Hollow Heroes
Upon being asked who their heroes are, children typically rattle off the name of a singer, a movie star, or an athlete. This is perfectly understandable, considering that most have received their mental nourishment primarily by suckling at the breast of the omnipresent, ever-glowing blue parent-substitute which has cared for them from a young age.I know a number children who do not even own a library card, and who regard reading a book with the same revulsion that reserve for eating spinach, and getting the chicken pox. Theirs is a narrow-walled world, limited to the current video rotation on MTV, and the weekly program listing in the TV Guide. Cut off then, from the biographies and stories of great men and women of the past, they choose their role-models from among those flashed before them on the TV screen. If they are hip, rich, or beautiful, they are immediate candidates for hero status. If their music video is cool looking, or their latest movie a hit, or their team on winning streak, then their godlike status is assured.
Note that all of these modern heroes are entertainers. Now I enjoy being entertained, but very little entertainment contributes in a lasting way to the good of society. In fact, a lot of the underlying subtexts in the various entertainment media are subversive, and destructive in many ways. Dare I say too, that many of the current 'heroes' are simply indulging themselves, and getting wealthy by parading their screwed-up lifestyles for the world to gawk at.
Once in a while, for a minuscule moment of time, the news focuses on a person truly deserving of hero status. Someone who put their life at risk, or pushed their own interests aside in order to help someone else. It may be a cop, a soldier, a teacher, or a citizen thrust into a difficult situation. I know a man whose wife became paralyzed a year after their wedding. Over the years, he has faithfully loved and cared for her, despite the fact that she is unable to do anything much for him. Sadly, these genuine heroes are quickly swept aside to make room for the endless parade of plastic, manufactured stars.
It used to be that a person was admired for their self-sacrifice, courage, loyalty and honor. In other words, they were heroes because of certain character qualities which they exhibited. They were honored for lives and deeds which enriched their world, and touched the needs of those around them. Not any more. Any selfish pig can attain hero status, provided they have a good agent, and good financial backing.
True, past heroes have feet of clay, and we ought not to turn them into whitewashed icons. What we should do is to highlight the characteristics and actions in their lives which were noble and praiseworthy; upholding these as thing to which we can aspire. Today's hollow heroes are an indictment of our hollow, self-oriented society. We anoint role-models which appeal to our ideals.
Recently, I read several biographies of the wonderful man George Washington Carver. He is near the top of my hero list. An incredibly determined, devout, and inventive man, the likes of which this country has rarely seen. Most impressive was his desire to use his research to serve others. He never charged for his many discoveries, saying that he could never charge for what God had freely given him. He embodies the kind of heroes that we desperately need today.
If you have kids, search out books which will introduce them to people worth looking up to. Show them a real hero. And for yourself, never forget, there always have been people worth looking up to, but you probably won't find them holding being interviewed on the Tonight Show. Oh, but they're out there!
Reproduction of this article for free distribution is permitted. John Green, azgreens@hotmail.com
John Green's new site is at http://members.tripod.com/~Aslan_777/articles.html.
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