 |
|
| You can divide reasonable men and women right down the middle as to whether the need for heroes is a good thing. Some people feel that it's something we have to get over as human beings if we are ever to grow up. "There are no heroes," these people say. "The sooner we realize it the better. The myth of heroism is the cause of all human misunderstandings. It's the outgrowth of a malignant ego striving for dominance. It's responsible for tyranny, war, and rudeness in general. Want-to-be heroes push their way in where they aren't needed. They make a mess of things, then rely on their sense of honor to explain it away. 'My intentions were the best. If I pushed her into the buzzsaw, it was only to save her from the snake.'" |
|
| Supporters of heroism will object to this line of reasoning, which judges the heroic ideal by its botched attempts. The very essence of heroism, they will argue, is success. And they will define heroism, at its moment of accomplishment, as a supreme confidence of success. In this sense, Lee Harvey Oswald was a hero. A hero waits until she is chosen: until the moment is upon her. As long as action is impossible, she will hoard her resources for later. But once the crucial point is reached, once the commitment has been made and a decisive stroke is needed, she will throw herself into action with the sure knowledge of having an effect. Once she acts, there will be consequences: there is no "Back" button. For this reason, the hero never steps away from an opportunity, but learns to make the most of every situation. |
|
| This is the best model for young people to have, its proponents will say. It teaches civic responsiveness and gives them something to aspire to. The best kind of heroism isn't the resume of a professional hero—a Gandhi or a Christ, for example—but the sort practiced by ordinary people when they are called upon. Many respectable people have saved their heroic resources for a rainy day, and are waiting for an opportunity to act. This ensures a ready supply of heroism for almost any situation that requires it. |
|
|
|
|
