Heroes

Although a person could point their fingers at Superman if they were asked who a hero was, many heroes can exist within the daily lives on any individual. A hero could be a famous musician or actress, as another person’s hero could be their father or a grandma. A hero can also be someone who is struggling and working two full time jobs to take care of the people he/she loves. People can have different perspectives about what defines a hero, which means a hero can be different for everyone. A hero is a person who would go out of their way when nobody else will to make a difference in someone’s life.

The audience varies for this topic. For a crowd of children, fantasy characters would probably be their image of what a hero is because of their strength, their battles, or their quests to save the woman they love. Children, as an audience, imagine their heroes based on their talent, perseverance, and their will to achieve their goal. Through the eyes of teenagers, their figure of a hero would be someone they look up to such as an actress/actor, artist, or a sportsman. Teenagers want to grow up to be just like someone, so having something they admire could be who they could call their hero. The audience can vary based on their perspective on what a hero is which varies as well.

Although the qualities of a hero like superman could be courage, bravery, or unselfishness; to another person, their father being their hero, it would fall under the qualities of caring, loving, hardworking, and humble. Most people in this century would argue that superman isn’t a hero, simply because he’s not ‘real’. Instead, most people could argue that their father is their hero because he’s hard working, loving, and goes out of his way to put his children’s needs first.

According to the dictionary, the correct definition of a hero is: A man who does something great or brave. (Webster’s Dictionary, pg.136). Many would argue this is not the correct phrase for defining a hero, because a hero could be defined not only by man, but women, children, or even animals. Everyone is capable of being called a hero. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary also has a different definition: “Mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability”. Falling under this mythological category, Hercules would qualify as a hero. In the original Greek story, he had amazing strength, and fought off different kinds of evil. But what if Hercules had no power or incredible strength? Hero could no longer be qualified as a hero, unless someone he influenced decided that he was in their own life. Even without being mythological, powerful, or just struck with great muscles, Hercules is even capable of having the title of being called a “Hero”.

There’s a simpler type of a hero - Everyday heroes. Grey’s Anatomy is a drama television show series about different surgeons who work at Seattle Grace Hospital. (In season 5: episode 23), Doctor George O’Malley jumped in front of a bus to push a woman that he did not even know out of the way to save her life. He was rushed to the E.R. and was injured from almost his entire body, almost to the point where you could not tell his identity, and became brain dead after an attempt of surgery. He died shortly after, and they donated his organs to save other people’s lives. Most people would consider him as a hero because of his courage and bravery. Without even a minute of thought, he saved not only one, but more than a few stranger’s lives.

Doctors like George O’Malley are one of the few everyday heroes that have also made a difference in at least one person’s life. They dedicate their time to helping those who need medical care, and would go out of their way to make sure they lived and ensured a healthy life. Most Americans know that September 11^th is one of the most tragic events that have happened in the United States. Innocent people, policemen, firefighters, rescue teams, and even bystanders have fallen. Those who have fallen to try and save another are considered heroes. Firefighters and rescue teams have risked their own life by dedicating their time, blood, and honor to put others’ lives before theirs. People look up to them, and thank them for their dedication to becoming a hero in more than one person’s life.

An eighteen year old girl’s best friend learns that she’s pregnant. She’s only a few months younger than her, and she’s only seventeen. She has a decision whether to have an abortion, or to keep the baby. She decides that abortion is against the nature of life, and regardless of the responsibilities she’s about to face, she decides to keep the baby. Two years later, she is an independent single mother who goes to school, has a good paying job, and is a full time mother. The eighteen year old girl considers her best friend as one of her heroes, simply because she looks up to her and admires her for the actions she chose. She doesn’t have the ability to lift cars, read minds, fly, or transport places in two seconds, but she is an amazing woman who is still completely content with her life and can stand on her own two feet without anyone’s help.

The littlest things could qualify you as a hero - it just depends on the perspective of the person. On Channel7 news, there is a section called “Everyday Heroes”. It identifies the people who are defined as heroes for dedicating their time for something even smaller than cleaning up the trash at a park. “The Hero Award is given to Coloradans who initiate solutions, motivate others, represent or serve working families and work on a nonprofit basis.” (Website, Channel7). The nominations go from serving lunch to the homeless to getting big dogs homes. Anyone has the capability of becoming a nomination, and the list on this website updates almost every day. So although the definitions in the dictionary differ from other people’s definitions, even the little things you do on a daily basis can change someone’s life and you could become their own personal her

Fighting off Lex Luther, or saving the wife of Hercules is heroic. So is cooking dinner for a homeless family without asking for a penny, just as well as the company of a licensed dog for a blind person. “Hero” is a word of many different definitions, and it just differentiates on the crowd you’re speaking to. A mother, best friend, favorite actor, or even a stranger once met downtown could all be your favorite heroes because of a simple action that lead you to admire them. They’re all just individuals who have the capability of changing at least one person’s life and becoming a hero.


Works Cited:
"We Salute Our 7Everyday Heroes - 7 Everyday Hero News Story - KMGH Denver."

Denver News, Colorado News, Denver Weather, Colorado Weather and Sports - KMGH Denver's Channel 7. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.

"Hercules." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2011

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"Here's to the Future, Season 5 Ep. 23." Grey's Anatomy. 14 May 2009. Television

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 2009. Print.