The word “hero” is thrown around a lot. The definition of the word depends on who is doing the defining, I guess. I mean, what is a hero, really?
“Hero” is used a lot in the sporting world. A basketball player sinks a half court shot to beat the buzzer and win the game. A football player makes a miraculous catch to score the go-ahead touchdown. A baseball player hits a dramatic home run in the bottom of the ninth to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
But, are these true acts of heroism? When you think about it, they are basically doing their jobs. Sometimes they succeed, sometimes they don’t. Coming through in the clutch for your team and your teammates and your fans is great, and spreads much joy and happiness throughout the sporting land. But, are they heroes? That’s not the word I would use.
I think of heroism in terms of sacrifice. And, there are degrees of sacrifice to consider. Now, obviously, putting oneself at risk to save another person is quite heroic, and selfless, to say the least. Firefighters, police officers, and members of the military could be called upon to deal with dangerous situations at any moment. They may have to risk their lives to protect the rest of us. I think we can all agree they perform heroic acts, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice.
What I’m attempting to highlight are other, more minor, less dangerous, but still valuable acts of selflessness that can, in my mind, qualify as heroic. For example, on my daily walks, I sometimes see people walking along, picking up trash. And, they are not doing court mandated community service; they are voluntarily cleaning up their neighborhoods. What is so heroic about that? Well, is this not a form of sacrifice? Trying to improve the neighborhood, thereby improving the quality of life for one’s neighbors? Couldn’t those people be called Heroes of the Neighborhood for their selflessness?
Sure, picking up trash in the neighborhood is not equivalent to running into a burning building and carrying the occupants to safety. Obviously, there is not much risk to life and limb while picking up garbage in the bushes next to a residential street.
But I say, not all heroes are lifesavers. Small acts of sacrifice such as this, can contribute to the quality of life for all members of society. So, I am comfortable with calling those trash-picker-uppers “heroes”.
I’m a sucker for those YouTube videos of people rescuing animals in distress. And, being a cat guy, I’m especially drawn to the videos that feature someone saving a ragged, starving, dying kitten who had been abandoned on the side of the road. Those people who rescue other living beings and give them a chance at having a rich, happy life are heroes, to me.
Do these tiny acts of heroism have any great value in the whole grand scheme of things? No, I guess not. One could say that rescuing a single abandoned kitten by the side of the road provides no great benefit to society. Still, I believe those who rescue animals are heroic.
I suppose what I’m getting at here is that maybe we should rethink what it is we want our heroes to be. My opinion is that those who do for others without expecting anything in return, can be described as heroic. There are many examples all around us, we simply have to look.
I’m thinking of people who work at retirement and nursing homes, especially those who choose that line of work because they truly care about giving aid and comfort to the elderly.
I am pretty darn sure I’m going to wind up in one of those places someday. I am not looking forward to it. I’m hopeful the staff there will be kind, helpful, and caring towards me, even if, as is most likely, I will be a crotchety old cuss who will be challenging for the staff. Taking care of old folks as they near the end of their lives cannot be easy. I believe the people who do that necessary, important work should be acknowledged as heroes.
Another group of heroes are the people who give up their holidays to serve food to the poor. Or they run errands for those who are homebound. Or they visit old people who live alone and have no one with whom to talk. Sometimes, the gift of time is the most valuable and appreciated gift that one person can give another.
There is a group who have been much maligned in recent years, but without whom, our democracy could not function. I am, of course, talking about election workers and officials. The slanderous vitriol these people have had to put up with is disgusting.
This all happened because a pathetic, man-baby loser could not accept being rejected by the majority of American voters. Without a shred of evidence, our whole electoral process was called into question. Cries of a rigged election emanated from the pathetic, man-baby loser, and his demented, ignorant, moronic followers lapped it up like the demented, ignorant morons they are.
The ire of these demented, ignorant morons was directed toward the election workers and officials, many, many of whom are loyal Republicans. I’ve never seen an explanation as to why so many loyal Republicans would participate in rigging elections in favor of Democrats. I’m sure I never will see such an explanation. Why? Because it’s a goddamn lie, that’s why. Perpetrated by pathetic losers. Believed by ignorant morons.
I am sick and tired of the defamatory charges of corruption, malfeasance, and incompetence hurled at these folks. It didn’t used to be this way. ‘Til the pathetic, man-baby loser came along.
The election workers and officials qualify as heroes in my book. We could not have a democracy without them - the people who do the required work. The bullshit they have had to endure without any evidence at all, is just plain wrong.
This has been going on for almost four years, election deniers. You’ve had your chances to show proof of wrongdoing, which has resulted in a Blutarsky level of evidence - 0.0%. A big, fat zilch. Time to shut the hell up.
Perhaps I am guilty of misusing the word “hero”. It is not my intent to dilute its meaning. However, I believe the people about whom I have written are more heroic than the guy who hits the game winning home run or sinks the game winning basket.
It is my belief that all tiny acts of heroism provide value in the sense that, if they are added together, everyone benefits because society becomes more generous, open-minded, and caring.
Well, that’s the theory, anyway.
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