Heroes not Heroes

I haven't watched a single episode of the NBC series, "Heroes." I understand it to be popular, at least among students. From my brief look at the "Heroes" official website the show is "an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities." From cheerleaders to strippers to cops to fugitives from the law, these people discover that they possess super powers. If it wasn't on the same time as "24" I'd probably watch it.

As I was driving in the other morning, the local morning radio show was talking about the recent congressional hearings of Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman. The military and the media have portrayed them as heroes - Jessica for her GI Jane-like tenacity and Pat Tillman for courage in the face of a brazen enemy. Now that the truth has come out, especially about Tillman, the media and perhaps the general public will view them as something other than heroes. Jessica has always downplayed the title "hero" and deferred that status to the people who got her out of there and her friend, who died beside her. For whatever reason, Tillmans' CO decided to conceal the truth about what really happened. Perhaps it was for the sake of his brother. Perhaps the people needed a good story to make us feel better about the war. Who knows. I can tell you one thing, though - these people are still heroes.

But not the kind of heroes the media wants. Americans are still dying in Iraq and flags fly at full mast. Americans die on a college campus, flags fly at half-mast.

he-ro [heer-oh] a man (or woman) of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

Students living out their faith on a college campus, going against the grain, standing up for holiness and righteousness are my heroes. Soldiers patrolling an action-less base miles back from the front lines, yet separated from family and loved ones are my heroes.

Heroes not heroes. I know what a hero is. Do you?