My Heroes

 When you hear the word "hero" what comes to mind?

To me, a hero is a person with firm principles built on justice, truth, understanding, and love (in the Biblical sense of charity to all). Who are the heroes of my life? In fiction, there are two great ones: Superman and Atticus Finch.

Superman because, unlike so many other comic-book characters, his decision to work for the greater good is based on his own moral character, on his belief in the innate goodness of all beings. He's not operating out of vengeance (like, say, Batman) or as a member of some larger agency (like the Green Lanterns). Add to all that his immense power, a power that could easily allow him to enforce his vision on everyone--and the fact that he continues to not do that--and he is the very essence of what I consider a hero.

Atticus Finch (if you're not familiar with him, stop right now and go read To Kill a Mockingbird or watch the movie based on the novel) is a hero because he stands up for what he believes to be right in the face of overwhelming community opposition. He models righteousness not only for his own children but for the whole town. As his neighbor Maudie tells his children: “There are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us.  Your father’s one of them.” That is another prime example of what a hero is and does.

Do I have real-world heroes who live up to those ideals? Good question...I have to think about it.