If you listen to the media, it would appear that heroes abound in our great country. Football players are called heroes because they risk their health weekly. The ACLU would like to be considered heroic for their public stances against virtually every religious issue that appears. And, there are the everyday heroes so labeled simply because they volunteer in a variety of ways. If you read the obituaries, you will also discover that many have fought a heroic battle against cancer or other diseases. Teachers are called everyday heroes for teaching. Bill Gates was even labeled a hero for donating a stupendous amount of money!

I disagree.

Heroism occurs when a person forgets his own life in the pursuit of saving another. So, while a cancer patient could be called tenacious or determined, they are not heroic. After all, what choice do they have in trying to defeat this scourge of our time? Nor is anyone else saved by their efforts. The families have a vested interest in saving their loved one, but no one risks their life to actually prolong the cancer patient’s life. So, although we love and honor them, and as painful as it is to accept, these are not heroes.

Football players do have to be concerned about injuries, but, they are paid huge salaries to do so. Nor are any lives saved by their running up and down the field on a given Sunday. The ACLU is a liberal organization with an agenda that wants to defeat anything that vaguely resembles a religious belief. If you can spell “religion”, you had better watch out! The ACLU is going to be after you! How does that make the organization heroic? It doesn’t.

Unless they are teaching in a dangerous zone, such as Iraq, or war-torn Africa , why would a teacher be considered a hero? Teachers are some of my favorite people because I am one and several of my relatives are teachers. But, preparing lesson plans, teaching, working with students, or motivating our youth to higher achievements does not qualify anyone for sainthood. While teachers are a wonderful asset to our society, and might work above and beyond their pay grade, they are not heroes.

So, who cares if we label virtually everyone a hero? I do. I think that this barrage of overblown hype destroys the value of true heroism. After all, if everyone is a hero, then, by definition, there are no heroes! And, we risk losing our appreciation for those who truly do risk their lives for others. When rock stars and Hollywood personalities become idolized by our youth as heroes – just because they are famous, we risk losing ideals that are intrinsic to the survival of our country. So, let’s consider who the real heroes are.

True heroes, like those firefighters and policeman who rushed the World Trade Center without regard for themselves, are an important thread in our society’s fabric. We should honor those people. We should also honor every firefighter and policeman who daily face the possibility of a mortal threat, but do so to keep our society intact and to save others.

We need to remember our military heroes and heroines who, no matter where they serve, are prepared to instantly jump to our country’s defense. Their devotion to duty is woven so deeply into our lives that we often forget their service. We do remember them on holidays like the Fourth of July, but we should keep them in our prayers every day of the year because, without them, the enemies of Liberty might prevail.

We also need to remind ourselves that heroes come in every color and shape and size and belong to every nationality on the face of the Earth. The Iraqui soldier who is willing to face an enemy he might not recognize might be a hero, too, just as our own troops are. Those who struggle against social injustice might also be considered heroes if they, like Martin Luther King, risked their lives. But, beware of elevating someone just because they are of a minority. Jessie Jackson might appear as a hero to some, but I think he is nothing more than a self-serving politician masquerading as a religious personality. If you want to honor a person from a minority, why not choose someone who deserves that honor like Clarence Thomas or Condaleza Rice? But, it is equally important to realize that heroes do come in white, too. Despite liberal attacks on each and every action, President Bush could be considered a hero because he has devoted his last 6 years to protecting his country and advancing the causes we conservatives and moderates believe in – and, yes, his life is constantly at risk. So, he does qualify as a hero.

The important point in determining a hero has to be whether the person is sacrificing himself on behalf of others. Those who do it for monetary gain or publicity alone do not qualify. Nor do those who are merely doing a job without risk qualify for the status of hero or heroine.

Let’s keep the title of “Hero” as a special acclamation for those who deserve such accolades. That way, our children will be able to look up to true role models and, perhaps, grow into giving and caring adults who perpetuate a generous world. Heroism is an indispensable virtue in every age. It is the spear which pricks and motivates other to raise their standards to benefit the greater whole which is society. It is the glue which holds our higher ideals together and makes us all better for having known the true HEROES of our age

From : The Mom Team