Raymond Li

Hero – : a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities (Marriam Webster 2014)

Despite this definition, many have a preconceived idea of what a hero truly is.

“He even gave it away when he knew it was his last chance to live” (NBC 2007). This quote describes Arland William Jr as he gives away a helicopter rescue ring to another person stranded with him in the Potomac River. That decision killed him. It also “killed [his] grandfather” (NBC 2007). His mom was never the same, and his daughter asks “why didn’t you just hang on?” (2007). Arland was considered a hero, but is being considered a hero always a good thing? Heroism often brings pain and sorrow to loved ones, and it can lead to false expectations for people who are heroes. Throwing around the definition of a hero carelessly ends up morphing the meaning. The consequences of heroism are taken too lightly and the idea of what it means to be a hero needs to be rethought over.

Read more on Arland’s story on NBC : http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21902983/ns/health-behavior/t/hidden-cost-heroism/

 

 

With cases of heroism, cases of death are bound to follow. With cases of death, cases of sorrow will come as well. In the graphic narrative Presepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Marji — the main character — tells her friend how her dead father is a hero. her friend wishes that her dad was “alive and in jail rather than dead and a hero” (Satrapi, 2004, 86). Her friend feels that Marji takes the term of “hero” lightly, and she doesn’t fully understand the consequences of being a hero. The consequences in their case is the lost of a loved one to Marji’s friend.

 

Not only does Marji not recognize the consequences of heroism, but she also has false expectations of what a hero should do. Earlier in the book, she had been disappointed with how her father was “not a hero” (Satrapi, 2004, 52) simply because he did not die valiantly like her friends’ relatives. A similar case is found in Arland Williams Jr’s story. There is a bridge, elementary school, and “professorship of heroism” (NBC 2007) celebrating and remembering his name. Despite their existence, Arland is still a tragic tale to his daughter, and other relatives. There are many cases of heroes in our everyday lives who do not get recognition. This is because of the preconceived idea that a hero should die valiantly, like the mentality that Marji holds. Just because her dead is not dead does not mean he cannot be a hero.

 

Marji’s expectation of heroism is only one example of how the definition of a hero has morphed. While many heroes do not suffer the consequences of injury and death, there are other people who can be defined as heroes in our everyday lives. On Values.com.youreverydayheroes, heroes of all kinds are featured. Here, heroes can come in the form of an amputee, a veteran, a donator, a homeless, or even a best friend (Values.com 2014). The list continues. I feel that this type of hero lacks recognition to an extent.

 

May it be an act of selfless sacrifice, a revolutionary activist, or someone you simply look up to, heroes are always in our lives. They are found in the most unique places. Whether it be in books like Persepolis or in stories like of Arnald William Jrs, they play a prominent role in our lives. Being so prominent, we have to recognize the consequences whenever heroes risk their lives. We should also be wary of holding false expectations for heroes, and recognize that heroes come in all shapes and sizes (just like Marji’s dad, or Arland).

Raymond Li 10 / 9 / 14