tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post6641737121247270397..comments2023-10-22T06:15:30.760-04:00Comments on Boomer Musings: A Bit of HeroismDouglashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09752593286034877538noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-72225520290831174752011-02-22T21:03:21.826-05:002011-02-22T21:03:21.826-05:00Is a hero brave, or someone who can overcome cripp...Is a hero brave, or someone who can overcome crippling fear to achieve something?<br><br>I think the latter.<br><br>Contemporary heroes? Probably quite a few fighting in the Middle East at the mo.<br><br>I've always been a fan of David Attenborough, so I suppose he is a bit of a hero of mine, both as a kid and now.<br><br>A heroic act is heroic for all their life, which is why we venerated Harry Patch.<br><br>Good or bad? Is it bad that we need them? I think it shows us what people are capable of, and so is a good thing.<br><br>Nice post.The Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10051844634899994750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-38126572947682156272011-02-22T21:03:21.603-05:002011-02-22T21:03:21.603-05:00A hero overcomes his own fear because he must -- a...A hero overcomes his own fear because he must -- and does.<br><br>Heroes today? Absolutely. There are people rushing into burning buidlings, stepping forward to claim responsibility, and doing what must be done as we speak.<br><br>Heroes from childhood? I adored Abraham Lincoln, Audie Murphy, and still do.<br><br>I think heroism requires a catalyst, but I believe the seeds of heroism lie dormant in some people -- not all. I do believe there are heroes among us who have not been called upon to act, just as I believe there are people among us who are, so far, undetected as cowardly or selfish. <br><br>Heroes are a good thing, but I think the word's been bandied about a bit too much. Like the word "miracle" or "awesome", it's been waylaid by multiple ad campaigns.<br><br>PearlPearlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05261369905176088917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-20519819906604624952011-02-22T21:03:21.391-05:002011-02-22T21:03:21.391-05:00First, I'm just thrilled that I made you think...First, I'm just thrilled that I made you think with my post. <br><br>Personally, I have no idea yet what heroism is, which is why I embarked on this thread (series of posts) on heroes. By next year I might have an opinion. ;)<br><br>But you raised a point about atheism and heroism. <br><br>I happen to be an atheist who wears his opinions discreetly in order not to offend others. <br><br>So my inclination is to say that there is no link whatsoever between atheism or theism and either morality in general or heroism in particular.andreaskluthhttp://andreaskluth.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-13083614945248265672011-02-22T21:03:21.220-05:002011-02-22T21:03:21.220-05:00hello douglas,thanks for taking up the gauntlet. y...hello douglas,<br><br>thanks for taking up the gauntlet. you did not chase anyone away. they simply disengage when the topic no longer holds interest.<br><br>as andreas says "there is no link whatsoever between atheism or theism and either morality in general or heroism in particular." (although i would have to say there is a moral imperative in the definition of "hero" if not a "biological" one)<br><br>i was myself surprised when a more educated friend than myself explained that some (ignorant) people associate atheism with immoral behavior?!<br><br>i know this is as much of a public forum as andreas blog so i understand why you did not go in length as to atheist heros - but i am sure there are many.<br><br>i would be interested in your reasoning.<br><br>dafnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-50563325460720676642009-12-24T23:30:28.767-05:002009-12-24T23:30:28.767-05:00hello douglas,
thanks for taking up the gauntlet....hello douglas,<br /><br />thanks for taking up the gauntlet. you did not chase anyone away. they simply disengage when the topic no longer holds interest.<br /><br />as andreas says "there is no link whatsoever between atheism or theism and either morality in general or heroism in particular." (although i would have to say there is a moral imperative in the definition of "hero" if not a "biological" one)<br /><br />i was myself surprised when a more educated friend than myself explained that some (ignorant) people associate atheism with immoral behavior?!<br /><br />i know this is as much of a public forum as andreas blog so i understand why you did not go in length as to atheist heros - but i am sure there are many.<br /><br />i would be interested in your reasoning.<br /><br />dafnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-85207341695330599922009-12-23T18:06:25.744-05:002009-12-23T18:06:25.744-05:00Jules, you make a great point. We all get afraid. ...Jules, you make a great point. We all get afraid. The hero acts in spite of the fear.<br /><br />Pearl, thank you for bringing Audie Murphy. Oddly, I do not think of firemen and policemen as heroes. They chose those jobs and facing danger is a part of that job. Same with the military. It is admirable work but they aren't heroes though there are heroes among them.<br /><br />Andreas, most everything you write makes me think. The one thing I do most is to think. Not always clearly and not always correctly but I think about everything.<br />I used to play down my atheism also. I may blog about that sometime; why and how I did it. But now I don't. I mention it as a matter of course. If someone asks, if someone brings up the subject, if it is within the context of the conversation. I do not push it on people, I do not throw it in their faces. It is simply an important part of who I am. Morals and ethics are not solely the property of religion, they are a part of culture and we are all programmed to accept and revere the morals and ethics of the cultures within which we live.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752593286034877538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-59471965515623220812009-12-23T13:07:36.918-05:002009-12-23T13:07:36.918-05:00First, I'm just thrilled that I made you think...First, I'm just thrilled that I made you think with my post. <br /><br />Personally, I have no idea yet what heroism is, which is why I embarked on this thread (series of posts) on heroes. By next year I might have an opinion. ;)<br /><br />But you raised a point about atheism and heroism. <br /><br />I happen to be an atheist who wears his opinions discreetly in order not to offend others. <br /><br />So my inclination is to say that there is no link whatsoever between atheism or theism and either morality in general or heroism in particular.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-15416831604356282212009-12-22T11:24:24.146-05:002009-12-22T11:24:24.146-05:00A hero overcomes his own fear because he must -- a...A hero overcomes his own fear because he must -- and does.<br /><br />Heroes today? Absolutely. There are people rushing into burning buidlings, stepping forward to claim responsibility, and doing what must be done as we speak.<br /><br />Heroes from childhood? I adored Abraham Lincoln, Audie Murphy, and still do.<br /><br />I think heroism requires a catalyst, but I believe the seeds of heroism lie dormant in some people -- not all. I do believe there are heroes among us who have not been called upon to act, just as I believe there are people among us who are, so far, undetected as cowardly or selfish. <br /><br />Heroes are a good thing, but I think the word's been bandied about a bit too much. Like the word "miracle" or "awesome", it's been waylaid by multiple ad campaigns.<br /><br />PearlPearlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05261369905176088917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561631984395061740.post-74583317017649558302009-12-22T11:09:15.806-05:002009-12-22T11:09:15.806-05:00Is a hero brave, or someone who can overcome cripp...Is a hero brave, or someone who can overcome crippling fear to achieve something?<br /><br />I think the latter.<br /><br />Contemporary heroes? Probably quite a few fighting in the Middle East at the mo.<br /><br />I've always been a fan of David Attenborough, so I suppose he is a bit of a hero of mine, both as a kid and now.<br /><br />A heroic act is heroic for all their life, which is why we venerated Harry Patch.<br /><br />Good or bad? Is it bad that we need them? I think it shows us what people are capable of, and so is a good thing.<br /><br />Nice post.The Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10051844634899994750noreply@blogger.com