Heroes

Heroes

Since the dawn of time…just had to get that out of the way. ;)

Ah hem…

A hero is difficult to define or describe because of diverse perceptions by each individual.  This get’s more complicated because people’s perceptions alter from changes in life like age and world experiences.  I am going to focus on how people could perceive mythical and real heroes differently.

Take for instance, Superman.  A hero to everyone on earth?  Think of all the offices he destroyed flying through buildings, waiting times at phone booths, etc. Now, sure he eliminated all of the nuclear weapons, saved Lois Lane countless times, and was a good farmer and son, but to some, he was a nuisance and bother.

What I do enjoy about Superman was his struggle over his own selfish feeling versus his destiny to protect the Earth.  When he chose to give up his powers to be with the woman he loved, that showed a true Hero.  Good but conflicted.

William Jefferson Clinton, an American President and a hero to some.  Now, putting aside all political differences between democrats and republicans that would obviously discount him as a hero, President Clinton made some questionable judgments both fiscally and morally throughout his Presidency.  The Monica Lewinsky scandal is an example a judgment call that tarnished terms.  But some people thought him a hero for finding release from what some considered a frigid wife.  NAFTA is another example of a questionable call.  Some  applauded the opening of borders for free trade while some blame NAFTA for all of our industrial jobs moving across our borders.

This brings me to my point.  While a hero or villain may black and white, the reality is that there is a lot of grey.  Just like in the real world today, Gilgamesh may have had an overbearing father and although all of his actions did not seem to fit that of a hero, he was doing the best he could.  A hero to me is the person that is willing to step up when needed and make the best call to lead others down the path of the best case scenario.  Not very black and white, huh?