How to define a hero
A hero is not determined by strength or popularity but the character shown
Imagine Superman without his cape or without his costume.
Is he still a hero?
Yes.
But you might say, “He is just Clark Kent.”
Hero — Our society is so inundated with depictions of heroes that we often overlook the ones all around us . Google Images
Yes, he is Clark Kent, but his heroism is displayed in his personal character — by his courage, bravery and selflessness.
In Marvel movies such as Captain America: The First Avenger, the “hero” of the storyline is an attractive man, pumped up like a balloon with superhuman amounts of steroids.
Note: I highly enjoy this movie, but the amount of realism in its plot resembles my Flames cash account at the end of the semester — hardly anything is present.
This storyline leads to an expectation of receiving supernatural ability or luck in order to be classified as a “hero,” when the characteristics of a hero are actually found inside Captain America through his dedication to military service, strong will and brave heart.
But for many people, heroes today are merely defined by status, appearance, money or ridiculous acts.
The ESPYs recent Arthur Ashe Award for Courage winner, Caitlyn Jenner, has most of the world either enticed or enraged by her “heroic” deeds.
The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was given to Jenner because of her display of “courage and self-acceptance” according Maura Mandt, ESPYs co-executive producer.
The only problem is the contrast between Arthur Ashe and Caitlyn Jenner.
Arthur Ashe, a champion tennis player and humanitarian was quoted on RESPONSE ABILITY’s website, an organization focused on promoting courageous leadership, about his take on heroism.
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic,” the website quoted Ashe. “It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
Jenner’s gender change appeared in the public eye for weeks.
Undramatic? No.
Did Jenner’s change serve other transgenders? Maybe, but others may now see the media as a platform to grab attention through Twitter favorites and Facebook shares.
In this media-driven age, the heroes of today are being pushed behind people who do not fit the description of a Ashe’s “hero.”
In light of this recent event, the word hero must be defined.
Through a compilation of definitions between Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com, a hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts, fine qualities, and having courage or ability.
The three American soldiers, the Frenchman and the Briton who stopped a gunman onboard a train Aug. 21, according to the Richmond Times–Dispatch, should be considered true heroes because of their selflessness in putting their lives on the line to protect others. They showed courage and bravery in the face of a big gun and a small chance of survival. They persevered anyway, and they asked nothing for the deed. They simply wanted to protect others at whatever cost.
Sounds more like the Ashe quote, right?
Even if these soldiers cannot win an ESPY because they do not directly correlate to sports, they are still the true heroes. And to find the true hero, we must not look on the television screen or at the movie theatres, but we must search for those with selfless hearts, bravery, and the ability to protect and defend when no one is looking.
Often, true heroes hide behind the normalcy of everyday life, and to find them, all we have to do is look.
Tiller is the feature editor.