I was watching a movie called Flags of our Fathers. In it there were 6 men referred to as heroes for putting up the flag on Iwo Jima. The movie is about the three that lived and how they were elevated to hero status for what they had done and how they toured around America raising money for the war. One of the guys couldn’t stand his roll as hero, because he didn’t feel like one, which led him to drinking and pretty much ruined his life. That got me to thinking a few things: What makes a hero a hero, like hmm, do they have to be like superman and spider man? Do people who we consider heroes have to be people who do something heroic for good reasons? Does everyone have the same hero?

In all the movies with superheroes, they are usually referred to as super heroes because of some heroic grand deed they did and continue to do, some super power they have, and how they are helping the innocent against some bad villain. I think there are many different types of heroes out there and I don’t think that you have to have some amazing power to be considered a hero. Ok, yeah, maybe to be considered a SUPERhero you do. 

When we give someone the title hero, why are we calling them a hero? I think it’s usually  because we admire what they’ve done, what they stand for, or, sometimes, the qualities they have. Plus, it can be that they’ve shown bravery and courage in a daunting situation, or even put others before themselves. 

In my opinion everyone has different heroes. What makes someone a hero in your eyes doesn’t make them a hero in other people’s eyes. Your hero can be someone who made a difference in your life or someone who made a stand for something you feel strongly about. A hero for you can even be someone you just admire greatly!

I don’t think our heroes are perfect, nor do I think they have to be. Nobody’s perfect! I’m going to guess that some people we call heroes don’t look at themselves as heroes. Sometimes, they look at what they’ve done and see the reasons for why they did it, which may not have been noble and heroic. But, that doesn’t make them any less of a hero in my mind. I think sometimes we need our heroes; someone to look up to and try to be like. Sometimes hearing about extraordinary things can give us courage in the things we do.  It also shows us that there are courageous people out there, and that one person can make a difference.

Who is your hero? My number one hero would be Jesus. He, in my opinion, did everything a hero is known for and beyond. He put others before him and died for all of us, so that we can live. And none of us are perfect! We all have our problems, and yet, he still died for you and me. A couple more heroes of mine would be my parents. They have always been there for me and I’ve learned so much from them! They show me everyday what it’s like to be self sacrificing/unselfish.

 In the end, I think that there are people who do things that are exceptionally brave and courageous and deserve to be acknowledged. They don’t have to be knights in shining armor who have had pure motives their entire life to be titled a hero. I also don’t think you have to be super amazing to be a hero. I mean, who knows, you could be someone’s hero right now and not even know it!