Dictionary definition of hero
MYTH., LEGEND a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped after his death
any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, or exploits, esp. in war
any person, esp. a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model
the central male character in a novel, play, poem, etc., with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize
the central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities
The word hero has been used a lot this week. We have heard Michael Jackson proclaimed by fans and media alike as a hero.
A now, Steve McNair, a retired quarterback shot to death last week, is being assailed with the same title. A hero and more.
Is it a title we use too loosely? Is it a term that we seem ready to hang on anybody as we usually remember them in death.
Are Michael Jackson and Steve McNair heroes or are they just people that were exceptionally good at the work they did and thus rose to national prominence?
Michael Jackson, undoubtably is a pop music icon, a entertainment superstar who some hail as the best of all time.
But is he a hero? Michael Jackson, being human, had his failings. Drugs, unsubstantiated charges and rumors all take the shine off the hero image.
Steve McNair, an excellent quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, who at his funeral was almost portrayed as a saint. Stories were told, the most popular being the one when McNair took a crushing blow to the chest and had to leave the game having trouble breathing. His back up came in and was injured on the first play. McNair returned to the game and immediately led the Titans to a touchdown. Courageous no doubt. But a hero? Isn't that what these people are paid millions to do?
Overlooked is McNair's off the field life. Shot to death by a mistress, apparently jealous that he had supposedly found another mistress despite still being married with children. Incidentally the oldest child a seventeen year old while the mistress was not much older at age twenty.
Is this all part of the culture of professional sports? Wives look the other way while their star husband has a girl wherever he can find one and sometimes more than one. Stories are rampant in the National Basketball League about players who have numerous children with more than one mother.
Thousands attended McNair's funeral where they heard.
Mississippi lost a huge legend," McNair coach Cardell Jones at Alcorn State commented. "He was a role model both inside and outside the field because he had a tireless heart which never stopped helping people and giving it all."
A role model ? A hero ? Not the first accolades that jump to mind when you discuss a man with perhaps more than one mistress.
Steve McNair’s pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.
Drop your stone the next time you write about Steve McNair. Drop your stone the next time you text somebody. Drop your stone the next time you twitter. Drop your stone, those of you in the barbershops, the beauty shops. Those of you walking the streets on the corner, drop your stone,” Bishop Joseph W. Walker III told thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church.“What I do know about this man was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect,” Walked said. “But he knew God.”
Perhaps the Pastor is right. He was imperfect. Michael Jackson was imperfect. In fact we all are imperfect.
But a hero ? There are many brave men and women who have laid down their lives in war for the freedom that we enjoy today, many brave men and women who have died in their line of work protecting us, notably police officers and firefighters. I'll reserve the title "hero" for those who lost so much and gave so much for us.
For them the bar can never be too low.
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