Thoughts on Heroes

One of the greatest American writers, Ernest Hemingway once said, “As you get older it is harder to have heroes but it is sort of necessary.”  I would have to agree with Mr. Hemingway.  As a child, heroes are fictional characters such as the prince who awakens Sleeping Beauty or superheroes such as batman or superman; guys who possess some sort of super power that makes them cooler than the average human. But as you grow up, you learn about the real heroes; people who had the courage to fight against all odds for something they truly believed in. People like Martin Luther King, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman and countless others who spoke up about what they felt passionate about. These are the true heroes, because these are the people who have shaped the way our world is today. However as you get older, there seems to be less and less heroes in the world. You see that people are more likely to sit back and watch something happen than to take a stand and do something. Too many people rely on others to fix the issues occurring in today’s society and as a result of this the world seems to be lacking in the hero department. If more people had the courage to change things themselves, we could see all different kinds of heroic acts taking place every day. You don’t need to have superpowers to be a hero; in fact you just need to be human; to have compassion for others and the desire to help them. Heroes can be anyone. They can be a man or woman, black or white, short or tall, it doesn’t matter as long as they impact someone’s life in a positive way. In all actuality, everyone has the ability to become somebody’s hero. As you get older, you realize nobody is indestructible like superman. You start seeing that even the people you look up to as your heroes have faults and make mistakes just like you. However even though it may be harder to have heroes when you’re older, it doesn’t mean they aren’t necessary in society.  Heroes are in fact an essential part of life. Take firemen, police officers, and military service men who everyday put their lives at risk to help others. Their bravery is needed to inspire and give hope to the average man. Their protection is necessary for society to feel safe.  Their mere presence is needed to comfort the people. All people really want is to know is that there are people in this world that will be there for them when in need. So whether you are a teacher, superman, or a loving parent, you are all considered heroes in someone’s eyes.  Overall, there is always room for more heroes in today’s society because whether we like it or not, the world needs saving.