What is a hero? What action does one take to become a hero? Who are these heroes that you hear everyone talk about, but never see? The word hero is passed around too much these days. A hero is not a football player that scores the game-winning touchdown or the goaltender who saves his team from a loss. A hero is usually an ordinary person that did extraordinary things. A true hero is really never a hero at all; at least not in their own mind.
When one reads Senator John McCain’s novel Why Courage Matters, McCain tells the story of Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez. Sergeant Benavidez went on a rescue mission to save wounded brothers; he was the only man to go. Carrying only a knife and a medic bag, he ran to his wounded buddies, sustaining gunshot wounds to his leg, face and head. A helicopter landed to rescue all of the men that were stranded. Benavidez got them all on board the helicopter only for the pilot to be fatally wounded, causing the chopper to crash.
He rescued all of the men from the crash and fought off the Vietnamese Army for six hours with the help of air strikes, circling gun ships, and his own fortitude. A second chopper landed and he boarded his wounded comrades, then he got on and then collapsed. Everyone thought he was dead, placing him in a body bag. While the doctor was zipping up the bag, Benavidez spat in his face to signal he was alive. They flew him to Saigon for surgery, treating him for seven severe gunshot wounds, twenty-eight shrapnel wounds, and bayonet wounds in both arms.
When he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan, Benavidez said “I don’t like to be called a hero. The real heroes are the ones who gave their lives for their country.” Such humility and modesty from Sergeant Benavidez is really representative of heroes because they never want the credit.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Scoota Rey
So, I guess Superman wouldn't be considered a hero?
2 - bhw
Superman is a *super*hero because he has super powers. He's not a plain old hero.
3 - RJ
My image of a hero comes from the movie Volcano. That guy (I think he was a firefighter) who saw the lava approaching the subway and saw two unconscious people still inside the train. He got into the train, picked them both up, and jumped into the lava. He fell forward so that the two unconscious people would land just beyond the lava and could be carried to safety by others, while he himself burst into flames and died horribly.
I can think of no more admirable way to leave this earth. It sure beats pissing and shitting yourself as you lie dying in some nursing home at age 90...
4 - Samson
I agree with RJ above about what a hero is. It seems that a hero really has no clue that they are a hero until the moment calls to them. A moment will not call to everyone, only the hero. Example- A baby fell into a gorilla cage, a young man who was sectating there jumped right in after her, while about 30 onlookers including the babies parents stood there watching.
That young man was a hero because the situation moved him to act. Not all situasions move everyone, but I think the hero is the one who moves at the right time for one other reason than he or she must.
5 - jessica
i agree. the word 'hero' is a over used term. it annoys me when i see signs for sports star reading 'heroes' and the media agrees. its not just celebrities that are constantly called heroes. people who suffer from serious illnesses and survive are called fighters and heroes....surely they think positive but doesn't mean there heroes. it pisses me off so much
6 - AnW
I think that saying people that have overcome great illnesses are not heroes is going a little far
7 - Paolo Maniaol
A person who is willing to risk his/her life for the sake of other is a real hero for me..!!!
8 - Chloé
Hey just reading everyones comments and maybe some1 could help me. I have an esay to write on how Heroes and Heroies have changed over the years. Any comments would help.
9 - MAE
a hero to me...is someone that saves you to whatever situation...it doesnt have to be a big, mascular man with super human strenght...my mom,dad,sis,relatives,acquintance,or anyone could be a hero...^_^as long as ur satisfied to it!/ and you think or you feel that *that* person deserves to be called *hero*...
10 - Max
I have an essay to write and I think everyone has read the story of Jason and the Argonauts and do you think Jason was a hero and why.
11 - alawi shohatee
i agree about that people that called themself as a hero but that people had to disregard their life to other people so that poeple called a hero
12 - Anna
I think that all of you are right !
13 - sophie
hiiiiii
14 - filbert
i think wats u hv write abt hero is tru i agree with u man keep up u will be a a best teacther soon
15 - goofy
helllooo
16 - emma
i agree that true heroes are those who dont see themselves as heros but instead as someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time.
but on the other hand, maybe the whole idea of having a hero, and idolizing someone is enough, even if it is only a sportstar or singer. because i think that having a role model and looking up to someone, thats what gives us hope. and thats what makes us strive to reach goals, with a "hero" to look up to and with hope in our hearts. we can acheive. and i just think that maybe thats enough. even if heroes dont really exist, if we idolize someone enough to draw hope from them. thats enough. who cares if they havent saved a life. they gave someone hope. and maybe that in itself makes them a hero.
17 - annabel
In a time far before our own, ‘heroes’ were recognised by their distinguished courage, ability or their brave deeds or noble qualities. Today, this is no longer the case; society now looks up to people on the basis of what a person has rather than who they are, what they can do and what they can offer to the community. What these modern day heroes have in replacement of bravery, courage and ability is money, fame, athletic talent or physical beauty. Today’s true heroes are constantly in the shadows, never in the spotlight. True heroes help someone out the kindness of their heart; they do this without searching for fame or redemption. This is the characteristic that distinguishes the real heroes in today’s society.
18 - lmw
jesus was and is a true hero in my mind because he WILLINGLY died for others so that they might live.
19 - dont no
I think a hero is a person that puts other people before themselves and they help people that could e upset from disasters and they just put an arm around someone and says its going to be ok i also think thats a hero. There are a lot of heroes today as years ago. Heroes sacrafice their lives fr other people. On the news I heard a little chinese boy saved most of his class when his school building was coming down and thats what I call a hero. My mum and dad are my heroes to how they support me and make sure I'm safe
20 - sexy
hero has a pussy
21 - CHS_James-S
Hero is a VERY overused term. People who do everyday things are technically not heroes. Heroes are ordinary people like you and me who jump into action, not as there job but as a sense of care for the world. Heroes are you and me. NOT superman or batman. Heroes are just people with enough courage to risk there life for a good cause and not a stupid stunt.
22 - Jimbo
selflessness is what makes up a real hero
23 - chuck-j
Don't confuse hero, role model, and someone who inspires. They're different, though there is often some overlap. I think a couple of things make a hero: 1) a sense of selflessness or thinking of others first, 2) doing something completely out of the ordinary, more than is expected, more than the person probably thought possible, and 3) opportunity combined with action. 'Hero' is isn't something you are, it's something you do in a particular moment.
Being willing to do something heroic doesn't make you a hero. It may make you a role model. In fact sometimes it may be that normally you aren't willing to be a hero, but in a given moment you rise to it, unplanned and unexpected.
Role models live and behave in exemplary ways (maybe only in part of their lives), and those who make us want to do the same are inspirations. This may or may not involve heroism.
24 - carl
the is good
25 - sam_channnnnnnnnnn
well, Spiderman and supernam and those other ppls arn't heores after all.