What Does it Mean to be a Hero?

by Sherié Balko-Nation

A huge flaming fireball falls from the heavens. It slams into the countryside of rural Pennsylvania and splinters into millions and millions of metal fragments. The inky smoke lacerates the pure blue sky as it carries the ashes of the fallen upon the winds. Elsewhere, empty arms left behind weep a thousand tears with the word “why” pulsating in their heads. Radios and televisions crackle with  menacing  information that grows with each passing minute, about metallic birds plunging into  crystalline twin towers. Our shield of liberty had been pierced. We were not invincible. Death's scythe has claimed thousands of human souls.

  

                                   “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.
                                  It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost,
                                        but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

   Hours pass as heroes emerge; hands reaching into the fires of hell to pull a helpless being fromthe grasp of death. Suddenly, the hands are many. They dig, look, search for more heartbeats or signs of life buried beneath the massive concrete graveyard. Time is not a friend, something these brave souls know. They have no thought of themselves, as they work until their eyes weep from exhaustion. Their bodies grow numb from the grief of knowing they are not Superman or Wonder Woman, but Lord, they would give anything if they could be just for one day.   A day where they could stop this madness that has plagued our home.

              What is a hero I ask myself? Is it the pretty boy who preens in front of the camera as he promotes his latest movie? Or the celebrity who just got out of rehab once again?  What has happened to the true ideals of heroism? Where did they come from? Where is Superman when we need him the most? Is heroism even necessary? Why do children focus on our heroes? Does society need heroes?

                When I was a child, I lost myself in the world of comics. The never ending existence of evil, heroic feats and human-like characters left me with a sense of balance.  Good versus bad, right versus wrong, as American as it comes. This balance was a way of explain how the world worked. My mind as a child couldn't understand why bad things happened. Why my father had to always be away. Why certain people didn't like us because we were Americans. 

             What began as an escape from reality turned into a love for what is now a dying commodity. Looking back I never realized how a lot of these story lines were spun around true events or linked to the artist's view of the world. They gave me tools to deal with what was happening around me. Tools to deal with my own enemies, fear, insecurities, and the unknown. There are three ideals that are always with me. One, if you are strong enough you will overcome even the darkest of hours. Two, strive to be pure of heart and compassionate. Three, what goes around comes around, justice will be served sooner or later. Heroes of the comic world were all different in their approach but the outcome was similar.
           
            For instance, the creators of the big blue boy scout, Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster came up with an idea during the 1930s. They were both of Jews descent. They wanted to create a hero that would inspire and had the true ideals of America and give a message of hope.  The Great Depression was a part of their storyline as well as the rise of Adolf Hitler. The economic hardship and the long threatening shadow of the World War II hovered above the country. The public was looking for something to preoccupy, to captivate, or amuse them. Superman was just the ticket. Superman, in the role of a progressive social activist, took on a lot of different injustices. He stopped  crooked politicians, business men, wife beaters and even the KKK.. He always thought about humanity first. He symbolized truth and justice in a time of great turmoil. He never once thought of himself before others.

            Superman was an immigrant of sorts, from another world. An idea that stemmed from their own Jewish families' backgrounds. They knew the struggles of American life and wanted to bring hope to those who were carrying similar burdens.
           
             Superman's home was in the Mid-West.  Martha and Johnathan Kent of Smallville, Kansas,  were driving home one night when they saw something fall from the sky. When they arrived at the crash site, the childless farmers found a little baby inside a space pod. They kept him and raised him as their own.  He knew as he grew that he was different, but he wanted to fit into the American way of life. Doesn't this sound familiar? Immigrants want similar things, acceptance, rights etc. He adjusted and came to accept his role both as Clark Kent and Superman.

            Siegel and Shuster wrote his given name as “Kal-El” (Kryptonic name). El is Semitic for God. This bit of folklore that has circulated because of  this name. Supposedly, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebels, during WWII, denounced Superman as a Jew and banned his comic books in Germany. Even his name is powerful. During this time, he symbolized everything that was American. 

