I posted this on fsr, wondering what you guys think. I just saw a local news story. This guy is working on his car, laying underneath it. The jack fails and the car body pins his head to the floor. He can wiggle his body around but is having a hard time breathing. Not a good day.

One of his kids look in on him, sees the problem, runs to ma, ma collects another kid and lifts the body of the compact car 2 or 3 inches so pa, practically uninjured, can crawl out under his own power. The family is being touted as heros and are being nominated for citizen of the year or something like that.

Another incident a coupla years ago. A woman is being assaulted in a park. A jogger, also a female, comes along and the assailant runs away with no more provocation than simply seeing the intruder jogger, who, by the way, kept running and then decided to go back and look in on the victim. She too was hailed as a hero and actually given an award.

Are we so hard up for heros that we have to give awards to someone who just shows up? I've always thot as hero was someone who lived or died for a cause. Or who did something that took extraordinary courage. Am I wrong about that?

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2003

Answers

Bout 20 years ago I was driving in the snow when I noticed tire tracks running off the road down a steep ravine. I slid down and found this guy and his dog almost frozen from cold. Somehow I managed to get this guy AND his dog up onto the hiway then drove them to a police station. I probably saved this guy's life but no one asked my name or even cared who I was! Even the police. Today however I no doubt would have gotten a ticker tape parade down main street!

I have no idea why this society is so hard up for heroes. Even in our paper we have a hero column. MRS JONES VOLLUNTEERS AT LIBRARY ONE DAY A WEEK!!!!! Then there are the morons every snow storm who decide to walk in the woods and get lost. Good grief if they live thru it they are even called heroes!! Maybe someone can shed some light on this huh?.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2003

In my opinion...I think what the wife and kids did to save the guy pinned under his car is what ANY loving spouse/family would do. It's amazing the strength that you acquire once the adrenalin kicks in!! They should be considered heroes to him, but not necessariy to the whole community. What the jogger did is what any good samaritan SHOULD do...doesn't make her a hero, though. I'm sure some people would have jogged on by not wanting to "get involved"!!

My Webster's pocket dictionary says "a hero is a person of great courage or spirit, etc. especially one who has undergone great danger or difficulty." I don't think the jogger encountered "great danger" but it must have been difficult for the wife and kids...so who knows?! Now...what about the "hero" sandwich :-)??!!

Kirk...you've always been a hero here on BTS :-)!!!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2003

Marcia: Not to be argumentative but what the family did didn't take that much strength. The next time you're by your car grab it by the corner of the bumper and lift. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to move it 2 or 3". The springs help you.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2003

John...yeah you're probably right. I'm still thinking along the idea of the 60's vehicles...with springs that didn't give as easily and bodies that were made of real metal..not plastic!! We have a '00 Dodge pickup that's classified as a "heavy-half" and I certainly cannot move the springs too much :-)!!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2003

That is something I've also seen John, everyday emergencies handled well become public spectacles. The older sister saving her younger sibling from drowning (what was she expected to do . . . just tread water and watch?). The boy calling 911 when his mother passes out. When I was a kid, that behavior was noted, but that was it - way to go and lets get on with life.

My definition of a hero is someone who puts effort into helping others with no expectation of repayment.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003

Okay; so who ARE your heroes? Names, please; and why they are a hero or heroine in your eyes. I gotta think for a while before I answer.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003

Polly: The Peace Pilgram is a hero. Mother Teresa. Dali Lama. Bucky Fuller. Lets seeee.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003

Real hero!! She walked 25,000 miles!!! Check her out....Kirk

http://www.peacepilgrim.net/pphome.htm

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2003

Ghandi first comes to mind. There's more but I gotta think who they are.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2003

Don't forget "why". I really am interested in the reasons that folks choose the heroes that they choose.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2003

Heros: Jesus- for obvious reasons, Dad- for "practicing what he preached" to us kids. He was a living example of all the things he tried to teach us. John Muir- For his lifelong courage and example in trying to save our wild places. Those who knew him say he died of a broken heart because he couldn't save Hetch Hetchy. Dave Foreman- Also for his courage and example of putting yourself between nature and those who would destroy her. Organic Farmers, Vegetarians, and anyone who chooses not to reproduce also get an honorable mention in my book.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2003

I agree with you John, simply being a good Samaritan does not make you a "hero", such behavoir is expected of all folks in my opinion anyway ;-)!

Being a hero means putting the needs of others first before any thought of immediate danger to oneself is thought of, in other words, you run into the burning building and drag out the child without thought of you catching fire or becoming trapped yourself. In the health danger fraught modern times of today, this can mean something as simply as performing CRP by yourself on a needful passerby, you don't worry yourself of the possibility of contracting AIDS, you just do what is needed. This is the stuff that makes a true hero.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2003

See, this is my problem. Where do you go to find a hero? The folks who went into the WTC to rescue others; and the ones that tackled the terrorists on the PA plane are the only recent ones who come to mind, using that criteria. Heroes seemed to be a lot easier to come by back when I was a kid! Of course, back then I wasn't so jaded by the world and people as I am now. Yeah, even me - Miss Perky - thinks that a lot of people are just pretty much a waste of skin and oxygen. Maybe other folks feel the same, and that's why we don't have too many heroes these days. sigh.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2003

You can find many acts of heroism. But there is a distinction between the event (heroism) and a hero. To me a hero is someone who has some very high princpiles and lives them even tho they my be against the grain of society.

Take Buckminster Fuller for an example. A great mind way ahead of his time who gave society all his inventions rather than get rich off them. He and his wife died 3 days apart happy but broke...Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2003