The other day I was reminded about many things I have thought about for many years and on many occasions; that is the concept of "heroism". Webster defines heroism as "a heroic act especially in fullfilling a high purpose or attaining a noble end." A friend upon introducing me to a grandchild recently said that I was a "war hero". I took exception to that designation and reminded him that the true heroes were not the survivors, but those who fought and didn't come back. People tend to make heroes of "warriors" when actually heroism abounds in the lives of ordinary people like ourselves--people with the moral virtues and courage to accept and meet the challenges of life, people who aspire to greatness, people who change our lives and ultimately the lives of others. Hannibal didn't say that the mountain was "too high"; Washington didn't say Valley Forge was "too cold". They found themselves in conditions they didn't choose but acted upon them with good judgment and with courage.
In Aristotle's "Nichomachean Ethics" he defines the moral virtues--like courage--as being in a "mean state" between two vices--one of defect and one of excess. Consequently courage is a virtue, foolhardiness is a defect--a lack of sufficient fear, and cowardice a defect that is an excess of fear. So, by this philosophy, who is the hero? Certainly not the person who is fearless; it is the person who has an excess of fear and who overcomes it in order to change his own life and perhaps the life of another--or many others. My heroes are Joan d'Arc, Marie Curie, Louis Pasteur, the Jews at Masada, Julius Caesar (who went to the Senate in spite of the warnings), Lincoln, Einstein, the Wright Brothers, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Drs. Salk and Sabin, and if you will allow me--Koufax, Jordan, Lennon & Ali.
A full life offers many opportunities for heroism. In New York on 9/11 the firefighters knew their job was dangerous, and for certain when they entered the towers to rescue people they were not without fear. The fire was their antagonist, but they pressed on with nobility and courage. They were heroes. No matter what your job or situation happens to be, life deals you a hand; if you don't leave the table, but stay the game, you too can be a hero. A soldier in battle, faces death at any moment; yet he knows what he must do. If he sees a grenade thrown at his buddy's feet and he throws his body on it--it's an automatic act; fear or no fear does not enter into his action. It is something that he must do. And those who were never in battle, find it impossible to understand. As far as my being a "war hero" I've done more heroic things in my life out of uniform rather than in it.
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