He was the hero thatchildren lined up for every time a new  issue was published.

           

 Wonder Woman was conceived in 1941.  A female hero that was created by  William Moulton Marston. He wanted to create a female hero who embodied the ideals of the Amazons of the Greek Myths.  The ideals of love, peace and sexual equality, in a world that was ruled by men. She was to be as beautiful as Aphrodite, wise as Athena, swift as Hermes and stronger than Hercules. She was to take on the role of  the new type of woman. “ The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman.”   Marston believed that it was time to have a new role model for girls. Wonder Woman was to take on this role. America was ready for women to work because of the war effort. The white male dominance didn't have much choice. It was the only way to keep the country going while the boys were away. We had Rosie the Riveter to stand for women in that particular arena but a woman as a warrior was all together different.

The superhero genre was made up of males that were exposed to brutality, like Batman. He witnessed the death of both his parents, giving him a dark edge. He overcame his anger and,  forever more, fought the injustices of the criminal world but wondered how far he would go when it came to stopping a thug or murderer. Now, Wonder Woman, on the other hand, had to rise above  society's idea of what a woman's place should be. It was not socially acceptable to be violent or a leader. Women had to keep the home front going while the men were fighting, but it was expected for women to resume the household chores once the war was over.

             In the comic world Wonder Woman was right there battling Nazis with the rest of the male world. She showed the world that women can be both gentle and tough. She empowered her readers, little girls and boys, and  adults.  She gave some men liberal ideas about women, this was a heroic feat, an achievement that lead to prevailing over some stereotypes. She is very complex, and it's hard to pinpoint what she stands for but I think she is every female. She stands for all the things good and just. She knows when enough is enough. She knows when to fight and when to make peace. She has dealt with loss of sight, loss of loved ones,etc. She has endured it all by knowing there is light even in the darkest of times. She has evolved just like the rest of America.  She has shown that women can stand on their own two feet and that they don't have to live in a shadow of a man. She has given young girls they strength to have their own opinions and doubts. She shows its okay, to stand up for what you believe in. She shows its okay to be human and not a possession in a male dominant world.

            Wonder Woman or any hero for that matter, “embodies what we believe is best in ourselves.”   This is a reason we need heroes, to show that through our own strengths and weakness we can overcome. When we do, we make our own lives better, and in the long run so is society. We set examples for those around us, especially when we give of  ourselves without thought to our own personal lives or safety.
                                                                                                                       

                                                “The legacy of heroes is the memory
                                                of a great name and the inheritance
                                                             of a great example.”  

                 When I was nine I lived in Germany. My father was in the army, and we were stationed in Fulda. We didn't live on the base, but in the German neighborhood with three other American families close by. My first exposure to comics was given to me by one of these neighbors. She gave me a huge box, knowing I read a lot. I devoured them and was hooked. My favorites were not Superman or Wonder Woman, even though, I read those too. It was the Teen Titans followed by a close second, with Batman.I was able to step away from all the turmoil that was going on around me: my parents' marital problems, living in a different country, insecurities, a bully on the bus, fear of the bombings that U.S. troops were beings subject to, my dad was always gone, and confused at the way the old Germans seemed to like us, Americans, but some of the younger (teens) generation want us gone. It was an escape that I treasured. These stories gave me time away from everything, when I would read I forgot about what was going on around me. My imagination took over and I left the world behind. Stories I read would be acted out in some way, with other children or with Barbie dolls. It helped release anger that was built up from reality. The stories gave me answers to question I had about relationships as well. The idea that as a child, your parents are know-all, see-all and somehow powerful became a let down when they show their flaws or as I know now, their human traits. The comics Batman and Teen Titans, were about relationships as much as they were about action.  These stories were my first clue on how to deal with other people and to see how really different we all can be.

