is you can’t protect if there’s no harm to being protected from. They didn’t feel they had a purpose doing what they did and it wasn’t what they expect to being as “righteous” when citizens view a soldier. When civilians see a soldier in uniform, we often come to a conclusion that, this individual is risking their lives to protect ours. Private Swofford and battle buddy Corporal striving to have some type of action and were thirsty for an all-out battle with the enemies. Killing an Iraqi was an honor to them, the movie went on to how the soldiers were fighting over an enemy kill is an award to be cheer for. Corporal Alan Troy was an ex offender who lied to on his application to join the military and in order to stay in the military he would need to find all possible ways to proof he is capable of doing what others can and obtain the honor of a soldier. In order for him to proof he can be a soldier, he would need to rake up battle kills on his portfolio. In Juliet B. Schor’s essay on Work and Spend; it is our unceasing quest for material goods is part of the basic makeup of human beings. We work hard and want to obtain a reward; achievement for putting our time into something. It’s a structural process that
What is a hero? Is it a character who has immense strength and is admired for his or her outstanding achievements in situations that are different from what normal life is like? After World War I, many young boys thought that participating in a war was a rite of passage, a way of becoming men. They looked up to their fathers and grandfathers as “heroes” who fought for their country, and they wanted to become just like them. When World War II began, those boys believed this was their chance to become just like their heroes by fighting for their country. If they survived, they would be considered heroes upon their return.
What exactly is a hero? A hero is often portrayed in literature and song with many differences from one another, making it difficult to distinguish what a hero is. Are they a strong warrior that does the impossible, one who has persevered when the odds were stacked against them, or one who is willing to stand up against anyone who threatens morality? Bonnie Tyler, Tupac Shakur, and Alice Walker display different qualities or ideas of a hero in their respective works “Holding out for a Hero,” “The Rose that Grew from Concrete,” and “Use.” These heroes inspire others in different ways, yet they all do so none the less.
Scott LaBarge's article, "Heroism: Why Heroes are Important," LaBarge explains that the qualifications for one to define a hero are blurry, not everyone sees eye to eye. LaBarge helps clarify that the term “hero” is lost in translation, meaning that people have different definitions; is confused with idols, regular pop stars, and superheroes; and is not given to worthy beings, people think a “hero” is supposed to be perfect. These things are clarified by the use of definition, exemplification, ethos, and logos. Labarge completely changes the way one thinks about the word 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.
“Hero,” what does this mean today? People have many different ways of using this word. The Webster Dictionary definition states, “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.” I look at the word “Hero” and think bravery, courage, and sacrifice. First, when you see or hear of the growing problem of bullies in the school system, you see a hero stand up now and again. I have seen this with my daughter, who once was bullied, but stood up for herself and for others. As a father, this made me feel proud that you’re raising a leader and not a follower. Secondly, the men and women that not only put their life on the line for our country once, but go back a second time or more. This is courage, not only for the soldiers themselves, but their families. I have many family and friends that have served or still serve in our military. The courage they face overseas is hard, but for most, the courage comes when they return home. Lastly, anyone that puts someone else or someone’s life in front of their own takes sacrifice. Our local, county, and state law enforcement do this every day. We see it on the news, or know someone that has witnessed this. For many they have lived the reality of the sacrifice of a loved one. So when I define the word “Hero,” I say look around, life is full of hero’s, it’s in use all.
