Super-Human Deeds
Many people think of a hero as a person with superhuman powers and/or infallible
virtues. Superman, Batman and Spiderman are typical movie and comic book heroes. Superman
possesses super-human powers of strength and sight. Batman is a technical genius, using his
tools and wits to catch and outsmart the bad guys. Spiderman swings from a web and uses
his “Spider-sense” to catch criminals. However, they each start off as seemingly ordinary
citizens. Neither of them has any outward bad habits and neither ever hangs around to be thanked
for their good deeds, which is virtuous. Neither one was born a superhuman (except Superman).
Not every person can become a hero. Many people aspire to be heroic minded. However, many
people do not have the capacity to act heroically. Heroes are actually everyday people doing
what needs to be done or ordinary people making exemplary sacrifices.
People who are paid to perform a particular service are not heroes, in a pure sense. Sports
figures are not true heroes. There is nothing heroic about being paid for playing a sport that you
love. Sports figures do put forth effort that is to be greatly admired and can be used as great role
models for sportsmanship. Many people like to think of politicians as heroes. While they may
exemplify what is the best of human intentions, they are compensated greatly for the effort they
put forth in order to serve the people. Society is taught to revere sports figures, Hollywood stars
and politicians as heroes. Too much emphasis is put on people that are highly compensated for
performing a service. Many of them are even idolized but most of the idols have fallen from their
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pedestals. At times they have exemplified the human foi...
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...s in this society.
He is owed a debt of thanks that he never received while he lived.
Heroes are all around us, everyday, living, learning, working and playing. They do
not wake up thinking that perhaps they will be a hero today. They just observe the immediate
situation and follow through with the action necessary to get the situation taken care of, in a
timely manner, without thought of personal gain, comfort or safety. Society cannot put a dollar
sign on what they are worth because there is not a dollar amount large enough to compensate
true heroism.
Works Cited
King, Jr.,Martin Luther. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The Mercury Reader. ed. Danner, Natalie.
New York: Pearson, 2009. 193-212. Print.
LeGuin, Ursula. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.” New Dimensions, Vol. 3. ed.
Silverberg, Robert. New York. Nelson Doubleday. 1973. 1-8. Print
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
So what defines one as a hero? Well, a definition of what a hero is “A person noted for special achievement in a particular field” (hero, n.d). Our concept of a hero alters drastically from person to
Heroes and role models can inspire people to accomplish and achieve meaningful goals that may not just benefit themselves, but other people as well. A hero, by touching the hearts of some people, can inflict change on a whole society and even the world. For example, right before World War Two in the 1936 Olympic Games, Hitler wanted to prove that his Aryan race was superior by winning all events. However, a black man named Jesse Owens won four gold medals, winning the most gold medals over any other athlete. He showed to Hitler and the whole world that Aryans were not superior and embarrassed Hitler in his own country. This caused all of Germany to question Hitler’s word and gave people in the United States and all of Europe hope against Hitler. This hope channeled into bravery in war and exerts believed to have played a major role in the war by crippling the Nazi’s confidence and inspiring all of the allied powers. Even though Jesse Owens was successful during the Olympic Games, what he is remembered for was starting a movement and showing up Hitler. While the medals are small and just physical things, what they meant to the world was crucial. Jesse Owens became a role model and hero for people to look up to so that when they had their own battle against the
Firstly, people who save lives every day barely make the same amount of money as an athlete does, though the work they’ve done has been very valuable to the safety of others.
Some people argue that athletes are paid just right, but when you really do the math the outcome isn't the same. According to “Why Pro Athletes aren’t paid too much” By Dan Stein, he says that pro athletes put in well over 40 hours of practice every week. However judging by his first claim, this still does not prove that pro athletes save lives. Now according to “ Do Professional Athletes Get Paid Too Much” by Mihir Bhagat, said that soldiers leave their families at home to defend their country knowing they may not return. And to me I call those people the real
Heros are usually thought of as people who do the right thing and the heroic thing all the time. Heroism is an uncommon thing to see all the time in everyone. Many people who someone would think is very heroic is not. It it can sometimes be seen in unlikely suspects, though. S. E. Hinton highlights heroism on a low socioeconomic status through Ponyboy, Johnny, and Darry on her novel The Outsiders.
...ts heroes should be those who display the work ethic, success, and incredible performance through exemplary moral means. The macho and stereotypically masculine attributes that can manifest themselves in corrupt ways cannot benefit the young boys looking up to the men who are their idols.
Everyone is a hero to someone.One may be considered a hero because of his or her
For years, athletes have been idolized by numbers of people. Whether it be younger children, who want to grow up just like these athletes have, or teenage athletes themselves, looking up to these professionals as they study their techniques, lifestyles, as well as aspects on different views in the world. It is not uncommon, however, for adults to idolize these athletes, as their wealth, fame, and power may be overwhelmingly shown and awed upon. However, it seems to be that the behavior of these so called ‘heros’ to many, are not the most ideal person to necessarily be looking up to. But is there reasonable logic to why these professionals act less that what they should, for who they are? It is time for things to change, for these professional athletes to be held to higher, moral standards!
Anyone can truly be a hero, even in real life. Heroes can be people who simply have an idea and decide to grow onto that idea and have it done. For example, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were real life heroes who started out as ordinary people but had a dream and made a huge difference in the end. Nelson Mandela, a Civil Rights activists, once said, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference” (Lazaro). Nelson Mandela was trying to say that anybody can make a difference, but it is up to that person or people to make that change. One simple change could cause any simple person to have a major change in lifestyle just because they decided to step up and do something. Furthermore, anyone can be a hero, it doesn’t matter what one’s background is, one can make even the simplest of changes and become a hero to oneself and the people around them.
As shown through an analysis of heroism itself, overuse of the word “hero”, and the falling rate of world violence, the end of heroism will be a sign of a better society. Heroism exists as the unordinary and as soon as heroic actions by the public become ordinary, extraordinary heroic acts will stagnate- not being the cause of a better society but the byproduct of one.
Back in the days of the Odyssey and The Iliad, heroes were classified by their accomplishments. From Odysseus to Achilles, all of the men who were idolized as heroes were so idolized because of their world-altering deeds and conquests, unfathomable wealth, and achievements that would forever be remembered in history. But today, in a world pillaged by war, poverty, controversy, drugs, disease, and economic blunders, who truly deserves to be called a hero? No longer are there titans on the earth, bloodthirsty men with chain mail armor, lances and swords, leading enormous armies into battle. And yet, though circumstances have changed, people haven’t, and the need for heroes, for role models and beings of unfathomable perfection, has not dissipated from society even as the ancient hero has. In America today, the concept of a hero is much different. People in the ancient world were idolized because of inconceivable strength, wealth, or intelligence, however the people that modern Americans admire and model themselves after poses qualities such as selflessness, bravery, and determination that make them true role models.
...without giving up in order to achieve their goals. And that is what you call a hero.
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.
Many ‘heroes’ are created and mostly because of sporting prowess. Yet, there are some things that are more significant that Olympic glory, contract negotiations and the score of the game. Professions that benefit mankind do not receive nearly as much attention or money but remain essential to society. Through a different perspective, it is becomes obvious that doctors and teachers are in fact underpaid. People who can hit or kick a ball are idolised while others who save lives struggle to gain recognition. What values are we teaching? Or more importantly, not teaching?