            The Batman, the Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, or the Great Detective--whatever the name, the hero was always reliable in his approach to crime or injustice. A victim of the dark world of corruption, he watched the killing of both of his parents as a small child. He swore he would take the guilt of not being able to help them and turn it into a quest to fight crime. He has no super powers but his own super- intellectual mind, as well as a variety of gadgets. One of the reasons he is so popular is the fact that the reader can connect with him in a “that could be me aspect.” He pursues his quest with a vigilant approach. When he fights a criminal, he is remembering the one who got away, the one who left him alone in the world. What could be worse than losing your parents to violence?

Who doesn't want  payback for injustices committed against a child or oneself?  He keeps going, keeps fighting the endless fight for justice. He pushes his own needs in the back of his mind and thinks of all the innocence people that could end up with the same pain he endures every day. He is more violent than Superman and uses fear to conquer his enemies. He walks on the line of justice and barely at times kept himself from crossing that line or at least in the versions I read. In early versions, he  killed or maimed criminals without much thought. He was a dark justice, protecting the innocent, but if you hurt those he loved, that is when the battle within himself would begin. He showed anger, pain, and a gruff admiration for Superman and Wonder Woman but he was altogether the most human, to me, of the three. He evolved through time as well. He learned from his mistakes and grew to be more like Superman in the respect, that  taking a life puts you in the same frame of mind as the criminals.

You must accept yourself before you can accept others. He knows that what goes around comes around. He started off as a loner but through circumstances acquired different partners like Robin and Batgirl. He realized that he wasn't alone, that there were others who had lost their loved ones because of crime.

One of the most important tools a child can learn is how to cope with the feelings of anger and pain. When a child realizes they are not alone its even easier to talk to someone and to let go of the anger. Its a step towards adulthood when you can face your own demons and feel you've survived.

                        The Teen Titans were different from the rest. they each carried their own weight in the story lines. The version I was most intrigued with was the series from the 1980s. Robin, Batman's ex- sidekick was the leader, along with Cyborg, Raven, Wonder Girl, Starfire, Kid Flash and Changeling (aka Beast Boy). These teens were on the cusp of adulthood.  They battled Gods of mythology, heartbreak, trying to live up to others' expectations and more. My favorite was Starfire, an alien who came to Earth after she escaped a slave colony. She had been placed  there by her own sister. A childhood rivalry that went beyond the norm.  She was kind, naive at times but fierce. She allows her emotions to rule her judgement. Her race is a joy seeking culture but has a war strategic intellect. She was enchanted with our world but perplexed at how we could not see past barriers such as skin color. She has sense of honor when it comes to those she loves and the titans were her family. “ She is a product of a culture where total honesty is the creed, the duplicity of human behavior is a constant wonder for her. She is each of us, without our troublesome masks and fears.”

            Batman and Starfire were characters that got me through a lot as a child and a young teenager. I know my mom had a hard time understanding why I was so enchanted with these fiction stories. She just saw the violence and not the release they brought me. As a parent I can see the reason why we question the choices our children make. Now more than ever, children need to find their own power in a time when terrorism has found its way to America.

Children need to learn to deal with violence in their own way. ithelps them both emotionally and to build a stronger self. Parents need to see that children are different than themselves.

Adults are generally more empathetic, more attuned to the greater world, and more literalistic than children. We are more likely to feel the pain and anxiety caused by real violence    when we see it in make-believe. It troubles us to see our kids having fun with something that we explore.  We want them to mirror our adult restraint, seriousness,compassion, and pacifism. But they can't –and shouldn't---mimic adult reactions. Play, fantasy and emotional imagination are essential tools of the work of childhood and adolescence. Heroes are part of this play fantasy world. They will get enough of reality as they grow.
           
            On September 11, 2001, 8:45am,  the world of imagination became a reality. We thought the first plane was a freak accident, as did many others, but when the second plane slammed into the second tower, that changed. The slow dawning of actuality filled my heart with fear and disbelief. I watched as my little boy of six tried to grasp what was unfolding before his eyes. My own fear of war prompted me to keep my kids home that day. I searched myself,trying to find the words to explained   what was happening to my son without causing him more terror. He knew it was something bad. He could tell by my face. At 9:40am, a third plane crashed into the west side of the Pentagon and I began to weep. I knew from that point on that America would change. We would never be the same again and, if we were not at war already, it would just be a matter of time. At 10:07 am, Flight 93 slammed into the earth. The whole country is on red alert. Every soldier we knew was called into their local military bases. A new type of war had begun, and the heroes were yet to emerge.

