Heroes: The People Who Walk Among Us

"We all live in suspense, from day to day, from hour to hour; in other words, we are the hero of our own story." This anonymous quote begs one to realize that the term Hero is open for interpretation. Each and every human being has the opportunity at least one point in their lives to become a hero. This opportunity is granted during mundane tasks to extraordinary circumstances. There are three questions if answered correctly can change the current views and stipulations on Heroes. 1. What is the definition of a hero? 2. Do the choices and actions one makes create a hero? 3. How does one recognize a hero? This essay will not only answer these three questions, it will also expound upon the ever-changing idea of heroes in the 21st century.

What is the definition of a hero? The American Heritage Dictionary states:

1. 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.

Hero Parts

English: Maya Angelou reciting her poem, "On the P...

Maya Angelou with Bloomberg and Nadler

2. 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. 3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity. 4. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation. (Heroes)

As one reads this definition they can recognize its flaws and biases. The first thing to stand out is in definitions one and four; the examples given are of men only. This is a rather dated look at heroes. A far more apposite word to use would be person or human being. Definition three is completely askew. Simply studying medicine does...