What makes someone a hero?

So today's post is about a trend that is becoming more popular and disturbs me to the core.

How many times on TV do we hear someone saying that the mailman, the school teacher, or the crossing guard is a hero? Don't get me wrong, I admire anyone who does their job well, fulfills social obligations, etc. I just don't think we understand what a hero really is anymore.

Websters defines a hero as: a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage.

So why do we confuse responsible people with heroes? I think it's for the same reason that we give every kid on every team a trophy just for showing up. There are even kid's leagues now where there is no score kept and no winner. And we're not talking about 4 year olds. There are just parents who want their children to grow up thinking that there are no losers in life. So in order to erase the negative extreme you have to do away with the positive extreme: real heroes.

Once you do that you have the next group down on top. Good people who do respectable jobs and contribute to society. Suddenly they are called heroes, but they are not. They are doing what every man and women should do. This is what should be expected of every member of society, and that is not heroic. Otherwise we would all be heroes, and then who would clap as we went by?

Heroes are the few who stand up against the many for what they know to be right. The few who face danger, more concerned with what they protect than with their own safety. They are more than role models, more than good examples, they are a step above the rest.

I applaud school teachers, mailmen, garbage men, hair stylists, and all those who contribute to the improvement and progress of society. We are all in need of good examples of consistent, honest, and responsible living. Otherwise we will forget what is most important and replace it with the short lived and empty fun of the here and now. But let's not confuse the street light with the stars. We need heroes. Men and women willing to overcome great obstacle, fear, and hardship to protect and promote the good in life.