Heroism: Serving Others at Whatever Cost
Heroism is a characteristic that is so much sought after in today's world. A hero or heroine is considered that person who steps up to the plate when they are needed most, or one that takes control of a situation that was considered impossible to handle. True heroism is defined as the urge to serve other people at whatever cost, and not the urge to surpass other people by impressive displays at whatever cost (Quinones). A true hero makes the act less of them and more of the person or people they are trying to assist. There are many people who display acts of heroism on a day-to-day basis, and these people deserve more than just a pat on the back. Mr. Chris Parker and Mr. Stephen Jones are perfect examples of such heroes.
The Incredible Story of Mr. Chris Parker and Mr. Stephen Jones
Mr. Chris Parker and Mr. Stephen Jones were featured in a news story on May 24, 2017, by The New York Times for their humane gesture towards the victims of the Manchester arena blasts (Bilefsky). The blast which went off in the Manchester Arena caused numerous deaths and injuries. As soon as the blast went off, however, these two men sprang into action and tried to assist the victims the best way they knew how. Mr. Jones, for instance, is quoted as having said that after the blast he had to pull out nails from the arms and faces of children who had been injured by the blast. Mr. Parker also did a commendable job since he is quoted as having said that he wrapped a little girl in a merchandise shirt before trying to get information concerning her family from her. What makes the story more incredible is that the men were homeless and were only at the site by coincidence or for other reasons other than to watch Ariana Grande perform. The blasts caused major damage regarding infrastructure and loss of lives, but it brought about overnight heroes who were previously common homeless men.
The Origins of Heroism: Selflessness and Caring Nature
This incredible story brings to light the fact that heroes are not necessarily the typical muscular and extra strong men portrayed by the media, but rather can be very ordinary people with terrible lives. From this story, we can gather that their act of heroism originated from their selfless and caring nature and this is what led to their urge to step up and help the children and adults who had been injured by the blast. One fact that should come out clearly is that these men did not have anything to lose by not helping. Their lives were already at rock bottom, and they must have received rude or improper comments from the revelers as they were headed into the arena for the night party. These men could even have taken advantage of the situation and started stealing items from the injured people, but they chose to help them instead. The two men became instant heroes, and the public immediately started raising money for them to get them off the street as a gesture of appreciation for their kind actions at the arena.
Humility: An Integral Trait of True Heroes
It is crucial to remember that heroes do not take the glory for their actions. Most of the time they would make statements such as 'we did what any other person would have done in our situation.' Such statements are the true mark of humility among heroes, and the statements that bring tears of joy to our eyes. This creates a clear picture of the statement that 'Our heroes are the magnanimous strangers who help. (Tran and Victor)'
Works Cited
Bilefsky, Dan. "They Went to Manchester Arena as Homeless Men. They Left as Heroes." 24 May 2017. The New York Times. Document . 29 March 2018.
Quinones, John. Heroes Among Us: Ordinary People Extraodinar Choices. Harper Collins E-books, 2009.
Tran , Millie and Daniel Victor. "19 Acts of Heroism in 2017." 18 Decemember 2017. The New York Times. Document. 29 March 2018 .
