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A Fire Within
He surreptitiously glides undetected through the stagnant night, watching over his beloved city. He is the guardian of night, the unsung hero, the one and only Batman. Superheroes like him have become the archetypes of what it means to be a hero as society begins to worship the superficiality of physical strength and superpowers. However, it can never be forgotten that the true heroes are those who have compassion, those who have determination, and most importantly, those who are willing to sacrifice.
From the ancient times of Greece, heroes have been celebrated for their valor. The myths of Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus have transcended time, surviving centuries of history to exist prominently in modern literature. To the ancient Greeks, these heroes were not just tales to entertain, but rather, reflections of Greek morals. Strangely enough, almost every hero met his downfall due to insipid actions driven by hubris. This common facet of the archetypical hero reveals the inherent inability of humanity to create a flawless hero. These foibles ground heroes so that they seem human, relatable to those who face similar conflicts that heroes often confront. This connection between reality and myth indicates humanity’s understanding that, in the end, heroes are ordinary people who lead ordinary lives filled with an extraordinary amount of compassion, honor, and integrity.
The most significant similarity between all heroes is their willingness to sacrifice for strangers, for family, and most significantly, for the good of society. Law enforcement agents and emergency responsive specialists are such heroes. They are some of the most altruistic people, willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for the welfare of others as highlighted by the tragedy of 9/11. Many people lost their lives on that disastrous day while others now consequently live physically disabled. What sets these seemingly ordinary people apart from everyone else and truly crowns them heroes is that if they had to relive 9/11, they would make the same sacrifices despite the consequences.
People have forgotten the hidden heroes that exist in their lives, heroes like teachers. Teachers are not necessarily those we meet in classroom settings, but rather people who bestow their wisdom upon us. One exemplary example is Erin Gruwell, the teacher whose dedication led to the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary. Not only did Gruwell teach her students the power of words, the beauty of language, and the depth of human character, but she also gave them a future, one filled with success and freed from violence. This all came with a price: her financial stability and marriage, things that she would give up again in a heartbeat for her students’ sakes.
Destiny is said to choose the heroes of this age; greatness is not won, but bestowed by higher powers. However, in this world, in this world of freewill, heroism is not born from without, but forged from the passion, the fire within.
He surreptitiously glides undetected through the stagnant night, watching over his beloved city. He is the guardian of night, the unsung hero, the one and only Batman. Superheroes like him have become the archetypes of what it means to be a hero as society begins to worship the superficiality of physical strength and superpowers. However, it can never be forgotten that the true heroes are those who have compassion, those who have determination, and most importantly, those who are willing to sacrifice.
From the ancient times of Greece, heroes have been celebrated for their valor. The myths of Hercules, Achilles, and Odysseus have transcended time, surviving centuries of history to exist prominently in modern literature. To the ancient Greeks, these heroes were not just tales to entertain, but rather, reflections of Greek morals. Strangely enough, almost every hero met his downfall due to insipid actions driven by hubris. This common facet of the archetypical hero reveals the inherent inability of humanity to create a flawless hero. These foibles ground heroes so that they seem human, relatable to those who face similar conflicts that heroes often confront. This connection between reality and myth indicates humanity’s understanding that, in the end, heroes are ordinary people who lead ordinary lives filled with an extraordinary amount of compassion, honor, and integrity.
The most significant similarity between all heroes is their willingness to sacrifice for strangers, for family, and most significantly, for the good of society. Law enforcement agents and emergency responsive specialists are such heroes. They are some of the most altruistic people, willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for the welfare of others as highlighted by the tragedy of 9/11. Many people lost their lives on that disastrous day while others now consequently live physically disabled. What sets these seemingly ordinary people apart from everyone else and truly crowns them heroes is that if they had to relive 9/11, they would make the same sacrifices despite the consequences.
People have forgotten the hidden heroes that exist in their lives, heroes like teachers. Teachers are not necessarily those we meet in classroom settings, but rather people who bestow their wisdom upon us. One exemplary example is Erin Gruwell, the teacher whose dedication led to the publication of The Freedom Writers Diary. Not only did Gruwell teach her students the power of words, the beauty of language, and the depth of human character, but she also gave them a future, one filled with success and freed from violence. This all came with a price: her financial stability and marriage, things that she would give up again in a heartbeat for her students’ sakes.
Destiny is said to choose the heroes of this age; greatness is not won, but bestowed by higher powers. However, in this world, in this world of freewill, heroism is not born from without, but forged from the passion, the fire within.
