Voting in a Hero

What is a hero anyway? In general the definitions of "hero" talk about bravery and valor, but in the application of the "bravery and valor" hero's always find themselves rescuing someone don't they? Robin Hood would not be much of a hero had he not been seen as helping poor people through his terrorism and extortion tactics.

I remember distinctly how much we all, as a nation, felt as a victim when terrorism hit home in the enormous tragedy of the events of 9/11/01. In our shock and horror we felt honored to have someone behaving "heroically". Gulliani and GW Bush appeared heroic to us in the aftermath of the horror. They both presented powerful, helpful images which pulled us together as a nation and helped us to feel as if we could recover. We needed a hero when we were feeling so victimized.

Hero Presidents

Isn't that what we are always looking for in a President? Aren't we always looking to put someone in office who can present a heroic figure to us and to the world. When our presidents fail to appear heroic, they become the Villain in our eyes.

In January 2006 GW Bush as voted in a large poll as being both the "hero" and the "villain" of the year. He certainly has fallen from the "hero" status in the eyes of most of America (and the world).

Will Barrack Obama be our next hero? Hilary Clinton? John MCain? Of course, John MCain has the hero credentials. But he is an old man. That doesn't really allow him the strength to "save us".

Isn't that what we want? Someone to save the economy? Someone to save our soldiers from further danger? Save us from the mess in which our country finds itself?

The leader of the Free World is by necessity; a hero.

But when we live in a world where we expect heros to save us and we have villains we can blame for our misery, we are left as helpless victims. Victims have no recourse, they are helpless and trapped. Yuck.

What if we began to take ownership of our economy and the decisions our country makes in regard to the world. What would it be like to view our leader less as a hero, and more as a human being?

What do you think? Comment below.