What Makes A True Hero?

Everyone has his own definition of what a "true hero" is. An internet definition states that a true hero is "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities". In my opinion, a hero is someone who goes out of his/her way to help or to make a difference in someone's life - a person who despite what anyone else has to say will do the right thing and be a role model to others. 

Qualities

Courage
Honor And Nobility
Generosity
Self-Sacrifice
Wisdom
Compassion 
Responsibility

The fantasy brought to life! 

Real Life vs. Larger Than Life.  

Real life heroes differ in so many ways from the larger than life super heroes we see on TV. However some people take the fantasy of a super hero and bring it to life. 

 

 One real life hero, to me, is Martin Luther King,Jr. He showed just what a true hero is - a person who despite the consequences will stand for what is right - a man who will put his own life in danger just to make a difference in the future. His speech in Washington D.C gave hope to others that one day everyone would be equal no matter the color of his/her skin. That itself is a heroic action, knowing the time period he was in - color had always separated people, but he said it was time for a change.  

         A larger than life super hero, who just happens to be my favorite, is Edward Cullen. He is a hero because he will do WHATEVER it takes to protect Bella. He is courageous, generous, and compassionate. What makes him different from a real life hero is that he is a vampire. He displays out of this world strength, speed, and the ability to read minds.   

 

 The most important real life hero, in my eyes, would be our men and women who serve in the military. Just as the picture says,"a hero faces death for others, with no thought of personal gain or glory." This is what our military personnel do daily for our freedom. They defend our country so we can be free, so people like you and I can walk out of our homes and not be afraid. These people put their lives on the line and have to go through some of the most traumatic things in life just so we don't have to. I truly believe that these are the true heroes who display courage, honor, nobility, compassion, wisdom, responsibility, and most importantly self-sacrifice. 

Another larger than life hero would be Marlin, Nemo's dad, in "Finding Nemo." The fact that he can talk makes Marlin a fictional hero; however, he has qualities of a real hero - courage, compassion, and determination. Marlin was the dad who never let Nemo out of sight and was afraid of the ocean. When Nemo gets taken, Marlin does all he can to get him back, taking on the ocean with no second thought. He faces sharks, jelly fish, turtles, and many more obstacles; yet he still overcomes them all to get to his son. He is a larger than life super hero. 

                    

Impact On Society

I believe that the real heroes affect society more than the fictional ones do. Yes, super heroes in movies affect the world. We have people that dress up like them, as in the video above, and try to fight crime as they do. However, those are just things people can see. What about the hidden heroes, like the military or law enforcement? The military and law enforcement keep our country together. I, myself, say that they impact society more than any fictional character ever could. Certain people get so involved with fictional characters they begin to believe they are real, but that is just personal thoughts and opinions. The fact of the matter is that the military and law enforcement impact our society in tremendous ways. Without them, our freedoms and rights would not be defended and we would live in fear. 

Works Cited

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OgopogoVidz. "Seattle's own real life super hero." YouTube. 05 Jan. 2011. YouTube. 06 Dec. 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52u30emGpJI>.

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Litherland, Neal. "Military Duties & Responsibilities." EHow. 21 Mar. 2010. Demand Media. 06 Dec. 2012 <http://www.ehow.com/list_6114117_military-duties-responsibilities.html>.


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