Time for a fireside chat about heroes in general and America security:
Yesterday the United States escaped yet another terrorist attack on a plane. A Nigerian ignited an incendiary device in his lap while the NW/Delta flight descended into the Detroit, Michigan airport. The flight originated in Amsterdam.
The terrorist who is being described as having Al Queda connections picked up his marching orders and incendiary device in Yemen. The terrorist, however, was unsuccessful. His actions were thwarted by some brave passenger on the flight. Basically he was jumped by passengers and flight attendants who ran towards him with fire extinguishers, according to witnesses.
We don’t know any full details yet and we do know that eye witness accounts are often inaccurate and lack accurate facts. However, on this blog we have discussed the concept of the ‘hero.’ Most of us have stated that we feel the term is overused and overworked and used to describe people who really haven’t showed extraordinary behavior. We just say ‘hero’ because its a nice word.
Are these passengers and flight attendants heroes for stopping a terror attack? What makes a real hero? We hope you will participate in our fireside chat. Click the arrow to start the fireplace.
The courage of a few can save so many.
I am awaiting details about this brave flight crew and the passengers who contained this idiot terrorist.
Did they take extraordinary steps? It sure sounds like it at this point. It also sounds like a terrifying Sky event for those around this guy.
What makes a hero? I guess someone willing to take dangerous risks at a moments notice without regard to one’s own safety or well-being might be one definition. There is not just one definition though. Writers , songwriters and artists can be heroes also, as well as people who physically put themselves in harms way. Pete Seeger comes to mind. He stood up to the wrongs of McCarthyism without regard for his own career.
Chief Joseph comes to mind also. He swallowed his pride for the good of his people when he uttered his surrender speech:
Chief Joseph was a brave warrior who hated war. In my eyes, he is a hero.
My definition of “hero” comes from John 15:13–“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
If you take “heroic” actions where you have nothing to lose, or perceive that you have nothing to lose, then you’re simply doing what’s right, not necessarily what should be considered heroic.
This discussion can become highly philosophical which is fun IMO. Here are some definitions to consider.
He⋅ro
/ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [heer-oh] Show IPA
–noun
1. Classical Mythology. a priestess of Aphrodite who drowned herself after her lover Leander drowned while swimming the Hellespont to visit her.
So according to the classics, it is heroic to kill yourself for love. Frankly, I don’t buy this. Romeo and Juliet (the play) was considered a tragedy, after all.
Here’s a more traditional definition:
he⋅ro
/ˈhɪəroʊ/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [heer-oh] Show IPA
Use hero in a Sentence
See web results for hero
See images of hero
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
In this case, in order to define “hero” we must also define “brave” and “noble” and “courage.”
Some other thoughts:
Heroism is based on perception. For example, our soldiers might be heroes to us, but to those in another country, they might be considered thugs. “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” That kind of thing.
We think of heroes as doing “the right thing.” But what IS the right thing? Am I a hero if I steal bread to feed my family if that is my only option? Or am I a hero if I teach my children they should obey the law at all costs and be honest at all times? How closely is heroism linked to morality?
No argument that the concept of Hero is perception and it differs depending on who we are talking with.
Is the concept of hero losing impact because we over-use the word?
I don’t know about the “hero” concept, but the “hate” and “racist” concepts sure as heck are.
One man’s hero is quite often another man’s villain. Vlad the Impaler is quite the national hero in Romania, but he was a tad mean. I think of hero as a personal concept. My heros are not yours, and vice-versa.
Do we have national heroes?
Slow, I don’t disagree with you about hater and racist concepts. I am desensitized. Not saying there aren’t haters and racists. But they fail to stand out when the words are bandied about so much.
But…back to heroes. Do you have any?
My husband’s boyhood hero was George Armstrong Custer…speaking of hero vs villan. As a man, he doesn’t think much of him.
@Moon-howler
MH, what are some examples of how we overuse “hero”? I have heard it used to refer to our armed services and police, people who put their lives on the line every day. Is that the misuse you refer to?
The nearly 3000 heroes killed on 9/11. Not to detract from anyone, but people who just go to work and who are killed by some maniacal zealots aren’t necessarily heroes.
TV people in particular keep calling them heroes, even today. I feel that is misuse of the word. I am sure there were heroes that day.
@Moon-howler
I agree about that, MH. Yes, many who helped one another were indeed heroes. But ALL were victims who should be remembered.
Absolutely. All were victims. All should be remembered. But all weren’t heroes. I just think people throw out the word hero too often and its original meaning is all but lost. Hero needs to be reserved for special people, IMHO.
@Moon-howler
My heroes are pretty simple…my father and my grandfather. Outside my family, I always liked Pete Malloy of Adam*12.
I hope they know that they are your heroes. That is neat. I don’t know about Pete Malloy.
The next Tea Party protest will take place on Tuesday pn the National Mall. As usual, we are protesting the outcome of the Redskins game. But as the Redskins have only one more game to lose, we are opening it up to other losers, fans of losers, and supporters of losing political candidates. If anyone who voted for Deeds but is disappointed because more people voted for McDonnell, please attend pur rally with signs saying that McDonnell is a socialist and/or not born in this country. Be sure, also, to blame him for economic problems and bugetary woes that began before he took office. There are sheeple out there waiting to call this gathering of losers a “movement” and put them on the news instead of showing the news.
