Quit Dumbing-down the Term “Hero”

I had a bit of a rough time yesterday evening. I had a conversation with a dear friend that left me angry and hurt. Not with my friend but with the gossip and lies that were being told about me and the lack of integrity a past client of has shown. (I will write about that once I finish working through it.) I was seething; my heart was pounding and I could feel my blood pressure going up so I needed to find something to do and redirect my thoughts. Well…

I made a poor choice to read the news on Flipboard on my phone. Note to self: reading, watching, listening to news when you are already upset is NOT a good thing. A few of the articles I looked at were really of no interest to me but I was in distraction mode so I continued. A few left me even more disheartened with the human race. Then I came across one that just straight up pissed me off.

People Are Calling This Former Vogue Editor A “Hero” For Wearing A Bikini

Now let me just say, “Good for her”! She’s 59 and comfortable in a bikini: “You go girl!” But the part that pisses me off is that people are calling her a “Hero”! She may be an INSPIRATION but she is certainly NOT a “HERO”.

Merriam Webster’s definition of “Hero”:

c :  a person admired for achievements and noble qualities

d : one who shows great courage

I personally don’t feel snapping a picture of yourself in a bikini and posting it on the internet is any “special achievement” or “noble quality” and did not take “great courage”. She is obviously comfortable in her own skin and that is admirable. It can definitely be considered an inspiration to other women to love and accept their bodies. BUT, we need to quit dumbing-down the term “hero”.

Heather D. Heyer, who was killed Saturday, was standing up for what is right…She is a HERO.

U.S. Army staff sergeant Timothy Hansen, who saved an autistic boy from drowning, is a HERO.

Temar Boggs and Chris Garcia, who save a 5-year-old from a kidnapping, are HEROES.

There are so many heroes in our world today; the men and woman who serve our country and protect our freedoms, our law enforcement personnel, our fire fighters and first responders, everyday people who step up and step outside themselves in order to help others are the ones that should be considered “Heroes”. Don’t get me wrong, I admire those who can, and do, “inspire” others. I applaud them. Often times, they inspire me but that does not make them a “Hero”.

I agree with what Steve Hartman of CBS wrote:

In the TV News biz – we ruin a lot of words. We find a word we like and we use it and misuse it – over and over – until just about all its impact is ground out. One word that’s become nearly meaningless in recent years is this one: Hero. And it’s a shame because it used to be such a great word.

And yes, I have written a couple of posts using the term “Hero” and I can justify using that term in both. I guess I’m done with my rant for today.