NOS: What is defines a Heroe? And on what level? In what situation? Unless you are speaking of THE HEROE. I believe the concept of a heroe is the projection of Man’s desire or fantasy to posses godlikepowers. To me, a heroe is one who stand up for what is right! To risk what is dear to him to defend his belief. To do what is right because that is what he should do, and not for the sake of being a heroe! We are all capable of being a heroe, but we will only know when we are face with the situation. Heroes then are more dramatic, more clear, now, they are harder to spot. But as with most heroes, they shy away from recognition!
Me: I agree w/ most of what you said about a hero. May be today, a hero has not come forth because there has been no great test. I’m sure there are many unsung heroes, the everyday folks who do great deeds. But i want to see them in the kind of glorified light we put up mass murderers and Hollywood actors/actresses. We know names of mass murderers and actors more than we know names of real present day heroes.
I guess, what I really mean to say is I want real role models. I’m tired of seeing beautiful movie stars and fashion models and having only those kinds of people to measure myself by. I want to see and look up to and strive to be people w/ substance. Even though idealized heroes are just normal men who are glamourized, I want to at least be able to idealize what is really worth being idealized (instead of what is idealized now: physical beauty and nothing more). I want ideals like those portrayed in 300. Like stuff you said: fighting for what you believe, willing to give up your life for it. To have that kind of meaning in your life, a belief so strong you would die for it, is so inspiring! Not to have it, life seems meaningless.
It seems a strange paradox, doesn’t it? Meaning in life is defined by how much you’re willing to give life up for it. But that’s what’s so great…to live with such a strong will and passion, such love for life, that you will not be afraid of death. That’s really freedom, when you’re not afraid of pain and suffering and death. When you have an ideal, a meaning so deep, these things are all worth it to you. I want to live like that. I don’t want to live life bored with the mindless entertainments of the media, disillusioned by our immoral world, confused by humanity, afraid of suffering and pain. I want to live like a free person…a truly free person.
“The more things change the more they stay the same.” To me, truth never changes! Time is defined by changes, but there are things or ideas and concepts that are so true that it is outside of TIME. There were heros then, and there are heros now. Things have changed, but the truth still remains. There are heros now fighting for humanity just as before, but we are clouded by the many “programs” that is our society I.e. Mass media, technology…ect… we do not see the true hero. But who knows, heros are often recognized in retrospective, so in time maybe we will see that heros were among us.
You will never know what you would die for untill you are faced with that dilema. You can think it, but when you are faced with the choice of your very own of life and death…. what will you do?
Reminds me of a john wooden qoute..
“Sports doesn’t build character, it reveils it.”
A hero is a subjective concept, a person can be a hero to someone and that same person can be a killer or opposite of a hero to someone else.
Be like water, strong enough to carve a canyon, can penetrate any cracks, and an take any shape, mold to any form.
The beauty of nature. Untouched by man.
You know what I realized something today and it reminded me of your hero post. You were saying how we don’t see heros like we use to in the old days. And it made me think… well I was trying to think when I was reading ur post but nothing, and out of no where, randomly, this thought came to me…..
We lack heros that are widely recognizable because today, there is no fine line of what to defend or stand up for. This is what I mean….
Back then, it was more of a simplier choice, to live in oppresion or to stand up and fight for your freedome/ free to do as you please. Today the line is more blurr, we don’t know what to stand up for? What we have to stand up for and die for is not as black and white as before.
Here is a far fetch example….
Suicide bombers! Particular to the middle east.
I mean, from their point of views, those who are willing to die for their cause are their heros.
Brings us back to definition of a hero?
To die for a cause, a cause worth dying for!
Imagine from looking out @ the world through their eyes? You would ask? Why? Why blow yourself up and kill many others? What are your reasons?
Do we ever ask that question? No, we ethnocentricaly judge! You are crazy, a religious fanatic! We must re-program your mind and your way of thinking, you view of the world, according to us! Or we will kill you, but either way, we are killing them in the process of brainwashing them to not feel what they feel but rather what we feel.
Heros are often idolized by the victors!
By no mean I am saying suicide bombers are heros, but I cannot say anything about them, because I do not know their reasons… I will say tho…. they have a message they want to communicate, and that is the only way they feel they will be heard!
Context, individualism, ethnocentric.
I guess I am left with this thought,
You have to be a hero to yourself! Because only you know what is a hero, and even if you think someone is a hero, they might not be a hero to themself. Murky thoughts, but a clear mind…. only a personal opinion, but true2self,…. hope it will bear fruits for all to reap.
“You learn most when you learn from your-self.”
I came across this and it reminded me of your hero post. I want to share it with you, whenever you have the time. Thanks,
Hope all is well,
Talking2Mirrors
Ok so I forgot to paste the link:
http://www.franksontag.com/WHAT%20IS%20A%20HERO.htm