What makes a hero?

This Veteran’s Day, we have a chance to reflect on the heroes of this country. This is a day of celebration for those who fought/fight valiantly for our nation’s freedom and well being.

But, the celebration leads to the question: What makes a hero? Is it the guy who charges enemy lines in attempt to rescue a fallen comrade? Is it the cook or nurse who never sees the battlefield but still gives aid to the soldiers who are in combat? Is the soldier who was drafted more heroic than a volunteer? Are members of the armed forces the only true heroes? Or can a consistent mother be as much of a hero as the well decorated veteran?

I could go on with this line of questioning, but I think it is obvious that all of these types of people could be considered heroes. Anyone can be a hero. Everyone has their own unique challenges and has to overcome those challenges by showing strength and self discipline. It is how one reacts to their challenges that make someone truly heroic. The attitude they keep, their willingness to help others and how they do their duty are better indicators of heroism than is a single event or surge of action.

Yesterday, I had a discussion on courage with a group of young men. To them courage meant bravery and wisdom. The word courage brought to mind captains of ships in the midst of battle and various other images no doubt derived from one of the many Hollywood adventure movies. Of course, in their mind, the courageous always make it through their adventure alive and full of glory. But this isn’t always the case.

When I brought up the idea of moral courage they quickly understood that showing courage does not always result in fanfare and acclaim. The boy who says no to drugs shows courage but is probably not going to be accepted among his so-called friends. The student who refuses to cheat on an exam is courageous but may not ace the test and the man who refuses to entertain himself with dirty jokes, inappropriate images and bad language can sleep in good conscience but may feel isolated from his peers.

So, to me, a hero is defined by much more than a single life changing event. The soldier who charges enemy lines in attempt to rescue a fallen comrade is a hero because of his keen sense of duty, loyalty and love. Without those feelings he would not have risked his life for another, and would never have been considered a hero. The feelings in the heart of the drafted soldier can make him just as heroic as the patriotic volunteer. The teenager who listens to his conscience despite heavy peer pressure is heroic because he stood by his convictions. The mother who raises her children in love is also heroic even though she may never be recognized as such because heroism is rarely judged by its best metric: what is in the heart.

Scott

ps. this post was inspired by the MSNBC article found by following the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21725468/