Columbia Southern University
Abstract
Nowadays the concept of a hero is very misleading. When people talk about the heroic individuals, they often seem to refer to those characters shown in the movies, who can just two meter fences and fly over New York City. However, true heroes surround us every day – ranging from the doctor who just saved someone life, to a police officer, who just pulled over a guy going ninety five miles per hour down the highway. Legitimate heroes do not have to possess any unusual qualities, they just have to be different in a way of standing out of the crowd, and doing well for others.
Keywords: hero, ordinary, moral, people
So whom do people consider a hero nowadays? A hero is usually the main character in the book, article, or some historic event. The hero doesn't possess any special qualities in terms of the societal range - both the representatives of the lower classes of society and the outstanding people can become heroes.As a rule, literary authors allocate one representative with an ulterior motive for a role of the hero. Often, in order to deliberately destroy a template, or also usually referred to as a stereotype, the character shows the qualities not peculiar to him. So whom do people consider a hero in the modern narrow-minded life? A hero is someone who is not fictional, someone who can truly be called morally educated and courageous enough to stand up for someone else.
People from century to century, make up new heroes for themselves from year to year to themselves. How are they are guided at their choice? Likely, the far-fetched stories, and everything they see in the media is what shapes their image. The television and books print, tell and show us those who actually is not real whatsoever: vampires, werewolves, betmen and other nonsenses. But what did these people actually do to get the honor to be called heroes? Acted in the popular movies? People will make up scenarios, write profitable books, earn more and more money, and, moreover, we pay them for their imagination. And some people, having read the book or having seen the movie, try to execute these or those tricks at the price of the life, wanting to feel like heroes. However, the hero it not that actor whom you see on TV, the hero – the word itself sounds beautifully and majestically. Not everyone finds time to think thoroughly and process this word. It isn't enough to be popular to become the hero. It is necessary to make something truthfully heroic. Heroes were thought up to fill emptiness in a cinema, our dreams, or thoughts. Movies present us people with unusual abilities who are ready to protect us any minute in the day and everywhere we go. Have you ever met someone this unique in usual life? As for me, I have not, because they simply do not exist. According to the Rap Project organization, we are protected by ordinary people – police, rescued by firefighters and doctors, and it is not necessary for them to possess any unusual abilities to fulfill their purpose. They are among us, ordinary people, who are allocated with nothing, but the decision about our life and destiny. Those who are ready to get into the burning house and to pull out a child at the price of the life. Those who are ready to prevent a crime, or simply to stop and help someone who is trapped on the side of the highway. These are ordinary people about whom nobody writes books, or shoot movies. They remain imperceptible for us and if somebody even notices their feat, it is usually because they have helped us tremendously. They are not remembered all life, they are forgotten, having told simple human "thanks". They are not born heroes, they become heroes cultivating bravery, courage, kindness, responsiveness and other qualities necessary for the good person to become a hero in this hostile world.
The most important trait that the hero must possess is moral education. Assimilation of the concept about good and evil, about the correct and wrong acts. Probably parents play a large role in this moment. Moreover, the formation of a strong own outlook is crucial. Independence from the society is what makes a person stand out from the crowd. When one listens to the voices of others, but makes his own decisions.
Generally speaking, a hero is someone who is not made up by the authors in fantasies, it is simple people around us, who possess such qualities as moral education and leadership.
Reference
What Really Is a Hero, Anyway? (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.raproject.org/blog/entry/what-really-is-a-hero-anyway
