I’ve heard the word hero thrown around alot. Especially in the last few years. I don’t know why it gets used for inappropriate people but personally I think it shouldn’t be.
“People” seem to think anyone is a hero to the young and old because of what they’ve done. Something that’s achievable, unbelievable, heroic.
It doesn’t make them heroes.
To me ambos/paramedics, firerys, cops and doctors are not heroes. They train to do those jobs and that is what they do. They don’t do it for the love of fighting fires, or rescuing people, or saving their life. They do it because they want to help people and so they train for the job.
It’s their job. It does not make them heroes.
Sailing around the world, scoring 10 goals per game, becoming president or Prime Minister, overcoming tragedy, fighting a war does not make you a hero.
None of that is heroic.
So why the hell does the word get used so much to describe just about anyone who does anything to get them in the news and on tv?
Blowed if I know!!!!
So that comes to the second phrase “people” like to use.
Role Models.
Now I prefer this term because it does not put them on pedastals like the term hero, and yes having a role model is quite a good thing.
Even though role models can be morons like sportsmen who do drugs, have mistresses and get themselves arrested for beating up their girlfriends.
So unfortunately the term role model can be used in stupid situations.
No one chooses to be a role model.
If you love sport and choose to play it, if you want to be a cop and choose to become one, if you want to sail around the world and choose it, you’re doing it for yourself because it’s what you want. You do not choose it to make other people happy and give them someone to look up to.
When someone chooses what they love, it’s for them. Not for anyone else. So if someone chooses to have a role model, such as a sportsman, who then completely screws up his life (pick anyone of them) then you all have a go at them because you choose to make them the role model in the first place and then decide to knock them off because you’re not happy with the way they conduct their life.
Should the terms hero and role model be stopped? Should people not be put on pedastals? Should the public stop thinking these people are so fucking fantastic that they are worth looking up to and following or emulating?
There’s singers I love, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, and yes I’d love to sing like them and rock out to a good song. There’s model Megan Gale who I absolutely love and would love to look like. There’s movies stars whose lives I’d love to have, but seriously, I’m not dumb enough to have these people as my hero, because they haven’t done anything heroic. Role Models, sure. But I’ll never look like Megan, or Angelina Jolie, and never have Brad Pitt or George Clooney. And in real life I’m not married to Michael Weatherly, but a girl can dream.
And dream I do. But I’m also working towards my small goals, and so far, there ain’t no role model or hero around who I look up to.
If you know of someone who has the same goals, morals, life standards as you, and you know they run their life the way you run yours, then look up to them. Call them a role model. Try to emulate them in some small way, whether by living the clean life they do, power dressing like them, listening to their advice and then seeing if it’s worth following. Great, just don’t become obsessed, put them on a pedastal and believe they are the be all and end all. There is more to life than trying to live someone else’s. And remember, the poppy that is built up can be knocked down. If the person is not worth your time then leave them behind.
Cynthia B. Demented says
Some people want these "celebrities", "role models" and "heroes" to be what they, in their mind, want them to be. When they are deceived, they have to put the blame on anyone or anything. They are just HUMAN. I don't believe in a good or bad person because that's just ridiculous, although there are exceptions that makes the rule (murderers and such).
If someone did something that I would think is amazing and uplifting, I don't think I would typecast the person as "role model" or "hero". I would simply say that the person is inspiring. But when I think about Mother Theresa, I kinda think "hero", and she's probably one of the very few exceptions on my list. I don't think there's any training to prepare yourself to all the bullshit she has endured in the underdeveloped countries. Her devotion ans sacrifice speaks volumes. I personally think it goes beyond the basic will to help others.