What is A Hero? Is Our Definition of a Hero the Correct One?

The word “Hero” we all know what it means, but do we use the word correctly? Hero is supposed to mean according to the dictionary a “brave, noble person” Yet people today do not use it in the way it should be used. Hero is in danger of being one of the most overused words in today’s language. You have sports reporters using it to describe the play of an athlete; you have news reporters using it to describe pretty much everything. I think the word should be reserved and used for only what it is mean’t to be used for.

A true hero is someone who puts themselves in danger in order to help another person. Our soldier’s who are serving in a war zone are an example of a hero. They are out there in a country they know nothing about, they do not speak the language or know the custom’s of these people and yet they are there doing their duty and serving their country. These men and women have their entire lives in front of them, most of them are young just out of high school kids who have not even had a chance to be on their own and make decisions about their lives and they are thrust into a war zone. Many of them don’t come back; these people are “heroes”. They have left families who love them, friends who love them to help another person. Let’s call them what they are “Heroes”.

Now on to athlete’s of today. Most athletes have huge ego’s, they all think that they are such great player’s that they should be paid million’s of dollars, charge children for their autograph’s and be worshipped by everyone because they are so good at playing a children’s game. Most of these player’s are quite good at what they do, but let’s face it, they are grown-ups playing a children’s game and getting paid quite well for it. They do not set a good example for any of today’s children, let alone earn the title of “Hero”. The sports reporter’s today use the word “hero” entirely too often. They describe a player’s athleticism as heroic, which it is not. For example: They recently held the World Soccer Tournament. The USA team did not win. Which is fine, but for these sports reporter’s to report that the USA Goalie is a “Hero” is not correct. Yes, he did make several very good stops, (meaning he did not let the other team score on him) but that does not make him a hero. He is not, and he should not be referred to as a hero. Yet that is all you heard on the news. That the goalie is coming back a hero. What did he do to deserve that title? The answer is nothing, because he should never have been called a hero.

Next time you want to label someone as a hero, think about what the word means and make sure that the person you are saying it about actually deserve’s the title of “Hero”. God said there is no greater love than a person who gives his life for another. Think about it when you use the word.