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.
Recently, students of Olympian High School have stumbled upon the question, "What is a hero?" In the school's 2013 Young Minds Essay Contest, students are expected to consider universal concerns and ideas. Many times when people think of a hero, they think of Superman, Batman, and many other Marvel characters who display unattainable superpowers. However, heroes are prevalent throughout the world. A hero can be anyone who has the desire to help others, brave in dangerous situations, and does not look at exterior gain from helping others.
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.
Today, many children would consider Superman, Spiderman, Batman & Robin, and even possibly Arnold Schwarzenegger in his old film The Terminator as great superheroes. These comic strip heroes even impress adults as courageous men because we cannot get over their legendary and their supernatural skills. For example, Spiderman is well known for the spider webs that emerge from his manly wrist. On the other hand, heroes are not just defined by comic strips or cartoons. Firefighters, police officers and even our fathers or mothers are heroes in many of our lives. The characteristics that we describe our heroes as having today are quite similar to those of heroes in Anglo-Saxon culture.
In Superhero Worship by Virginia Postrel published in The Atlantic explores the glamour of comic heroes coming to live, and what that glamour really is. From paper to screen superheroes have caught the wonder of the American people. The most wellknown superheroes were introduced in the 1930s through the late 1950s, during the time of warfare and national pride. Superman was welcomed in America in 1937 to keep spirits alive during the breakout of WWII, fighting Nazis or the Japanese Imperial Army. These heroes that were created used propaganda
Although not every hero shouts “Avengers Assemble” before a worthy deed, heroism is shown in all aspects of the everyday world. Webster Dictionary has exactly 5 definitions under the word hero and still no two people explain heroism the same. Superman and Captain America are a glimpse of the fictional characters society titles a hero. Firefighters and Military portray heroism each day in the lives of every civilian. As Sullivan and Venter stated “individuals are referred to as ‘heroes’ for seemingly different reasons” and even through endless studies the adjectives referring heroes is ever changing. Among the various ideas of what it means to be a hero, boldness and valiance capture the essence of heroism.
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.
I hear so many wonderful things that people say about our veterans. “Our Veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called.” “Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.”
Veterans are heros because they go out every day without anyone knowing that they risk their live 24/7 and missing the special holidays with their families.
Why do you think that veterans are American hero´s? Veterans are American hero´s because they gave up their time to go fight for our freedom. Without the veterans, we would not have the opportunities to do what we would usually do on a daily basis. Without the fighting that they have done for us, we would not have a free world. When the veterans were fighting for our freedom they got the greatest achievement of all, getting America its freedom that we have to this day. People often think that veterans gave up their lives but really they gave up their own personal time to go fight rather than doing what could be doing at their homes. Giving up their time was one of the great things that the veterans have done while they were serving in the war
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...
Heroes play very significant roles in their cultures; they are honored and idealized by the members of their culture. They are admired because of their qualities and achievements, as well as, their courage. Hermes and Artemis, of Greek mythology, are perfect examples of a hero and heroine and they exhibit archetypal elements in many different ways. Hermes gained notoriety through trickery and deceit in aiding his closest comrades, while Artemis’ heroism can be attributed to her unparalleled compassion for the well-being of animals.
As a child, I spent a lot of time with my parents – especially my mother. While I was in elementary school she chose to dedicate an hour of her night to help me with my homework if I needed the assistance. There were plenty of times when I chose to spend time with her simply because I enjoyed he...
An example, of heroes are all those people who have fought and some who lost their lives on September 11. Many random bystanders helped dozens of people get out during the time of the collapse and still went back in with the firefighters to save many more lives. Even former U.S Marines put their uniforms back on to help search through the rubble
Soldiers voluntarily leave the safety of their homes to protect our citizens and our country. These often unsung heroes inspire civilians to do and give more of themselves to others. During the Afghan War, an American soldier, Sgt. Dennis Weichel, lost his life rescuing an Afghan girl. She and some other children were picking up shell casings from the road as large military vehicles barreled toward them. He put himself in harm’s way to pull her to safety. Many heroic acts by soldiers also happened during the War in Iraq. American pilots are again flying over Iraq’s skies, risking their lives to save Iraqi citizens from terrorists. Their efforts are the latest in a long line of sacrifices made by the U.S. military in Iraq since 1990. Soldiers’ willingness to sacrifice their lives, gives Americans new heroes every day. Fellow citizens view these soldiers with admiration and
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 ...