Hero.

    he·ro n. pl. he·roes

  • In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
  • A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
  • A person noted for special achievement in a particular field.
  • The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.

Heroes. Many people have them. They come in many forms: super-powered and spandex- (or kevlar-) clad ; sports figures; people who have decided to stand up for their rights or the rights of others; and other men and women of integrity and character. Heroes have been part of human culture since we learned to communicate.

  • Epic tales of a hunters’ triumphs over clawed and fanged beast decorate ancient cave walls.
  • Mythologies from all over the world tell of unlikely women and men overcome oppressive odds to defeat fantastic creatures.
  • Tall tales and legends relate stories of larger-than-life figures who made incredible feats seem run-of-the-mill.
  • Strange visitors from other planets with power beyond those of mortal men patrol the skies, protecting us from evils seen and unseen.
  • People who represent the pinnacle of human achievement in sports perform with almost superhuman grace and skill, doing things that echo in our dreams and that we clumsily attempt to recreate in our backyards and playgrounds.
  • Women and men reach the limits of their endurance and fight back against their oppressors.
  • Police officers, firefighters, doctors, and teachers put their knowledge and training to use in helping others.

Personally, I think that the word “hero” has been overused. According to the definition above, the word is being used correctly, but how often do we really consider “why” we label someone a hero? What makes someone stand out so far above others that we deem them worthy of awe? I have had a number of heroes of my own. I still do. I go to the comic shop to get the latest adventures of the X-Men or Superman or other costumed adventurers. I turn on Sunday afternoon/Monday night football games to watch my favorite teams struggle to control 100 yards of turf. I wait anxiously for the last pitch of the ninth inning. I watch as the basketball arcs through the air in a static-charged arena, swishing through the net as the buzzer sounds. I watch the news for stories of the men and women of our law enforcement agencies putting their lives at risk so that we can sleep safely at night. I hear reports of doctors making dramatic breakthroughs to help improve “the human condition.” I call home.

What was that?

Yes, I said “I call home.”

I carry the genetic makeup of my two greatest heroes. No, neither of them has a secret lair or an invisible airplane, but they are heroes, nonetheless. No, bullets don’t bounce off my chest and cannot I read the minds of those around me, but I have been blessed to have two wonderful parents who not only taught me what it means to be a decent person, they showed me. They raised my siblings and me in homes that were not filled with alien technologies and the latest crime fighting gear, but were full of care, concern and love. No matter what it was that we did, our parents were there for us. If being supportive meant that sometimes they had to let us learn to fly – and come crashing to the ground – they did. As great as the impulse may have been to save us from painful situations, they knew that some things had to be experienced firsthand and as painful as some of those learning moments were, I thank them for respecting me enough to let me learn them… even with all of the bumps and bruises – physical and emotional – that came with them. They also taught us to stand up for our beliefs and principles and also to stand up for and with those around us who were unable to stand alone. They taught us that success does not always come immediately or with great fanfare, but that it can take time for some goals to come to fruition. They taught us that we may have to put aside our wishes in the interests of others. They taught us that while life is not always fair, if we were patient enough that all things work out in time. They taught us to respect others and – equally if not more importantly – to respect ourselves.

I know that I will not be called up by Phil Jackson to fill out his roster for his next championship team. Nor will Mike Hargrove ask me to take Cal Ripken’s spot at third base. Nor will I don a brightly-colored costume and bend steel in my bare hands… not that I couldn’t, but one must be fashionable at all costs. I know that I can live up to the examples of my mother and father. And that’s heroic enough for me.

As a final note, I am including the lyrics to a song that I think works as a good corollary to tonight’s topic:

Nobody’s Hero -Rush, from the CD “Counterparts” (c) 1993

I knew he was different in his sexuality
I went to his parties as a straight minority
It never seemed a threat to my masculinity
He only introduced me to a wider reality
As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that he was gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart

But he’s nobody’s hero
Saves a drowning child
Cures a wasting disease
Hero — lands the crippled airplane
Solves great mysteries
Hero — not the handsome actor
Who plays a hero’s role
Hero — not the glamour girl
Who’d love to sell her soul
If anybody’s buying,
Nobody’s hero

I didn’t know the girl, but I knew her family
All their lives were shattered in a nightmare of brutality
They try to carry on, try to bear the agony
Try to hold some faith in the goodness of humanity
As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that she was gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart

But she’s nobody’s hero
Is the voice of reason against the howling mob
Hero — is the pride of purpose
In the unrewarding job
Hero — not the champion player
Who plays the perfect game
Hero — not the glamour boy
Who loves to sell his name
Everybody’s buying
Nobody’s hero

As the years went by, we drifted apart
When I heard that you were gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart

But he’s nobody’s hero
Saves a drowning child
Cures a wasting disease
Hero — lands the crippled airplane
Solves great mysteries
Hero — not the handsome actor
Who plays a hero’s role
Hero — not the glamour girl
Who’d love to sell her soul
If anybody’s buying,
Nobody’s hero

Hero.

::: attaching cape and flying off into the night :::

Peace.