While most of us recognize the concept of heroism, an operational definition has remained elusive. This elusiveness is a result in part that published literature has focused little on the personal attributes that predispose an individual to heroic acts.
As a request from someone I value as a friend and admire because of the values, character traits, and patriotism she possesses I will present my thoughts on the term "hero." Let me begin by telling you who a hero is not. A hero is not an athlete who sets a record on the playing field. Nor is it a political activist out to save the planet from global warming or even the adventurer out to be the first person to this or that. Granted those people may be brave but in my view they do not meet the definition of a hero, for whatever they achieve benefits only self. Real heroes are selfless. Unfortunately our modern definition of hero has been corrupted to include all manner of people who simply put, do not warrant the title.
A hero is one who has willingly put himself or herself in grave physical jeopardy for the benefit of another. Heroes are people who overcome evil by doing good at great personal risk. This they do through self-sacrifice, resilience and action. Whether they succeed or fail, heroes provide a moral and ethical charter and inspiration for all of us.
Soldiers are considered heroes because they do what most are unwilling or afraid to do, they protect their nation. They display physical courage and usually excel in the face of danger and adversity. Soldiers display the will for self-sacrifice for the greater good of the nation they serve. If self-sacrifice in the face of life threatening danger is our guide, there are multitudes of heroes in our military services, In fact, just being a service member would make one a hero in the eyes of many. And maybe that's the way it should be.
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