The Modern Age Of Hero Worship
August 31st 2009 12:31
As children we are given basic tools of understanding to help make sense out of a chaotic world.
With these tools the first stages of formulating belief structure, sense of community, tolerance for lifestyles outside of our own unique understanding and other aspects life are swirled together into one huge pot.
A pot that serves as a mixed bag that is neither black nor white but is easily labeled in the face of popular opinion.
Popular opinion that is quick to use broad terms in an effort to box issues into select categories to create simple understanding.
A simple understanding that can label an argument right or wrong at first glance and can elevate a normal citizen to hero status for supporting the right cause at the right time.
The ascension into modern society has created a utopia where certain diseases and concerns of yesteryear have been eradicated but with these advancements we have also lost a respect for the basics.
The basics of understanding what the word hero truly means in a world filled with cliché phrases.
When the aspect of what a hero truly is transcends into areas left open to interpretation what we lose is the respect and honor that stands behind the word.
For every elected representative we turn into a celebrity icon of hero worship there is also a voice of dissent on the other side of the fence building passions of anger and resentment for being told everything they believe is wrong because it doesn’t fall within the realm of a certain doctrine.
What’s lost in translation is the honor and respect that should be reserved for the true heroes in society.
The firefighter, member of the military, police officer or any other citizen who made the free decision to dedicate their lives to service and went above and beyond the call of duty to help their fellow, man woman and child.
Educators that go above and beyond job description on a daily basis in selfless dedication of mind, body and soul to molding young minds for the world that is waiting for them.
These are a few examples of everything a hero should be in our society but are either left on the backburner in radical conversation or are simply ignored as we try to protect our inalienable rights from the parade of invisible villains who are “out to take them away.”
In our fear we have allowed media campaigns to create a turn of the century sense of consciousness in the creation of modern day “heroes” who have become masters of their profession on the athletic field, silver screen or magazine cover.
With these heroes what we have been given is an ocean of imperfect messengers who reflect back on all of the social ills that exist on our society.
As we hoist these men and women on our shoulders for their athletic skill, acting talents or aesthetic beauty a standard for everything we expect them to be is set.
A standard that puts these men and women under a microscope that calls for them to be everything we’re not in our personal lives.
For all the millions of dollars that are put into the pockets of athletes, socialites, and entertainers there is no amount of money in the world that can create the image built from our expectations of everything we think they should be.
The fall from grace has become a part of our culture just as much as the rise to fame…
Before we can start the parade of asking about the affect all of this has on the children we must confront the aspect of why the cycle exists.
The cycle of creating and destroying “heroes” who should have never been elevated to larger than life status…
It is with this thought that we must figure out a way for our society to work back towards the basics.
The basics that set a clear definition of what a hero or role model should be…
The world before the word hero was muddied in conversation of wars and rumors of wars.
The world before corruption and scandal diminished the meaning of everything that stands behind every public servants uniform.
The world before our failing school systems were turned into an after thought to the importance of a national debate on God, Guns and Abortion.
The world before celebutant arrests, steroid scandals, false expectations, corruption, and weapons of mass destruction distracted us from looking deeper into the basics of where the word hero should be placed in modern conversation.
With these tools the first stages of formulating belief structure, sense of community, tolerance for lifestyles outside of our own unique understanding and other aspects life are swirled together into one huge pot.
A pot that serves as a mixed bag that is neither black nor white but is easily labeled in the face of popular opinion.
Popular opinion that is quick to use broad terms in an effort to box issues into select categories to create simple understanding.
A simple understanding that can label an argument right or wrong at first glance and can elevate a normal citizen to hero status for supporting the right cause at the right time.
The ascension into modern society has created a utopia where certain diseases and concerns of yesteryear have been eradicated but with these advancements we have also lost a respect for the basics.
The basics of understanding what the word hero truly means in a world filled with cliché phrases.
When the aspect of what a hero truly is transcends into areas left open to interpretation what we lose is the respect and honor that stands behind the word.
For every elected representative we turn into a celebrity icon of hero worship there is also a voice of dissent on the other side of the fence building passions of anger and resentment for being told everything they believe is wrong because it doesn’t fall within the realm of a certain doctrine.
What’s lost in translation is the honor and respect that should be reserved for the true heroes in society.
The firefighter, member of the military, police officer or any other citizen who made the free decision to dedicate their lives to service and went above and beyond the call of duty to help their fellow, man woman and child.
Educators that go above and beyond job description on a daily basis in selfless dedication of mind, body and soul to molding young minds for the world that is waiting for them.
These are a few examples of everything a hero should be in our society but are either left on the backburner in radical conversation or are simply ignored as we try to protect our inalienable rights from the parade of invisible villains who are “out to take them away.”
In our fear we have allowed media campaigns to create a turn of the century sense of consciousness in the creation of modern day “heroes” who have become masters of their profession on the athletic field, silver screen or magazine cover.
With these heroes what we have been given is an ocean of imperfect messengers who reflect back on all of the social ills that exist on our society.
As we hoist these men and women on our shoulders for their athletic skill, acting talents or aesthetic beauty a standard for everything we expect them to be is set.
A standard that puts these men and women under a microscope that calls for them to be everything we’re not in our personal lives.
For all the millions of dollars that are put into the pockets of athletes, socialites, and entertainers there is no amount of money in the world that can create the image built from our expectations of everything we think they should be.
The fall from grace has become a part of our culture just as much as the rise to fame…
Before we can start the parade of asking about the affect all of this has on the children we must confront the aspect of why the cycle exists.
The cycle of creating and destroying “heroes” who should have never been elevated to larger than life status…
It is with this thought that we must figure out a way for our society to work back towards the basics.
The basics that set a clear definition of what a hero or role model should be…
The world before the word hero was muddied in conversation of wars and rumors of wars.
The world before corruption and scandal diminished the meaning of everything that stands behind every public servants uniform.
The world before our failing school systems were turned into an after thought to the importance of a national debate on God, Guns and Abortion.
The world before celebutant arrests, steroid scandals, false expectations, corruption, and weapons of mass destruction distracted us from looking deeper into the basics of where the word hero should be placed in modern conversation.
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