Heroism Rewritten to Be Politically Correct
CNN has released it list of Top 10 Heroes of 2008 . The judges who picked these ten people seem to have chosen to rewrite the definition of a hero:
1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage
2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 plural usually heroes : submarine 24: an object of extreme admiration and devotion : idol
The CNN heroes are involved with reading, helping poor children, medical assistance to the poor, schools. All ten are worthy of recognition and admiration. But, they’re not heroes.
Spec. Joe Gibson is a hero.
Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter and Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale are heroes.
Chicago Fire Lt. Nicholas Cairo is a hero.
IMPD Officer Madeline Lothamer is a hero.
Heroism is being diluted by media and by well-meaning but confused liberals. Giving charity is not heroic. Being killed by terrorists while sitting at your desk is not heroic.
Heroes are the people who run towards the fire, towards the sound of the guns. Heroes are those ordinary people who do extraordinary things and many of them die doing so. Heroes do more than raise money or jog with the homeless.
Subscribe
Wow…. you are so off. Is it so bad that CNN has recognized volunteerism? They’ve also done pro-military pieces. Volunteerism is something we need now more than ever. As we pull our troops out of Iraq/Afganistan and stumble into a depression we’ll see that our government (thanks to distortions started in the 1980’s by Reagan and finished by Bush 2.0) is unable to help relieve the needs of anyone - including YOUR heros. Just like decades before America will have to return to an age of Volunteerism until our own government can pick itself up off the ground and properly serve its citizens.
In addition, how pitiful a plea is it to gain attention by putting down people who do more than you ever will? Your High Horse: get off it.
I commend all ten of the selfless candidates fo CNN’s Heroes of 2008. However, I ask why didn’t CNN include one single military combat vet in their candidates? Volunteering to help the helpless is only a first step in being a hero.
Being a hero means being scared as hell and doing the right thing for someone else even though it might kill you.
Josh,
How kind of you to take time from your hugely important and high paying job to leave a comment on this blog.
For your information, Chuck Simmins is one of those people who run into burning buildings. He has been a fireman/EMT for, what, about 25 years Chuck? How many lives have you saved, Chuck? 50? 100? Heck, heroes don’t keep count of that shit.
Chuck gets it genetically. His dad was a war hero and fireman as well.
Some day, Josh, when you move out of your mom’s basement apartment, you can try to be half the man that Chuck is. I just doubt you’ll ever get there.
A hero is someone who saves someone else without thinking of themselves. It’s as simple as that.
Tad Agoglia is saving people from the despair of the destruction of their lives (as they knew them) I’m sure there were people who thought that they had no way out that were given their ability to hope again.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis is saving innocent children from the degradation of illiteracy.
Carolyn LeCroy is saving innocent children from growing up NOT knowing a parent. (I mean, when you think about it, missing a parent is one of the factors that leads to prison, right? So maybe she’s also saving us from having to pay to lock up those kids one day?)
Anne Mahlum is saving desperate men from enduring the hopelessness of being homeless.
Liz McCartney is saving families from having to start over in an unfamiliar place.
Phymean Noun is saving children from the downward spiral of having no education or job skills.
David Puckett is saving people who, due to whatever unfortunate circumstances, may have not had a chance to live their lives to the fullest.
Maria Ruiz is saving families with children from the miserable dreggs of poverty.
Marie Da Silva is saving children orphaned by disease who may have never had a chance to be educated.
Viola Vaughn is saving girls who, if not for her, would have been lost through the grates of poverty.