As we hold fundraisers, parades, and events constantly extolling the sacrifice of our heroes, I can't help but notice the lack of the same. I mean, where are the heroes. They have become " everyday " things. But are there any real heroes left? If so, I'm just not seeing any. I'm talking people like Audie Murphy. Do any of these kids today even know who he was? I doubt it, but if you were looking for a hero, he'd be the man. What about Alvin York? Jonas Salk was a hero. You can name celebrities and entertainers as heroes too, but they are not in the same category as the others, in my opinion. Ira Hayes, a hero with a sad ending. So, what happened to our heroes? Well I'd say the media made them all too familiar to us all. How they did that was by exposing their humanity. You could argue that is a good thing and the only proper thing to do. I can't offer any argument to refute that thinking but I can offer some thoughts. The old saying familiarity breeds contempt comes to mind. I'm thinking this isn't exactly the same thing but has the same effect. Heroes, out of necessity, must be placed above ourselves on a moral and virtuous level. That's what makes them heroes! They are not like you and I. I see no heroes today because that quality has been stripped bare and they are exposed as being, human.
When I was growing up we had real heroes. Yes, they were real people, and they had real faults as well as virtues. Thing is, the faults weren't as readily exposed to the general public. Hero's are created in the public eye. Consider JFK. Everyone knows immediately who you are talking about if you say those initials. I'd say you are famous when just your initials is enough. Much has been said and written about his Presidency and the idea of Camelot. During his lifetime you certainly didn't hear about his extramarital affairs, his grandfathers dealings with the criminal element, or any goings on of a questionable moral nature with his family. No, he was the fresh young President of the United States, the first Catholic President ever elected. His wife was a woman of style and class. After being assassinated he become a hero! I'd say that legacy has been completely destroyed by the media in the years that have followed. I say that and I'm not one that was ever a big fan of him or his administration. Before him there was FDR, another man known solely by his initials. FDR the hero of the working man and a cripple. You didn't hear much about that though and many common people were completely unaware. Great effort and pains were taken to conceal that from the general public. Why? Because heroes aren't crippled, that's why. So was it a deceit being perpetrated on the American people or a vehicle of hope? You decide.
In 2019 ask the young people who their heroes are. What you will hear is a list of entertainers and sports figures. That was true when I was a kid as well. I had heroes like John Wayne to look up to. I realize now he was only playing a part but what a part it was. If John Wayne didn't instill patriotism and pride in you there was something wrong! Didn't matter if he was being a cowboy or a green beret, he stood for America. He was a character of values. He certainly wasn't supposed to be some imaginary super villain or caped crusader. I also admired Joe DiMaggio, joltin' Joe a man of impeccable character, didn't he still love Marilyn and send her flowers. And there was Mickey Mantle, a giant of a man. The sports writers didn't report on his indiscretions, they reported on his on field talents.
Do you know why entertainers and sports figures are the usual heroes? Because we can all dream to be like them, to ball play, sing, dance, or act. That never changes. We also forgive them for their human frailties because it benefits us to do so. We get to enjoy their performances, it's as simple as that. In recent years we have started holding some of those sports figures to a higher standard and I think that is a good thing. Even athletes that are worth a lot of money to the team are being effected! That's saying something when we are willing to sacrifice money or profits for a moral issue. It is an aberration these days, but my hope is one day it will be an everyday thing.
I do believe we have these entertainers and sports figures because we all inherently search for heroes. It is something everyone needs. For the Christian isn't Jesus the ultimate hero? A figure to admire and to emulate. A man beyond reproach. In years past we had real life heroes. Yes, they were fabricated and protected to a degree. We, the general public, were shielded from their failures. Like children with parents, not everything was told. Some things would be explained later on, some things we just learned on our own. But today with social media, the main stream news, and literally hundreds of other sources are there any secrets anymore? No, I'd say everything and anything is reported. The real challenge today is determining what the truth is. But hasn't that always been the challenge? Well, the truth is what you believe it to be, that's the bottom line. And how do you decide what is true? By gathering as much information as you can and weighing that information against your own moral and religious beliefs. Were we uninformed in the past? The question is, did you need to know? Personally I believe there are some things that are just none of your business. And it is in that statement hero's live. Other than Jesus Christ there has been no one that was perfect. That being understood we can then realize the reality of heroes. They are only what we believe them to be. That is based solely on what they demonstrate to us. My problem today is what virtues are the heroes demonstrating? The virtues I learned, the ones I believe I should practice, are being questioned as " old fashioned " and " outdated. " Truth has changed! It has been so with each generation I suppose but I take heart in knowing that history repeats itself. One day perhaps we will see the return of the heroes. One can only pray.
