So what makes a hero?

[EVT1]

This started with Ramsey- hero or not?  I say not.

But -and I am ready to be flamed- being in the military doesn't make you one either.  A 'HERO' by definition puts their life on the line and does some crazy, unexpected shit to save a life.  So I say with a helmet on, 99.999999% of the military are not heroes.  They are people that assumed the risk of being killed in return for pay and benefits.  If you call any soldier a 'hero' you cheapen it for the rest.

Cops are not heroes, Paramedics are not heroes, Firefighters are not heroes- we use that term too loose to describe a noble profession.  What I will say is that cops, firemen, EMS, soldiers, should be the high paid professions, and the wall street losers that do freaking nothing but shuffle bullshit should be the ones being foreclosed on.  I can hope.  But lets's get real about heros.

[Peace Of Mind]

I say Ramsey is a hero.  He had no way of knowing if somebody was in that house with a weapon or when the guy would show up.  His life could have been taken when trying to rescue the victim both during and after when he had her in his home. 

I also say the military are heroes.  They put their lives on the line when in combat.  My dad was a fighter pilot during 2 wars.  Don't try and tell me somebody who fights in wars for their country are not heroes.   The same with cops and firefighters.  When you do their jobs you tell me if your mind has changed. 

I don't think athletes, models or stars are heroes unless they actually do something heroic.   Playing sports or making films/tv or having your picture taken is not heroic in my book.

Hero:

1.  a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

2.  a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act.

[EVT1]

May 10, 2013 0:52:06 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

I say Ramsey is a hero.  He had no way of knowing if somebody was in that house with a weapon or when the guy would show up.  His life could have been taken when trying to rescue the victim both during and after when he had her in his home. 

I also say the military are heroes.  They put their lives on the line when in combat.  My dad was a fighter pilot during 2 wars.  Don't try and tell me somebody who fights in wars for their country are not heroes.   The same with cops and firefighters.  When you do their jobs you tell me if your mind has changed. 

I don't think athletes, models or stars are heroes unless they actually do something heroic.   Playing sports or making films/tv or having your picture taken is not heroic in my book.

Nah- you cannot sign up to be a hero.   Being fearless does not make one a hero.  My dad, grandfather, and more family were all in WWII- scared shitless for sure- in fact it scares the shit out of me what they had to stand up to- but heros go beyond.  And to be more of a stickler- or a dick- getting shot or wounded doesn not make one a hero either.

[Peace Of Mind]

Who said they were fearless?  I thought having fear and doing something dangerous took courage.  Putting aside those fears and doing something dangerous is heroic.    Getting shot or wounded while saving/protecting a person or your country or an animal is also heroic in my eyes. 

[djAdvocate]

hero/fool

[thyme4change]

A 'HERO' by definition puts their life on the line and does some crazy, unexpected shit to save a life.

When my waiter brings me a glass of wine, I will often say "You are my hero."     

[Deleted]

heroes for the most part are just ordinary men/women that are put into circumstances that demand extraordinary actions

and can come from any job/background/race

signing up to be in the military doesnt make you a hero....jumping out of a helicopter into a firefight, and dragging 3 marines to safety does

signing up to be a cop doesnt make you a hero.....talking down a suicide, or subdueing an armed felon does

signing up to be a firefighter doesnt make you a hero....rushing into a burning building to save a child does

we all have attributes of heroism in us....most of us are never put into a scenario where they are needed

my two cents....

[jkapp]

I agree a soldier sitting on base playing ping pong is not a hero.  But if soldiers go into battle, come out alive, and go back into battle again, then they start becoming heroic. 

I also agree that getting shot is not heroic...but getting shot and continuing to fight is, IMO.

The problem with the term "hero" is that it is very open to interpretation and perspective.  I'm pretty sure Amanda Berry was greatful for Ramsey helping her, and may even consider him a hero (I haven't heard one way or another).  I really don't know if I would deem him a hero...but at least he took action and did something.  He could have easily gone inside to finish eating his lunch.

[Green Eyed Lady]

May 10, 2013 0:48:55 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

This started with Ramsey- hero or not?  I say not.

But -and I am ready to be flamed- being in the military doesn't make you one either.  A 'HERO' by definition puts their life on the line and does some crazy, unexpected shit to save a life.  So I say with a helmet on, 99.999999% of the military are not heroes.  They are people that assumed the risk of being killed in return for pay and benefits.  If you call any soldier a 'hero' you cheapen it for the rest.

