Heroes? - Aircraft of World War II

Lucky13 · 03-14-2009, 07:39 AM

Just seen some adverst about some programs on History Channel... One was for the old SAS, heroes of yesterday and the other two was Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men?? Made me think, why are these heroes, the old SAS as they said, no dobuts there, but why the truckers and the axe men, to me they're not even close....are they called that just for showing up for work to do their grafting?
Question that I'm asking here is, is the word HERO used too much today, has the word lost the meaning it once had?

I hope that I'm not stepping someones sore toes here....

Njaco · 03-14-2009, 07:54 AM

A true hero would be the first to tell you he/she is not.

evangilder · 03-14-2009, 09:08 AM

Someone who does a dangerous job is not necessarily a hero. The military is a great example. There are many guys who do brave things under fire, but that doesn't necessarily make them a hero. There's doing what you are ordered to do well and going above and beyond the call of duty. That is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. And the latter being more "heroic".

There is a fine line between self preservation under extreme duress and heroic acts. Anyone who's ever fired a shot in anger can tell you that when the bullets fly, you get the measure of the guys you are with, quickly. And to me, there are too many people that throw that word around without thinking. Audie Murphy- hero, guys who have dangerous jobs- just working guys. And there are professions where getting that label are very easy. Fireman, military members, police officers often get that label. They do happen to be professions that can demand heroic acts, but they are not necessarily heroes.

I'm a good example. I served in the USAF, fired my weapon many times, saw people die, etc. But I'm not a hero. I was just part of a team that were sent places to do dangerous jobs.

I once fixed a toy for my son. In his joy that it was fixed again he said "Daddy, you're my hero". While I was very flattered, I wasn't sure how to react to that.

lesofprimus · 03-14-2009, 09:10 AM

The word Hero has be abused ever since it was created in Greek scrolls...

109ROAMING · 03-14-2009, 10:52 AM

Agree with the 3 posts above me

a word used to often

Wildcat · 03-14-2009, 10:58 AM

Yup. Especially when the media put the hero tag on sportsmen. Annoys the hell outta me.

RabidAlien · 03-14-2009, 12:07 PM

Amen to all the above posts. The heros are the first ones to tell you NOT to call them that, that the true heros are the ones who didn't come home. I will append that, myself, to include anyone who willingly puts himself/herself into life-threatening situations to save someone else. Sports figures=not-heros.

03-14-2009, 07:39 AM	#1
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,149	Heroes? Just seen some adverst about some programs on History Channel... One was for the old SAS, heroes of yesterday and the other two was Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men?? Made me think, why are these heroes, the old SAS as they said, no dobuts there, but why the truckers and the axe men, to me they're not even close....are they called that just for showing up for work to do their grafting? Question that I'm asking here is, is the word HERO used too much today, has the word lost the meaning it once had? I hope that I'm not stepping someones sore toes here.... __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

03-14-2009, 07:54 AM	#2
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,237	A true hero would be the first to tell you he/she is not. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

03-14-2009, 09:08 AM	#3
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	Someone who does a dangerous job is not necessarily a hero. The military is a great example. There are many guys who do brave things under fire, but that doesn't necessarily make them a hero. There's doing what you are ordered to do well and going above and beyond the call of duty. That is what separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. And the latter being more "heroic". There is a fine line between self preservation under extreme duress and heroic acts. Anyone who's ever fired a shot in anger can tell you that when the bullets fly, you get the measure of the guys you are with, quickly. And to me, there are too many people that throw that word around without thinking. Audie Murphy- hero, guys who have dangerous jobs- just working guys. And there are professions where getting that label are very easy. Fireman, military members, police officers often get that label. They do happen to be professions that can demand heroic acts, but they are not necessarily heroes. I'm a good example. I served in the USAF, fired my weapon many times, saw people die, etc. But I'm not a hero. I was just part of a team that were sent places to do dangerous jobs. I once fixed a toy for my son. In his joy that it was fixed again he said "Daddy, you're my hero". While I was very flattered, I wasn't sure how to react to that. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

03-14-2009, 09:10 AM	#4
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,506	The word Hero has be abused ever since it was created in Greek scrolls... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

03-14-2009, 10:52 AM	#5
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,006	Agree with the 3 posts above me a word used to often __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

03-14-2009, 10:58 AM	#6
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	Yup. Especially when the media put the hero tag on sportsmen. Annoys the hell outta me. __________________

03-14-2009, 12:07 PM	#7
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,827	Amen to all the above posts. The heros are the first ones to tell you NOT to call them that, that the true heros are the ones who didn't come home. I will append that, myself, to include anyone who willingly puts himself/herself into life-threatening situations to save someone else. Sports figures=not-heros. __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

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