As a child I can remember playing with little plastic cowboys and Indians (politically incorrect, I know) with horses and wagons or army soldiers in lines to do battle to defend the boundaries of my bed room. Today’s characters have changed. One just needs to take a look at Saturday morning programming or the hand-held games that have taken the place of the plastic figures. But there is one fact that has remained the same. If you remember, there was always one white horse and the figure riding that horse was going to save the world. (With all due respect, check out the pictures of General Washington, sitting high upon his white steed and if you read 1776 you will understand why.
We have become a society obsessed with ‘hero’s, someone riding on to the world scene and solving all of the problems. From the young boy or girl dreaming of becoming a prince or princess to the video characters armed with weapons set to destroy the enemy, our hope is that someone will come to our rescue. But in real life, it doesn’t always happen.
Sports figures and politicians, for example, are often admired because of wealth and power yet they continue to disappoint us because of their fallibilities. People who seek to gain our trust by making promises that are soon broken only add to a world of distrust and skepticism. And yet, we are as much at fault because of our desire for the hero, someone who will step in and save us.
Recent elections illustrate my point. I do believe most candidates are very nice peo[le and will do their best to represent the people who elected him. At this point, I don’t care what political party they represent, but I encourage you to study the sound bits that followed from foes and adversaries. My hope and fear, that one person will soon change the political world!
I went looking. How does one become a ‘hero? I went searching for a school or college program where someone could get a degree in heroism, but found none. Maybe the USC football program! I tried to find some books or magazines or computer software that might help. Nothing. I found some crazy pictures though! Oh my!
I find it interesting that the words ‘hero and ‘hope’ are often used in the same sentence and context. Webster defines hope as “what is wanted” and defines hero as someone “who is admired for their courage.” I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.
At some time in our lives I believe we have all had dreams about being a hero in someone’s life, whether a family member, a friend or maybe something much larger like the country. Most who are ‘accused’ of being a hero deny it. They just stepped in and did the right thing. Perhaps that is what it is all about.
Excuse me while I go get fresh hay for my white horse.
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