Another political post. Someday I will elaborate my thoughts about heroes vs heroism, saints vs saintly deeds. Also, a discussion about "common sense" and why I hate the phrase, is in order. In addition, my view that lawyers and activists have been the greatest defenders of our rights and freedoms, while soldiers have protected our national security and interests, and police have served a different purpose, deserves an explanation. But all that will have to wait. For now, the topic is heroes and saints.
If you want something more professional direct from an historian, here is Heather Cox Richardson's post about heroism.
There are no heroes, nor saints. And, neither birth, uniform, nor title, can bestow such an honor. These are just words we throw around without concern for consequences. When applied, they elevate the bearer upon a pedestal. Then, an unseemly deed from their past is uncovered; an ensuing act of cowardice is revealed. We discover that they are only human. Rather than admonish ourselves for creating absurd expectations and standards, we tear down the hero and saint, punish them for a crime, and toss them aside to rot, alone. Or, we lie to ourselves, ignore their sins and foibles, and call their detractors, villains. Either way, the bearer of such titles, suffers. They endure humiliation, or struggle to maintain false appearances. We suffer, too. Our self-righteous revenge inspires others to remain silent, avoid conflict, or worse, convince themselves what is evil and base is good and noble.
So desperate are we for heroes, that we create illusions.
Instead, ordinary people are capable of heroic and saintly deeds. A danger appears, and they react in order to save others, at great peril to themselves. An injustice occurs, and they notice it, call it out, and resist it, bearing agonizing ridicule and self doubt. A crisis surfaces, and they take time and energy to analyze it and offer solutions, despite physical, social, mental, and emotional obstacles. Their friends, family, neighbors, and total strangers, question their motives, plead for them to stop, or harass them, and threaten them with harm.
Yet, when labeling actions heroic or saintly, we must, as in all human endeavors, be careful. Suffering is not enough. After all, criminals can take a bullet. Racists, suffer social condemnation. Even propagandists work hard to solve problems. The cause must be righteous, too.
On this day, of all days, these thoughts flood my mind. It is January 20th, 2025, the third Monday of the first month. A day set aside to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, a man who was assassinated by another citizen, because he fought for freedom. It is also the inauguration of the forty-seventh President of the United States. A man who dodged a bullet because he moved his head in order to read a chart. Neither of these men are heroes, nor saints. They have sinned and made mistakes. Human to the core.
But, only one has done something heroic.
On this day, I choose to reflect on the words and actions of Dr. King, and all the people who spoke up, under threat of suffering and death, to protect our rights and freedoms, and, for now, ignore the ramblings, rants, and false promises of the 47th President of the United States.
After all, I have the next four years to listen to the latter, and react.
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