Victim Worship

A

azredhawk44

Moderator
Has anyone noticed that the role of "Hero" has been abdicated recently, and that the person who usually ends up being presented as the hero is in traditional judgement more of an "anti-hero?"

The biggest examples that come to mind are:
1. Lori Piestewa (sp?). She got a mountain named after her in AZ because she didn't shoot back when attacked, and was killed.
2. Jessica Lynch. She has a book out because she didn't shoot back when attacked, got taken prisoner and was injured.
3. Anyone who dies of cancer of AIDS. Not to poop on anyone's memory here, but dying doesn't make anyone a hero. Actions taken while living outshine any death (even actions that cause one's own demise).
4. Cindy Sheehan. Her son died (and was probably a hero, I don't know) but it was Cindy that took the thunder. In the guise of a distraught grieving mother. Victim Worship.

I am so tired of having victims held up as role models to me. I want to worship true heroes. These people:

1. The special ops soldier that helped to nab Saddam Hussein.
2. The CIA operative that stopped an Al-Queda attack before it happened.
3. The doctor that discovered a cure for diabetes.
4. The man that found a a kidnapper and assisted in his arrest.

I want to have heroes that take ACTION... that oppose bad people or bad things with their own energy and FIX them.

Do you guys understand? Where does this "victim worship" garbage come from, and who started it? How do we stop it?
 
Never said he wasn't... He's not a hero for HAVING TESTICULAR CANCER... He's a hero for KICKING THE CRAP OUT OF THE FRENCH SO MANY TIMES at their own game and being a great cyclist...in spite of having cancer.

If he never did anything to inspire us to be greater than we are, but just sat there in his own misery making us feel bad for him, then he wouldn't be a hero.

But that's not Lance Armstrong anyways....
 
Yeah. I wasnt trying to accuse you of saying he wasnt. But its not because he beat the French. Other people who have family members (or themselves) with cancer know what i mean. You need a strong mind and body to beat what he survived. Even then you rarely live through it.

Plus !HE BEAT THE FRENCH! LOL
 
I like the lady down in atlanta who gave that prisoner who killed the judge and escaped some of her meth. Then called the cops. Thats a real hero
 
I gotta agree with Glenn on this one, sports figures aren't hero's to me, what about someone who risked his life to save another. That's a hero to me, JMHO.
 
Scud and Glenn have good points... Terell Owens and Shaquille Oneill aren't heroes.

Sports are a game. Armstrong may have a leg to stand on for living true to his ideals, not giving up due to cancer, and telling the french to piss off when they accused him of blood doping or steroids use or whatever... but that is a stand on convictions, not the actual sport itself that inspires.

How many other "heroes" are there out there that our media machine keeps spewing at us?
 
Just like very day you hear the word hero when the announce deaths in iraq. I really appreciate them serving my country but it doesnt make them a hero. One of the true heros from iraq ive heard of (whoms name I forgot) decided to hold off an attack on his squadron by basicly running into fire with a machine gun (if I remember correctly). Of course he was killed but bush awarded to the guys son who accepted it for his father.

I cant believe I forgot the details on such a great hero!

Another example of heros are the firefighters that ran into the WTC on 9/11. Firefighters never had respect until after then and even now dont get the respect and payment they deserve. Same goes for SOME cops.
 
I think the term "hero" comes about is given to those who gave something of themselves that wasn't necessary to give, to whatever situation.

I'm not naming who I think is or isn't. A hero is only a hero to the person that makes them a hero. My hero is not your hero. They could be, but only if you think he's your hero too. Your heros are probably not my heros.

I don't think a hero has an absolute.
 
When they said the gays were hero's when they were dieing of Aids.I kind of lost the meaning of HERO:confused: You win some sport you are a hero not to me, you DIE for your country I would say YES and no one should belittle the fact:)
 
I think there are a couple kinds of hero... First, foremost, and most important are those who step in to make wrong right, regardless of risk to life and limb; and those who died so we didn't have to. God bless 'em.

Secondly, we've got those hope-inspiring ones. No, not motivational speakers. People like Lance Armstrong -- yeah, he's a sports hero, but he excelled even with cancer! He didn't do much for others, but he inspired at least a few people to try harder in life.

Wolfe.
 
The special ops soldier that helped to nab Saddam Hussein.
Click to expand...


I'm with you about the fact that too many people are called heroes. But in a case like this above, if a person does something that you are grateful for, but it's his normal job, that does not, I believe automatically make him a hero. A soldier who shoots an enemy is not a hero. A soldier is not necessarily a hero simply for serving, either -- he actually is like a lot of others, and to be a hero, I believe a person has to really stand out and do something well beyond what is normally expected of him.

A soldier who shoots an enemy --- not a hero automatically
A soldier who, in an act of extreme bravery, takes on a pair of sentries who are guarding him and others as prisoners, and incapacitates them, allowing the rest of his comrades to escape -- probably a hero for that. Especially if he did something that no one else came up with the fortitude or initiative to do.


-blackmind
 
... He's a hero for KICKING THE CRAP OUT OF THE FRENCH SO MANY TIMES at their own game and being a great cyclist...in spite of having cancer.
Click to expand...

AMEN!

It really amazes me that Cindy Sheehan actually got as much press as she did. I agree that her son may have been a hero...but we'll never know. This MAN was willing to join the military, served his country, and pay the untimate price. And what did "mommy" do? She desicrated her son's memory.

FWIW, my family heritage is BOTH French and German. For that, I could not be more ashamed.

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! (Now, lets bomb the French)
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
 
Cindy Sheehan was a B***** plain and simple. She spit all over the troops and tried claiming she supports them because her son was patriotic enough to do so.

Unlike her who used her sons death to benefit her politically.
 
HOnestly, i think the heroes are the guys and gals who live to serve others. My friends who are joining the Army (or the airforce or navy, I guess), the people who teach grade school in a dead end place because they really are helping kids learn, the people who aren't afraid to stand up for thier Faith and beliefs.

Those are the kinds of people i look up to.
 
I can't say Armstrong is a hero for beating the French. I mean, c'mon... the FRENCH?!?! The local Cub Scout Troop could beat 'em... :evil:


A hero to me is someone who goes above and beyond. Audy Murphy was a hero. And is probably the best example I can think of...
 
I would say Lance Armstrong is a hero....he looked the big C in the eye started forward and never looked back. He had a good reason for calling it a day as most of us would have. A hero is a person who gives hope and courage to others to make a stand when logic and fear says otherwise.

There are many different types of heroes.....
 
The first instance of victim worship I remember was the Iran hostages.

But there are different types of heroes

Action heroes like Pvt Miller who was with Jessica Lynch and actually tried to engage and defeat the enemy instead of dropping to his knees and praying.
When was the last time you heard his name.

There are also heroes of conscience
People who give up everything because they believe in an ideal
Muhammad Ali and Billy Mitchell have always been personal heroes of mine.
Even if I didn't agree with Ali's views I respected his commitment
 
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