Cops are not heroes, Paramedics are not heroes, Firefighters are not heroes- we use that term too loose to describe a noble profession.  What I will say is that cops, firemen, EMS, soldiers, should be the high paid professions, and the wall street losers that do freaking nothing but shuffle bullshit should be the ones being foreclosed on.  I can hope.  But lets's get real about heros.

I like Webster's definition of "hero".  "A person of distinguished courage and ability."  In my opinion, monetary compensation has nothing to do with being (or not being) a hero.  Just because someone is doing the job they are paid to do does not lessen their accomplishments.

Yes. I consider most of those in the military to be heroes.  I also consider most paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers heroes.  Of course, you'll have the few who hold the title but don't do the work.  I also consider parents of special needs childen heroes.  I consider those who care for their elderly parents heroes.  I consider those who stand up for animal rights heros.   Anybody who does a "job" that would scare me to death or one that I don't think I have the ability or bravery to perform is a hero to me.

I think everyone has a different opinion on what makes a hero.  I don't know for sure other than I'm positive it has nothing to do with monetary compensation.

[EVT1]

May 10, 2013 13:43:20 GMT -5 @gdgyva said:

heroes for the most part are just ordinary men/women that are put into circumstances that demand extraordinary actions

and can come from any job/background/race

signing up to be in the military doesnt make you a hero....jumping out of a helicopter into a firefight, and dragging 3 marines to safety does

signing up to be a cop doesnt make you a hero.....talking down a suicide, or subdueing an armed felon does

signing up to be a firefighter doesnt make you a hero....rushing into a burning building to save a child does

we all have attributes of heroism in us....most of us are never put into a scenario where they are needed

my two cents....

Thanks for putting that better than I did.  That is pretty much what I was saying.  It needs to be a high bar.  Not calling my buddy that flipped burgers on the Eisenhower a hero . 

Maybe I will rethink Ramsey- it is awesome he got involved but it isn't like he tackled a gunman or rushed a terrorist on a plane.

[Spellbound454]

I think Ramsay is a hero.
He did something which resulted in the badly needed release of four people....and which everyone else had failed to do for ten years.
The bad guy is in prison....it couldn't be better.
A lot of grateful people will be queuing up to buy him a Mac D

[Deleted]

He could of run into a criminal with an assault weapon with a large capacity magazine, but he helped anyway.  He's a hero. 

[mrsdutt]

My SIL is a cop.  Without thought of self (or family) he bravely rushed into a burning building to rescue a child.  He was the first responder. 

Does this fit your image of cops?  He doesn't get paid to do that.  He gets paid so you can sleep well at night.

[swamp]

Hero:

Long thin bread
Sandwich meat
American cheese
mayo
lettuce
onions
tomatoes
banana peppers
grated cheese
oregano
italian dressing

[vonna]

May 10, 2013 14:47:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Hero:

Long thin bread
Sandwich meat
American cheese
mayo
lettuce
onions
tomatoes
banana peppers
grated cheese
oregano
italian dressing

yum! That sounds like a perfectly good grinder.

[Deleted]

we all have attributes of heroism in us....most of us are never put into a scenario where they are needed

Let me try this again!

I think the people that take care of special needs kids are heroes. And the caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. The people that sign up to donate kidneys and bone marrow. Folks with busy lives that still volunteer to do palliative care visits and deliver meals on wheels. People that stand up to bullies when it is someone else that is being bullied and it would be easier to just stay out of it. Those are a few of the folks that I think are heroes.

I think we all have opportunies to be heroes. And many people take those opportunities.

[Tennesseer]

May 10, 2013 15:14:57 GMT -5 vonna said:

May 10, 2013 14:47:43 GMT -5 swamp said:

Hero:

Long thin bread
Sandwich meat
American cheese
mayo
lettuce
onions
tomatoes
banana peppers
grated cheese
oregano
italian dressing

yum! That sounds like a perfectly good grinder.

Your from the northeast?  Grinder.  That's what we called them in western Mass.  

[Deleted]

I don't think military personnel and law enforcement are heroes by virtue of their position, but their positions mean that they are more likely to be put in circumstances where they can act heroically.  They all sacrifice for their country, but I do think we tend to toss the word hero around a bit too liberally.

