Webster’s defines a hero as one of distinguished courage or ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities. I would add to that modesty and lack of self-promotion.
The whole idea of hero is worth a few comments. When we see such a person it can inspire us to be more than we are, to strive to achieve, to give others the courage to persist when things are going badly. In short, having a hero to emulate can lift us above ourselves.
The down side of that is the concept of hero worship. No one, regardless of their achievements, is deserving of worship. Admiration, to be sure, but not the bestowing of god-like status; everyone has flaws that make us human. Every hero has them but these human qualities need not diminish their stature. Unfortunately some of these failings are so egregious, so glaring that they cannot be ignored and the “hero” is reduced to an object of disdain. Statues are taken down, titles stripped, and feet of clay are revealed.
How can such a fall from grace be explained? There are multiple reasons, but excessive adulation may be among the most important. Once a hero has accomplished seemingly impossible feats, the public pressure for even more must become unbearable. With scrutiny now a virtual science it is almost certain that something will be found in the character of the hero or in their performance that will bring to mind all manner of questions. Performance enhancing drugs are always the prime suspect.
No one could ever run a four-minute mile. It was beyond human capabilities, or so the scientists said. Then, on May 6, 1954 at the Iffley Road Track at Oxford, Roger Bannister turned in a time of 3:59.4. The wind had been so strong that Bannister considered not running since a record could not be set, but the wind became a breeze and off he went into history. No one ever had the slightest idea that he had done anything but the impossible. He went on to become a neurologist, was knighted in 1975 and became the first Chairman of The Sport Council. Under his leadership Dr. Bannister introduced the first testing for anabolic steroids in sport. The current world record for the mile is held by a Moroccan, Hicham El Gueerrouj, set in 1999 at 3:43.13. Unbelievable? Perhaps . . . perhaps not.
One thing is certain: Whenever records are set today, there will be questions. One need look no further than the home run derby of a few years ago. The records of Babe Ruth and Roger Maris may have been eclipsed but the stain of cheating and lying makes their successors less than heroes.
One of the saddest byproducts of the public’s need for even greater heroic feats paints the honest ones with an unfair brush. Drug technics have become so sophisticated that they are virtually undetectable, making even the most honest of superheroes suspect. Perhaps they are honest . . . who can tell?
The personality of the hero plays into the story. Roger Bannister certainly represents one of the best in keeping his focus and not succumbing to idolization. Is it too much to expect modern stars to conform to the same standard?
One of the best models for a hero died August 24: Neil Armstrong. Arguably one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century, or any other for that matter, he was at the center of the moon landing. After that he went on to achieve other things, but he never exploited his potential fame. He would not run for public office. He even would not sign autographs when we found that hucksters were selling forgeries at great profit. He, like all of us, had his weaknesses and his faults, but if you are looking for heroes, you can end your search with Neil Armstrong. In characteristic fashion he deflected praise to Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins, his fellow Apollo 11 crew and the tens of thousands who worked to make that success possible.
On August 31, 2012 we had that rare occurrence of a “blue moon,” a full moon twice in the same month. As I watched it rise over Stewart’s Knob, I thought that a fitting tribute to a true hero for the ages. One of Armstrong’s family members has said, “The next time you look at the moon, give him a wink.” More importantly, remember men and women like him whom we should all admire. Those are the kinds of heroes we need and some of them are known only to you.