A hero will sacrifice their own life for the life of others. Welles Crowther is an example of this because growing up he wanted to be a firefighter and trained to be one. He got an oppurtunity to be like a firefighter because, “When terrorists attacked the twin towers, he put that training to work and lost his life while helping others”(www.wcvb.com). So while he was saving people's lives he lost his own and became a hero. But he wasn’t the only person to risk their life that day, because Moira Smith, the first officer to report to the twin towers, also gave her life, “Officer
What is a hero? The defining characteristics of a hero have changed over time. We can trace heroes all the way back to Ancient Greek mythology. Today, our definition of a hero is much more lax. We use the term hero to describe everyone from civil rights leaders to Instagram-famous celebrities. A hero used to be one who had to endure painful struggle and prove himself and his beliefs to society. Is a hero equivalent to a celebrity now? A quick Google search for “American hero” will lead you to names like Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King, ahead of any political or civil rights leaders. What does this say about our society? What qualities does a “hero” have to possess in modern America? In this essay, we will explore the timeline of the word
In today’s society the label “hero” tends to be said quite a lot, while that is not a bad thing in most instances it also does not truly represent the definition of hero as people used to see it. For example, in Beowulf a hero is someone who battles against every villain, rides into battle with no fear in their heart and strives for everlasting glory in the end. Remnants of that ideology still hold true today as many times people such as soldiers and firemen are called heroes because they actually do run into dangerous situations very often and people associate them with heroism. Yet there are many other people who others recognize as heroes that do not fit that classic definition. People who inspire others are seen as heroes today. Sometimes a hero is someone who speaks up about something or reveals something about themselves that many people wish that they could say. While Beowulf is a great fighter and a physically a strong man, today strength is not only measured by the size of your muscles or the glory that your name holds. Strength is measured by one’s perseverance in the face of adversity. While like Beowulf a hero must be courageous and an inspiration to others, they do not have to be fearless. A hero today can feel their fear sitting at the pit of their stomach and still decide to push through despite it. Today being fearless does not make you a hero,
“With the great power becomes great responsibility.” – Ben Parker this is what I believe was the perfect description of a hero. A hero is not always a man who hides under a mask or have supernatural powers. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. A hero is a selfless act of courage and is one who has a vested interest of others at heart. For these reasons heroes are not born they are made and shaped by the sacrifices and life experiences.
Human existence is comprised of countless “domestic and global squabbles,” and we need people - heroes - to step up to meet these challenges. We will always need heroes to provide examples of how to live, and how to remain true to the values that we believe in, and to the values that our society commends. It is the morals and beliefs that shine through a hero’s actions that truly make them a hero. To me, that can be found in shedding light on an issue that many have yet to realize is an issue, or one that many ignore, or one that is shrouded in taboo. It’s being the better person, and inspiring others to have the courage to unapologetically be themselves. A hero is not just someone who does great deeds. It’s the values that are rooted at the bottom of a person’s heart, and the way that these values inspire others that make a person a
For years now, the Syrian people have endured many attacks, many of which including the use of supposedly eliminated chemical weapons. The U.S., with aid from the French and British forces, launched missile strikes against Syrian weapon facilities to halt any further use of Chemical agents against the Syrian civilians. Though the attacks may seem unjustifiable since the U.S. initiated the attack, the missle strikes were in fact justified due to the fact that its intentions were to help the Syrian people. By the standards of the Just War Doctrine, the attacks by the U.S. are justified.
A hero is a person who cedes to benefit others. Through many complications that were faced they stood up with the greatest bravery. Welles Crowther is a great example of a hero who sought to help the other people in the World Trade Center during 9/11. Though he could’ve saved himself he tried to save others. Though he lost his life he inspired others to help others in need. Ling Young says,”He said,”I’m going back up again.” Cause he knows that there were a lot of people still up there on the 78th floor that needed help (“The Man in the Red Bandana”). Though he could have saved
The Thirty Years War was a series of conflicts, not-knowingly involving most European countries from 1618 to 1648. The war, which was fought mainly in Germany, was started when Bohemian Protestants furiously attacked the Holy Roman Emperor in terms to impose a restriction on their religious and civil liberties. By understanding the Thirty Years War, you will notice the notable religious, political and social changes. The changes paved the religious and political maps of Europe. Not only did this war affect the religious and political demographic, it caused populations to perish and lose large amounts of their goods. What was known as a religious battle, turned out to be a political feud in competition of which state has the greater power affecting men, women, soldiers and civilians. “[The bohemians] had no idea that their violent deed would set off a chain reaction of armed conflict that would last thirty years and later be called Europe’s “first world war” of the modern era.” When the war ended, the lands were defiled and over 5 million people were killed.
Heroism The word hero is tossed around on a daily basis, whether on the news, in books, or in movies, we hear it all the time. Its common usage begs the question, what exactly is a hero? Are there traits and characteristics one must possess to be classified as heroic? Our interpretation of a hero is ever-changing, constantly influenced by the stories told by the dominant culture, which acts as an invisible hand.