Running into a burning building to rescue a child would meet my definition of hero.

I think running into any dangerous - or apparently dangerous - situation to help another counts as heroism.  But you've got to go above and beyond a little.

Helping a lost kid find their parent at the mall = being a decent human being.  Breaking a window to help a child in a hot car = hero.
Calling 911 when you see someone in trouble = being a decent human being.  Breaking down a door to help a person escape; calling the authorities,;offering to give any reward to the victims of the crime; and reminding the public that, on balance, humanity is good and funny... yeah, I'm willing to give Ramsey hero for that.

[Tennesseer]

Heroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things during extraordinary events.  There are personal heroes and then there are city, state, national and international heroes.  

[Deleted]

"Hero" was a mythological virgin priestess of the Aphrodite cult who carried on a covert affair with her lover, Leander.
 Leander was drowned in a vain attempt to tryst with Hero. When Hero discovered that Leander was dead, she suicided by throwing herself from a high tower.
 www.maicar.com/GML/Hero.html

[EVT1]

May 10, 2013 15:28:31 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

I don't think military personnel and law enforcement are heroes by virtue of their position, but their positions mean that they are more likely to be put in circumstances where they can act heroically.  They all sacrifice for their country, but I do think we tend to toss the word hero around a bit too liberally.

Running into a burning building to rescue a child would meet my definition of hero.

I think running into any dangerous - or apparently dangerous - situation to help another counts as heroism.  But you've got to go above and beyond a little.

Helping a lost kid find their parent at the mall = being a decent human being.  Breaking a window to help a child in a hot car = hero.
Calling 911 when you see someone in trouble = being a decent human being.  Breaking down a door to help a person escape; calling the authorities,;offering to give any reward to the victims of the crime; and reminding the public that, on balance, humanity is good and funny... yeah, I'm willing to give Ramsey hero for that.

Yes!  The first responder one is tough- but you have the cop that shows up and calls the fire department- and then you have on that hears a scream and runs in without regard to personal safety.  DJ had a point- heros are a little crazy. 

Take Sullennburger- was that an act of heroism or a professional that did their job extremely well and had a great outcome?

now.msn.com/ryan-heber-teacher-at-taft-union-high-school-disarms-gunman

That's a hero- along with the Sandy Hook teacher that put her body in front of child and took the bullets. I do not equate that with an armed cop going after a shooter. Or take the one killed by the bombers at MIT- that guy was a crime victim-not a hero.

I just have a problem with this automatic hero status by virtue of job.

[InsertCoolName]

Tell those 3 ladies that he isn't a hero.


A hero is anyone who does something that is totally selfless to help out someone else. Without thinking of their self or what they will get out of it. It doesn't matter what the general you thinks about it, the person being helped can and often does think...that's a hero.

[EVT1]

It appears one of those ladies is a hero as well.  I said I would rethink it- he did act, not just call 911.  But it has to be a little more than selflessness- and I think it has to be an objective standard.

[Peace Of Mind]

May 10, 2013 18:04:15 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

It appears one of those ladies is a hero as well.  I said I would rethink it- he did act, not just call 911.  But it has to be a little more than selflessness- and I think it has to be an objective standard.

Excellent point!  I agree that without her having the courage to do what she did nobody would have been saved and Ramsey wouldn't be a hero either.    There are 2 heroes in that story!

[Robert not Bobby]

This started with Ramsey- hero or not?  I say not.

I say YES...he went above and beyond.

But no, not in the conventional comic book way and not in the way we would like to see our heros...the guy has a past, bad hair, bad teeth, speaks in some sort of jive...'bro'...but is incredibly eloquent and expressive, in his own way.

I see honesty and humility and a good heart.

That is enough for me.

The whole concept of "hero" is up for debate, and what it means...A hero should do something extraordinary.

[Deleted]

May 10, 2013 0:48:55 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

  But lets's get real about heros.

In my book I might be calling A person as my own hero it can be anyone who recognize their own virtue with others in mind and put others interest first before their own self interest.

[mmhmm]

I think, in most cases, a hero is defined by the beneficiary of an extraordinary action.  If Mr. Ramsey is a hero to those three young women, he's a hero.  He helped them escape imprisonment.  That's good enough for me.