I am becoming agitated by the over-use of the word hero and it being applied to almost anyone.  This, I fear, devalues those who do perform truly heroic feats.

 

You barely have to turn on the television news to hear the word being over used.

 

The Oxford Dictionary defines a hero as:-

 

Hero noun (plural heroes)

 

Ø a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities: a war hero

Ø the chief male character in a book, play, or film, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathise

Ø (in mythology and folklore) a person of superhuman qualities and often semi-divine origin, in particular one whose exploits were the subject of ancient Greek myths

 

Are soldiers returning from Afghanistan heros?  No, of course they are not.  They are just doing a job that they signed up for.  Are their wounded comrades heros?  No, not usually.  Are the dead automatically given heroic status?  No, they shouldn’t be. 

 

 

Are disabled people heros?  No, not automatically.  This “Telethon Heroism” was invented as a money-raising tool and has been over used and again this over use diminishes the achievements of the few who certainly do act heroically. 

 

Are sports men and women Heros?  NO!

 

The true heros are the few who performed some form of extraordinary feat.  Those who are truly heroic are usually extremely modest about it.   

 

I really think it is about time that we restored the word “hero” to its true meaning.