Heroes...?

  

What defines a hero? I think it depends on the person, what does the word 'hero' mean to each person?

To me...well, I think I probably have many heroes, almost like different categories of heroes. I have heroes that are fictional and superhuman, non-fictional and superhuman (or not, but you have to admit that would be pretty cool), and just seemingly-ordinary people. 

I am a huge fan of the comic book heroes, such as Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man, and other fictitious people with super powers (or in Batman's case, a ton of money and the willingness to fight the bad guys). I don't know if these men would be my personal heroes, but I am a fan of them, maybe not much more than that though. I don't exactly look up to them or anything like that, they're just entertaining and cool and whatnot. 

In the real world my 'heroes' might be people that I admire, that I look up to, respect. I could list various psychologists, maybe political leaders, I could also throw in some policemen/firemen/paramedics. Again, these people I hold some admiration for, but I don't feel that they mean too much to me. They are not personal heroes.

When I was into more artsy hobbies, such as drawing, I looked up to a few "mangaka" or Japanese graphic novel artists. They could be heroes, or they could just be idols. I believe there is a difference.

Maybe a hero is someone closer to me, that I personally know, and have watched face hardship, or achieve something incredible.  I think of my uncle as he battled for his life against cancer. Even when it won, he still was someone I could admire, for his bravery, and how hard he fought.

I don't think a hero is only one person to me, or even one type of person. I have many different kinds of heroes, many people that all mean things to me in completely different ways. I admire a quality in them, or I just think they are unrealistically cool.

I feel like the definition of hero varies widely from person to person, and even to a single person. There is no way I can truly define what or who a hero is, but whoever they might be, I respect them.

Would you walk away from Omelas?

  Would I walk away from the city of Omelas? Leave the lovely city described as nearly perfect and overflowing with unadulterated joy?
   My first reaction, without thinking, would likely be one leaning towards "yes". Thinking about the short narrative for a few moments longer, I would retract my answer. We could think that anyone would want to walk away from the horrible truth being hidden in a dark basement broom cupboard. No one would be able to witness the suffering child and be completely alright with it, even in the short story, the citizens were appalled by the sight of the child. They decided to sacrifice guilt to the betterment of their society, to keep it perfect. We read the piece and shake our heads in disbelief at the people of Omelas. How could they be so selfish? Why don't they see what's wrong with the suffering of the child in exchange for their happiness? How can they still be happy knowing what the cost is?
   If I put myself in their situation I begin to feel a little guilty, coming to realize that I might not actually walk away. As much as I would like to think I would walk away, tear myself away from the beliefs of everyone around me, I don't know if I really would. I don't know if I would be able to leave the way of life that I was used to. I don't know if I would have the courage to leave alone, destination unknown. I don't know if I would be able to leave my family, friends, and the happiness. To leave Omelas would mean leaving utopia, leaving the happiest place on Earth, no other place would or could compare to that. Then again, I'm not sure that I would be able to stay, given that I knew the perfection was all a lie. Maybe that's why the young people of Omelas got over being disturbed; they felt like they didn't have a choice. There would be a sort of eternal misery and guilt, and guilt is unheard of in Omelas, it simply does not exist. The citizens swallow the information they are presented, whether they like it or not. They cannot stay being torn, they must choose whether to deal with the suffering child living under one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, or leave everything.
   I don't know if I would have the courage to leave, to be so bothered by the injustice that I would turn my back on my own city. On the other hand, maybe the people that leave are actually cowards, they cannot deal with the reality and run away from it. This might seem more bold than cowardly, but none of them does anything to change the situation, they just leave.
   I do not think anyone would be able to say what they would do until they were actually in the situation. It's unimaginable.