Max Baucus’ speech writer!!
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
What makes them your heroes, Slow?
@Posting As Pinko
I always looked up to them. Neither of them were very well educated, but they both did what they had to do without complaining. They didn’t drink, were not given to stray from their marriages, they just took what came their way with quiet resolve. Both served their country (I never did, I went to college instead). My grandfather lived through the great depression, WW1 and WW2, he was a very quiet man. He and I used to take long walks in the countryside, and he would show me things in nature. My dad was a mechanic/machinist. He was always told he was uneducated by his mother, but when I watched him tear and engine apart and put it back together, I was amazed, and to this day, I sure as heck can’t do it. They both did what they could to make sure their kids had it better than they had it. I only hope I can be as good a dad to my boy/boys (we’re not sure yet what’s on the way). I can’t explain it beyond that, except to say that I’m faced with any sort of problem, I always think that I’m not being asked to face anything that my dad or grandfather haven’t already faced and dealt with. I can only give a quick and maybe stupid manifestation, but I do most of the diaper chores for my boy, and I’ve never uttered a peep of complaint, because I figure I’m not doing anything my dad hasn’t already done before me, and he never complained. That’s just one example, but it’s somewhat indicative of how I approach things.
@Posting As Pinko
Oh, one more thing leaps to mind. My father and grandfather both worked with their bodies and hands…I sit on my butt all day and use my brain. At 68, my dad can outwork me at anything physical…I am absolutely in awe of my dad’s ability to out work me in the yard/shoveling snow/just about anything you can think of physical.
What a wonderful tribute, Slowpoke. Is your grandfather still living? This just goes to prove that you don’t have to be ‘fancy’ to leave your mark on society. I am in awe.
Also did your grandfather serve in WWI or was he just alive during that time?
@Moon-howler
My grandfather passed in 1992. I was still too young to know what I lost when he and my grandmother passed. He was in the Merchant Marines (I still need to look that up to really understand what that means). My family has an odd history of being either too young or too old when every war came along. My Dad was already out when Vietnam came along. I have to go back to 1814, when my 5th great grandfather defended Ft. McHenry against the British. Before him, everyone is Anabaptist, and refused to fight for a government of any kind. I’ve never been inspired by traditional heroes. I do visit my grandfather’s grave and talk to him when I’m up in Carroll Co, Maryland, and I believe he watches over my boy when I can’t (and I’ve asked him to).
Slow, you are still lucky to have known him. Many people don’t get to know any of their grandparents. I still wish I had spent more time with my grandmother. (the one who lived to be 105) She was just such a wealth of information that I didn’t appreciate at the time. Same with my mother. My mother used to always say, ‘they never appreciate you until you are dead.’ She was right.
Grandfathers do watch over their grandchildren’s offspring. My daughter is living proof. Keep believing that. I think it is true also.
Slow, thank you for sharing that. I, too, am in awe and look up to people who can do things with their hands and with tools. We don’t pay tribute enough to people who have those skills, IMO. We call them “working class” or “blue collar” or other names with negative connotations when we should be thanking them for keeping the U.S. up and running.
A real sad facet of education is that everyone is expected to go to college. How unrealistic. Many people don’t WANT to go to college. Almost no ed funding goes in to vocational school now. Yet look at the money a master cabinet maker gets for his craft. UFB. Education needs to stop trying to make scholars out of everyone. What would we do with a nation of scholars anyway?
Buy everything overseas I suppose.
It’s funny…we think we’re awfully clever because we can build a cool web page or make voice and video work over IP networks, but my grandfather slaughtered his own hogs. Give me a knife and put me in a pen with a hog, and you’re gonna see some funny/sad stuff, I guarantee it. My dad can tear cars apart into these tiny friggin’ pieces and refinish a piece of furniture to bring a tear to your eye. Me? Best I could do is ruin a piece of furniture and make damn sure that car never runs again. Like I said….color me impressed.
Poke, if your grandpappy was in the Merchant Marine during World War II, there is no doubt that he was a man’s man. It was called at that time the Armed Merchant Marine. Those were the guys who manned the war supply ships, accompanied by a thin cordon of protective naval vessels, and prayed that the German U-boat captains would not come across them on the high seas. Unfortunately, many were found by the U-boats; and huge amounts of vital war materiel and many good men went to Davey Jones’ Locker. I had a cousin who lied about his age and joined when he was 16. He survived. After the war, this country honored its armed services in many ways; and right up there with the Army, the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard was the Merchant Marine.
I am rather surprised that no one here caught this, but I would guess that this is as good a place as any to bring it up. Seven CIA counterterrorist officers died a couple of days ago in that suicide bombing at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Afghanistan. Chapman was about as deep into enemy territory as you can get. One of the officers who died was the Chief of Base. That Chief of Base was a woman — mother of three. Sometimes we all miss the fact that we have some sisters out there who stand second to no man in guts and courage. And you all thought that was just in the movies!!