Writings of a Failed Hero

What is a hero?

Do you know what a hero is?

 A hero is defined as "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." 

But is that it? 

Think about the heroes of today.  Pick anyone you'd like and pinpoint exactly what makes them a hero. 

Normally people answer something along the lines of "They are a hero because they save people with their quirks" or "They represent peace and hope" . 

Courage.

Strength.

Selflessness.

Kindness.

Confidence.

All are traits that come to mind when thinking of a hero. 

Sometimes citizens will just look at all of the flashy costumes and are simply awestruck. Flashy costumes...Flashy quirks...

A hero, however, is not just a flashy uniform saving others. 

Someone once asked a famous philosopher and researcher what it means to be a hero and he answered "A hero is one who does not recognize such declarations bestowed upon them by others and accomplishes an act or acts which are deemed extraordinary and exceeds the call of duty. This act or acts usually involves the intention or consequence of saving another person or rescuing another form impending harm."

Being a hero is more complex and complicated than just "saving people" and wearing a flashy costume while donning a persona. In order to be a hero you have to give up certain aspects of your life for what you believe is for the greater good. 

Being a hero is just an opinion of yourself that is viewed by others and most likely yourself. 

Just think about it for a second. 

That man you just saved, are you sure that he deserves to live? I mean sure who are we to decide who lives and who dies? I've heard some heroes say "all lives matter! Not just yours or mine, but his and her's." 

We are no gods.

 But what if he has been in and out of jail for countless rape charges? Is having him alive and walking the streets really for the greater good? What about all of those women who he hurt? Are we doing anything to help them or are we only harming them even further? 

How about that woman you saved just yesterday? What if she ended up going home only to drown her three young children? Did we really do a good thing by saving her?

How do we know that what we are doing is actually for the greater good? 

The thing is...

 There is no way for us to know if we are actually helping the world or doing more harm to it. 

We hope. 

We pray.

 We believe.

 We have faith.

 We tell ourselves "Maybe, they will go on to do great things that nobody else could. Maybe they are the ones who cure cancer, find a solution to starvation, accomplish world peace." 

These  are our only reassurance that we did something good.

Hero's fight crime. More specifically hero's fight villains.