<p>I didn’t want to be a thread buster on the Tiger Woods thread, so here goes.</p>
<p>My D had an assignment at school analyzing “heroes” of modern times. Interestingly, so many of the people we define as heroes are sports or political or entertainment celebrities. This increase in visibility puts them on a pedastal, which may or may not be their own choosing. Kind of goes with the job, I guess.</p>
<p>So, if Tiger’s status has made his appear a little less shiny these days, I wonder how do we define heroes? They so often don’t get even noticed unless the press picks them up and celebrates their stories. Tiger became a “hero” because of his legendary skill, and also the way he carried himself, in life. Some of this seems suspect, now. </p>
<p>It’s somewhat easier to pick out those athletes, but what do really they do? Throw a ball, or swing a bat, or whatever their skill is, how is that heroic? My D is an athlete, but she doesn’t consider what she does heroic. Just fun. Does she have some skill at it? Yes. But what else does it take to be a hero or legend? What skills define a hero?</p>
<p>Who would you all define as modern heroes, or ones from the last 25 years or so? </p>
<p>I can see Greg Mortesen being a modern hero for helping build schools for girls. My D suggested Sully Sullenberger, the pilot from the miracle landing on the Hudson. (Sully doesn’t think he was a hero. Just doing his job.) Any others?</p>
<p>My grandfather who had a cross burned on his front yard because as a dentist he had the nerve to help African American patients during the 20’s,my father who fought in the Pacific during WWII, my uncles who fought in Europe and my father in law an “Oakie” who was 7 years old and picking fruit during the great depression were always inspirational to my DD.(and me) We try to keep our heroes close to home. I bet you have some in your family.</p>
<p>S and I were talking about St. Jude’s Hospital and I told him the story of how the late Danny Thomas (S didn’t know who he was) made a promise to God that if he were granted career success, he would give back. I wish I still had the source, but the statistics from St. Jude’s regarding survival from childhood cancers are really amazing. I told S that I consider Danny Thomas a hero for founding that wonderful place.</p>
<p>Personal favorite of mine: Dr. Paul Farmer who started and still is part of Partner in Health. Tracy Kidder wrote about Farmer in Mountains Beyond Mountains.</p>
<p>My grandparents, who owned a bakery during the Great Depression, and sold fresh bread as “day old” for a penny a loaf, because their customers were too proud to accept a free handout. My grandparents didn’t have much to eat, either, and used to tell me about the onion sandwiches they ate, but at least they had the means to make bread,</p>
<p>Well I think sports or entertainment figures are more idol than hero. Crappy assignment, especially reading about all these other everyday heroes.
Most political figures are neither heroes nor idols though.</p>
<p>It’s a shame the teacher put a perimeter around who your child could choose as a hero. I can look around my close circle of friends and family a pick a hero or two. Would it not be great if this teacher recognized that a hero that has a connection to your daughter would create a much more moving subject than someone your daughter does not know. The fact we do not “know” Tiger Woods, Chris Brown or who ever is in the spotlight today. We only know the person that has been sold to us through the use of image and public relations. I personally have never seen Tiger Woods as a hero as much as a “personality.” What is heroic about hitting a ball in cup at 13? It may be amazing and talent inspiring, but heroic? Take your daughter down to the local soup kitchen had have her look into the eyes of the people serving the line. These people are not home warm in a chair, typing a post on an internet forum or watching the latest movie. They are everyday people doing a small but important role to support humanity. Now that is what heroes do.</p>
<p>Thanks to all - it’s nice to have positive posts like this! I am going to ask her to reach out to the teacher and find out if the assignment can be modified to include everyday heroes, unknown to “everyone” but significant, nonetheless! :)</p>
<p>interesting thread. To my youngest D, Mia Hamm and the entire first women’s national soccer team are real heroes. Actually, the story of that team, which they made into a really inspirational film made my H cry. (he’s not a cryer.)</p>
<p>The passengers on the flight bound for the pentagon on 9/11 were real heroes.</p>
<p>I think the real problem, today, is that we know so much more about our heroes than we would have known even a generation ago. Kennedy was a hero to many. MLKing also a hero. Had we known about thier private lives? I wonder if the burnish would have held.</p>
<p>My oldest finds Oprah to be a hero, also she admires the endless work Angelina Jolie does with the UN, also Nicole Kidman.</p>
<p>There are some heroes, but it probably has to be about more than just that one person.</p>
<p>I had to look up the name of the man from Hotel Rwanda - Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle). To me a hero is not a sports figure or a celebrity, but someone who goes out of the way to help others, often at great personal risk. There are heroes out there, they don’t get the air time the pseudo-hero celebs do.</p>
<p>I think flawed heroes are not necessarily a bad thing. The ability to redeem oneself is a powerful part of the draw. I don’t much follow baseball, but Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is the epitome of what I mean.</p>
<p>Sports are easily predisposed to create heroes- they’re basically the highs and lows of human nature condensed into an easily viewable package. Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Cathy Freeman, the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team, Rudy of Notre Dame fame- the list goes on. It’s too bad that the negative aspects get more attention in the media. And on top of that, a hero may not receive proper credit until a generation later. The most notable example of this that I can think of is Tommy Smith and John Carlos and their Black Power salute at the Mexico City games of 1968. They were basically shunned by society in general at the time, and it is only 50 years later that the meaning of their action is finally being seen in a positive light.</p>
<p>I’m rambling, but I hope this thread lasts a while, as I can consolidate my thoughts a little better.</p>
<p>Ordinary heroism is an temporary reaction to a temporary situation. True heroism is a blase display of high character over a long term period of high adversity. Nelson Mandela is indeed an example of true heroism.</p>
<p>Irena Sendler is one of my favorite heroes of the WWII era. If you aren’t familiar with her story, I encourage you to read about the risks she took to help so many thousands of children.</p>
<p>And also those children’s parents, who gave them up, so that they might live.</p>