Hero

A label on a container of food sitting on my kitchen counter reads:  “Bring any of Mrs. G—–’s products home tonight…and become a HERO!”  I say, “Really?”

Unless, for example, a person finds a child extremely hungry and possibly dying and leaves safety to venture into a howling blizzard to seek out a grocery store so to purchase this product in order to feed the child back to health. Thus risking personal life for the life of the child.  Such a person could be truly deemed a hero by bringing home Mrs. G—–’s.

A few years back there was a housing company that called those who bought their houses “everyday heroes.”  Really, again?

Those two examples are only true if the definition for hero has changed.  It used to be that a hero was one who risked life and limb to save others.  A hero was someone who caused the majority to see them as worthy of high praise.  Buying Mrs. G—–’s product or a house from a builder does not fit in either of the historical thoughts about a hero.

The word “hero” from Dictionary.com:  “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal”.  And “Hero” in Merriam-Webster: c: “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities” d: “one who shows great courage”.

The misuse or diluting of the word “hero” is again a destruction of our language where words are rendered somewhat broken or unusable as they no longer have a common meaning or an accurate meaning.  A word that means many things…means nothing.  A word that is defined by the whim of anyone is a word that doesn’t add to the language nor the unity of the group or country.  Words only work or matter when they have a clear and consistent definition.

I can’t communicate with you if the words I use have meanings known to me but not to you.

So, “Be shy to truck pot can shoe blue hit.”  What???  I said: “You need to go to the store to get some Dawn (blue).”  You knew that – right?   We only communicate if the words I use have the same definition for you as they do for me.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary was and is a huge reason we became “one nation under God”.  We had a common language and thus could have common thoughts and direction.  The correct use of words matters much!

There are a few heroes among us, but few.  My doing what I ought to do with little or no risk to me does not make me a hero.  Buying their product certainly does not make me a hero.

Oh, and there is one supreme Hero – that is Jesus – the one and only “super Hero”.  He laid His life down to save others and He is worthy of high praises, honor, and adoration.  Nobody or nothing should come even remotely close to getting the accolades that He should get.