A friend of mine keeps comparing "historic" Mormon figures like Moroni and Nephi to actual historic figures I consider to be heroes. To tie in with something else current the news just compared the former pope Ratzinger to George Washington.

In what way do any of these people qualify? Excepting GW who obviously does. Ratzinger led a group of people who systematically covered up serious child abuse and used their influence to help the perpetrators avoid legal consequences. Moroni and Nephi are not real.

We have actual, real heroes in our history and our present. Why do people adore those like the former pope, the "prophet" of the LDS church and the GAs?

I always thought that a hero was a personification of something you wanted to be. I don't think it has ever mattered who the hero really was, just who you thought the hero was.

So my hero is, me myself and I. Not because I am the man I want to be, but because I want to be that man. Cogito Ergo Sum.

I'd say that the true hero, in the classical sense of
the word, is somebody who is willing to take major
risks in his/her life, for the benefit of the rest of us.

The 300 Spartans who stood against the onslaught of the
Persian Empire, for the protection of the Greek city
states (and thus, Western Civilization) were counted as
true heroes in ancient times. They were ready to give
up their own lives, in defense of their people.

Hercules, on the other hand, was not so much a hero.
This mythical protagonist was already half-god --
although he was strong and daring and served as a
role model, he was not really risking anything in
his adventuresome exploits. He was the son of God
and could bank upon an eventual Olympian paradise.

The modern comic book character, Superman, only
becomes a true hero, when kryptonite removes his
invulnerability -- the true hero must be vulnerable;
he/she must be enough like us that we can choose
to emulate the heroic qualities.

The true hero need not fully succeed. The true hero
need not become popular and known to all the world.
But the true hero must put into heroic action those
qualities that make us better human beings, willing
to help our neighbors, even at a risk to ourselves.

Question -- in the classical sense, would a messiah
being crucified (for a vicarious atonement) be a
true hero, knowing that death would not really kill
him, and that he had divine power at his command,
whenever he chose to exercise it?

UD

"...because sometimes there's a man... I won't say a hero, 'cause, what's a hero? Sometimes, there's a man. And I'm talkin' about the Dude here - the Dude from Los Angeles. Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that's the Dude."

"The Dude abides.

I don't know about you but I take comfort in that.

It's good knowin' he's out there."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRcxnwGA3L8

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHn2lm4LyNVMJC7S4NsXPHdvMrcXcrQcJEDwXn7Ggw6geOi7mPNQ

I don't inspire to be a hero. The cost is much too high, but I know those who have paid that price when I see them.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2013 02:07AM by forbiddencokedrinker.