            On Flight 93, the passengers decided they had to do something, after they witnessed the murder of one flight attendant and an attack on the other. From phone calls, they had learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center and didn't want to let it happen elsewhere such as the White House. 40 passengers knew they were going to die, but there was that moment, a moment that change fate and they took it. They would not let anymore innocence people die. In the final desperate minutes, they were all trying to get home safely to their families. Their personal courage became a wider heroism. Their accomplishment lay in bold effort. They were scared, but they knew the odds were slim, but they retaliated with headlong valor and prevented the terrorists from reaching their target. At a time of grieving, confused, enraged vulnerability, when the United States appeared defenseless against an unfamiliar foe, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 provided the solace of defiance. They fought back, bringing a measure of victory to unthinkable defeat.

           

Another form of hero surfaced that day. In fact there were hundreds. Men and women, firefighters, police, rescue workers, and  all the common people. Stepping up to bring light out of the dark tragedy. Minutes turned into hours, and hours in days. They worked through the haze looking for some sign of life. Through it all we saw America fall apart, and rises again, not because of politicians or celebrities but because of real everyday people that took on the role of hero. I like to think 
they had a piece of Superman, Wonder Woman, or Starfire somewhere in their hearts.  This was something to hold on to and remember. That is what I told my son. Miracles can rise from ashes.

            I've admired many heroes in my life time but the ones I remember most are the ones, who were pure of heart, compassionate, and selfless. Who remind us, that life is the most precious of things and that money and fame can't buy heroism.

 Heroism is about morality, humanity and the ability to act in a moment of despair. Our heroes reinforce our cultural identity. They are America's myths and legends. They remind us what we are capable of doing and what lessons we need to remember We shall overcome and in one way or another justice will be served. 

Work Cited:
1.Ashe,Arthur Heroism Quotes, http://thinkexist.com/quotations/heroism/

2..Daniels, Les. The Life and Times of the Amazon Princess, Wonder Woman  San Francisco, CA:Chronicle Books LLC. 2000. print.

3. Disraeli, Benjamin Heroism Quotes, http://thinkexist.com/quotations/heroism/

4.Fingeroth, Danny. Superman on the Couch New York, NY:Continuum International Publishing Group Inc.2004. Print.

5.Jones, Gerard , Killing Monsters:Why Children Need Fantasy,Super Heroes and Make-believe Violence New York:Basic Books,2002

6.Longman, Jere, Among the Heroes New York:Harper Collins, 2002 print.

7.Perez, George, Starfire http://www.titanstower.com/source/whoswho/starfire.html

Image citation

#1photographer unknown(Flight 93 crash site)
http://www.thirdage.com/politics/michelle-obama-laura-bush-speak-memorial-ceremony

#2, photographer unknown(Firefighter towers)
http://firstin.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/fdny-takes-another-beating/

#3 DC Comics Copyright, Superman
http://www.fireonyourhead.org/2009/10/03/supernatural/

#4 DC Comics Copyright,Wonder Woman
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977586950

#5 DC Comics Copyright, Wonder Woman
http://joyhog.com/2010/10/01/david-and-the-amazon-warrior/

#6 Dc comics copyright, and Alex Ross
http://www.fanboy.com/2011/01/want-a-batmansuperman-movie-too-bad.html

#7 DC Comics Copyright, Starfire
 http://www.titanstower.com/source/animated/charstarfire.html

#8 Marvel Copyright,Heroes
http://www.shakefire.com/blogs/lee-roberts/2010/09/17/comics-that-dealt-with-september-11-2001-after-it-happened

#9 Alex Ross, DC Comics Copyright, Superman 9-11
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/911/911-comics.html