Does anyone else agree that the media seem to be going overboard with their use of the term 'Heroic'? Each day in the newspapers there seem to be remarks about "Sporting Heroes" and I find it really hard to equate the meaning of the word hero to the actions of someone who is either kicking, hitting or catching a ball. A dictionary meaning of hero is "One who performs a valiant act" - can't really relate that to a footballer!
So agree with heroic being ... "those who bravely risk their own lives to aid others" ...well said littlemo. Have nothing but praise for those who raise money for charities ...but they are not risking themselves, however challenging their chosen activity ...it is well-planned ahead of time ...not an immediate response to a given situation.
Heroism isnt just risking your life. There are moral heroes as well, People who risk ostracism and imprisonment for their principles. For example, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi.
I haven't read all 5 pages so maybe someone else has quoted Napoleon who said not every soldier is a hero. Doing a dangerous job out of free choice (whether soldier or builder) does not make anyone a hero.
I have read through this thread for the first time and was very surprised by the heat generated and the negative comments- I hope this is all in the past now and in a way I apologise if I have resurrected it by posting. Do we have a facility for deleting a thread when it outlived its purpose? If I had either been at the receiving end or indeed the pointy end of some of the things said, I would want them consigned to GN Room 101.