"What is a “hero” anyway?" Topic

"The news reported that Lenny Robinson, the eccentric local Batman fan that took his hobby of collecting Batman memorabilia to a new level by converting a custom Lamborghini into a Batmobile (of sorts) and visiting legions of terminally ill children in the hospital, had been struck by a car when he got out of his car to check for engine trouble on a busy highway. He was killed instantly.

Back in 2012, Lenny made the national headlines when a police dash cam of him being stopped by the police for driving his custom Lambo without a visible plate from the State of Maryland on display hit Youtube and went viral:…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

What is a "hero" anyway? That was the question I read. The answer : an American apparently, they're always calling everybody there "Heroes".

YouTube link

to quote Inigo Montoya "That word, I do not think it means what you think it means".

Hero has basically been morphed into Good Samaritan, or even worse – just somebody who is good at something. "Heros of Cosplay" for example.

My mother died when I was four leaving my father to raise four children on his own.
My father went to work everyday, we lived in a nice house and I never wanted for anything.
He never took vacations, always put us children first.
I wish I could be half the father mine was, and I try everyday.
I was lucky enough to have my dad for 31 years and I miss him everyday.
He was a Viet Nam veteran, played Santa Claus to less fortunate children, and always helped out anyone he could.
That is a "Hero"……at least he was my hero.
A hero does not have to be larger than life, a hero is one who makes a difference in a life.
Everybody knows a hero, mine just happened to be my dad.

If "community" was the most overused word in the US during the last decade of the 20th century, "hero" is hands-down the most overused word in the first decade-and-a-half of the 21st. News flash: doing the job you get paid to do doesn't make you a hero.

LT

@Terrement

Not what I said. Just doing what you're paid to do is not heroism, but nobody gets paid to fall on a grenade, run through a minefield with a wounded comrade under each arm (I actually saw somebody do that), or call artillery fire on his own position. This is why it's referred to as "above and beyond the call of duty".

As for overuse, both the media in general and the US government (especially the VA) have developed the habit of calling everybody in uniform a hero. I think this debases the value of the word.

FWIW, I spent six years on active duty in the US Army, did two tours in Vietnam, and make sure that anyone who calls me a hero based on that is immediately corrected as to the appropriate use of that word.

LT

As I said above, I see a difference between doing your duty and performing above and beyond the call of duty. Awards for valor, be they medals or the appellation "hero" or both, should be reserved for those whose actions exceed what can reasonably be expected, e.g. the guy I mentioned who ran through the minefield – I don't think I mentioned they were under fire – carrying two of his buddies was a hero, whether he was decorated for it or not (if fact, he received an Army Commendation with V device and a Purple Heart).

I have a Purple Heart. I don't think this makes me a hero, just somebody who couldn't duck fast enough. I have an Army Commendation Medal, but for meritorious service, not valor. Nope, no hero there either. Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor, Third Class (the so-called Cross of Gallantry), awarded for embarrassingly non-heroic action.

When I was wounded, our medic took the most direct route to me he could and stepped on two mines on his way, neither of which went off. To the best of my knowledge, he received no accolades for this but to my mind, he was a hero (and a damned lucky one).

Thank you for your service as well.

LT