When I was growing up we had real heroes. Yes, they were real people, and they had real faults as well as virtues. Thing is, the faults weren't as readily exposed to the general public. Hero's are created in the public eye. Consider JFK. Everyone knows immediately who you are talking about if you say those initials. I'd say you are famous when just your initials is enough. Much has been said and written about his Presidency and the idea of Camelot. During his lifetime you certainly didn't hear about his extramarital affairs, his grandfathers dealings with the criminal element, or any goings on of a questionable moral nature with his family. No, he was the fresh young President of the United States, the first Catholic President ever elected. His wife was a woman of style and class. After being assassinated he become a hero! I'd say that legacy has been completely destroyed by the media in the years that have followed. I say that and I'm not one that was ever a big fan of him or his administration. Before him there was FDR, another man known solely by his initials. FDR the hero of the working man and a cripple. You didn't hear much about that though and many common people were completely unaware. Great effort and pains were taken to conceal that from the general public. Why? Because heroes aren't crippled, that's why. So was it a deceit being perpetrated on the American people or a vehicle of hope? You decide.
In 2019 ask the young people who their heroes are. What you will hear is a list of entertainers and sports figures. That was true when I was a kid as well. I had heroes like John Wayne to look up to. I realize now he was only playing a part but what a part it was. If John Wayne didn't instill patriotism and pride in you there was something wrong! Didn't matter if he was being a cowboy or a green beret, he stood for America. He was a character of values. He certainly wasn't supposed to be some imaginary super villain or caped crusader. I also admired Joe DiMaggio, joltin' Joe a man of impeccable character, didn't he still love Marilyn and send her flowers. And there was Mickey Mantle, a giant of a man. The sports writers didn't report on his indiscretions, they reported on his on field talents.
Do you know why entertainers and sports figures are the usual heroes? Because we can all dream to be like them, to ball play, sing, dance, or act. That never changes. We also forgive them for their human frailties because it benefits us to do so. We get to enjoy their performances, it's as simple as that. In recent years we have started holding some of those sports figures to a higher standard and I think that is a good thing. Even athletes that are worth a lot of money to the team are being effected! That's saying something when we are willing to sacrifice money or profits for a moral issue. It is an aberration these days, but my hope is one day it will be an everyday thing.
I do believe we have these entertainers and sports figures because we all inherently search for heroes. It is something everyone needs. For the Christian isn't Jesus the ultimate hero? A figure to admire and to emulate. A man beyond reproach. In years past we had real life heroes. Yes, they were fabricated and protected to a degree. We, the general public, were shielded from their failures. Like children with parents, not everything was told. Some things would be explained later on, some things we just learned on our own. But today with social media, the main stream news, and literally hundreds of other sources are there any secrets anymore? No, I'd say everything and anything is reported. The real challenge today is determining what the truth is. But hasn't that always been the challenge? Well, the truth is what you believe it to be, that's the bottom line. And how do you decide what is true? By gathering as much information as you can and weighing that information against your own moral and religious beliefs. Were we uninformed in the past? The question is, did you need to know? Personally I believe there are some things that are just none of your business. And it is in that statement hero's live. Other than Jesus Christ there has been no one that was perfect. That being understood we can then realize the reality of heroes. They are only what we believe them to be. That is based solely on what they demonstrate to us. My problem today is what virtues are the heroes demonstrating? The virtues I learned, the ones I believe I should practice, are being questioned as " old fashioned " and " outdated. " Truth has changed! It has been so with each generation I suppose but I take heart in knowing that history repeats itself. One day perhaps we will see the return of the heroes. One can only pray.
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