Introduction
According to dictionary.com, a hero is a person regarded by others ideal for having done a heroic act and has heroic qualities. She was a local hero when he saved ten of the endangered white Rhino species from the poachers in the National game reserve.
How do others define this concept?
Many people often fail to define the real meaning of a Hero. In the society we live in now, nearly everybody is a hero in one way or another. Society is confusing between being a hero and being a celebrity. For example, a person might tell you that his or her hero is Drogba (the Chelsea player), who played a major role in scoring most of the goals for them to lift the Champions League and the premier league titles.
How do you define it?
In my own opinion, a real hero is a person who has compassion, courage, and a good heart. Also, it’s an ordinary person in the society or around us that somehow, somewhere did the unexpected or extraordinary thing(s.). Furthermore, a true hero never knows that he/she is a hero till later when other people regard him or her as a hero. This is from the fact that heroes have a good heart i.e. compassionate (sympathetic) for saving or/and doing well to people or even animals, thus, in their minds, they were just doing what they had to do without the realization that what they are about to do what will make then to be regarded as heroes.
A true hero is also courageous and ready to sacrifice for the sake of another person or other people, even animals. One of my high school teachers once said that “A true hero is never a hero at all, at least not in their minds”. A good question to ask ourselves is “Is a person a true hero when he or she does a good act only for his or her best interests?
An example of a true hero
A good example of a hero is a girl who lived near Mt. Kenya game reserve. She once gave poachers the wrong direction to where the Rhinos were. They instead headed to the swamp after being misguided by the girl. The girl upon realizing that the poachers had carried with them sophisticated weapons decided to miss-led them. No sooner had they disappeared in the forest than she rushed back to inform her parents of what was happening. Her parents being patriotic citizens, decided to pass the information to the Wildlife rangers. The rangers acted very fast and arrested the poachers who were stuck in the swamp while trying to run and hide during the hot pursuit. Also, the weapons were taken away from the poachers’ possession.
The girl was courageous enough to give miss leading information to the poachers, she was also sympathetic to the white Rhinos that were just about to be poached at that time by these three greedy poachers for the benefit of the own unknown selfish needs.
In this example, we see the qualities of a true hero being portrayed by the girl. She shows courageousness and she is also very sympathetic. She risks the consequence of misleading the poachers to the Rhino’s browsing area and instead directs them to the swampy area. She is also very wise by making the right decision at the right time.
The girl was regarded as a hero and was awarded by the wildlife reserve boss at her school in front of her teachers and other students for her bravely act. The quality of doing extraordinary acts is portrayed when she gains the courage to mislead poachers armed with sophisticated weapons at such an early age. She was wiser than what would have been expected from a girl of her age.
Question: A hero or not?
In society, heroes are fewer than the number one might expect. They are the ones whose history when analyzed from their childhood to adulthood possessed the qualities mentioned earlier. It’s important to note that a child can also be a hero, as far as he or she possesses the above qualities and has done an extraordinary act that has made people regard him or her as a hero.
How does a hero relate to his or her society?
Once a hero knows that he or she has been regarded as a hero by society, he or she knows that that’s the first step towards a long journey of wisdom, courage, compassion, discipline, and responsibility. Everybody views them as an important part of society and they have to live within the standards set by their achievements. Most of the young people will consult them for help, advice, etc. Heroes are mentors to the young people around them. A hero is neutral in society, as most of the time he or she will be consulted to solve problems and help in decisions making where necessary.