How does ‘Hero’ happen?
My post last week about Coco Larrain had a great response (you can read it by taking a look at the ‘recent posts’ list over there on the right). Even though the word wasn’t used, a theme emerged about her being a hero, which I believe she is. But how and why is she, or anyone, a hero? That got me to thinking and I decided to investigate the idea a bit.
Here is day #1 of Heroes Week at the NDD.
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I love this quote. It rang so clear when I first read it. I suppose some heroes aren’t cornered. They seek out danger, they train for danger, and they respond as trained when the danger appears before them. Firefighters, police, rescue teams, front line soldiers all train for it and yes, they are heroes. But even then, with all their training, they must at some point face that tight spot and respond.
Most acts of heroism, those done by those not specifically trained, occur when there is no choice. One must either act heroically or something very bad is going to happen or is already happening.
I read recently about the very sad loss of a family in a tornado that hit Woodward, Oklahoma. The father was found with his 2 small daughters tucked beneath him. They all died but that didn’t mean his act was not heroic. It just means it wasn’t successful.
Another example that comes to mind are the passengers on Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001. Cornered on a jet by terrorists aiming for the US Capitol, they became heroes by fighting back and succeeding in thwarting their plans, at the cost of their own lives.
Give your fellow readers some of examples that you know of – those who were backed into a corner and responded heroically.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who has had to learn many times he is not one.
Quote by Jim Belushi, 1954- not dead yet, American actor
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