<p>Prompt: Traditionally the term “heroism” has been applied to those who have braved physical danger to defend a cause or to protect others. But one of the most feared dangers people face is that of disapproval by their family, peers, or community. Sometimes acting courageously requires someone to speak out at the risk of such rejection. We should consider those who do so true heroes.</p>
<p>ASSIGNMENT: Should heroes be defined as people who say what they think when we ourselves lack the courage to say it?</p>
<p>Heroism is a complex dance. A hero is often one that voices his or her opinions with extreme courage. However, some argue that a hero is simply one who braves the universe and faces physical danger. Without doubt, a hero can be either one of said definitions, as proven by the actions of South Carolina throughout its history, as well as by Jerry of Robert Cormiers “The Chocolate War.”</p>
<p>South Carolina has forced itself to voice its opinions throughout Americas young history. It began the Nullification Crisis in 1828 when John C. Calhoun, former Vice President, anonymously published his document entitled “The South Carolina Exposition and Protest.” He stated that if a federal tariff whose sobriquet was The Tariff of Abominations would not be repealed, South Carolina would secede from the Union. This statement summed up the Souths ideas and compounded them into one document. For this, South Carolina became the hero of the South. They merely voiced their concerns and directed them towards Washington.</p>
<p>Soon enough, South Carolina found another opportunity to state its opinion, having the effrontery to do so after its last rebellion against its own federation. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President-Elect of the United States. South Carolina strongly disagreed with his intended motives, prematurely concluding that his actions would be detrimental to the Souths well-being. Almost immediately, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Soon after, the other Southern states joined South Carolina in its cause, making the rebellious state a hero. </p>
<p>While heroism can be defined as having the courage to stand up and voice ones beliefs, it can also be defined as facing physical danger to defend a cause. In Robert Cormiers novel entitled “The Chocolate War”, the protagonist, a high school student named Jerry, chooses to be a nonconformist. He refuses to engage in an annual chocolate sale, an unfathomable act in his society. However, the consequences were not as trivial as his protest. By refusing to conform to society, Jerry became the target of much torment. He was frequently physically abused and was often the subject of much humility and bullying. </p>
<p>Ultimately, heroism has no single definition. One important question arises: can one become a hero without risking physical danger? With any refusal to conform to the status quo, one would be put in the cradle of physical danger. It is extremely rare to find someone who stands up against the status quo and finds himself out of harms way. However, the difference in defining a hero lies in the manifestation of physical danger; one can define a hero as one who has voiced his or her opinion with the risk of harm and one who voices his or her concerns with the consequence ultimately becoming physical harm.</p>