What constitutes a "hero"?

[Zymologist]

Good question. I would think self-sacrifice might have a lot to do with it.

[Christianbookworm]

Good question. I would think self-sacrifice might have a lot to do with it.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Well, Jesus sure did that!

[Cow Poke]

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Well, Jesus sure did that!

Actually, Jesus "one uppped" what He said --- he also died for His enemies.

[Christianbookworm]

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans.

[mossrose]

Ok, so we all seem to be on the same page here.

Now, to add a bit to the question in the op.

Would you consider every police officer, fireman, military member a hero?

[Cow Poke]

Ok, so we all seem to be on the same page here.

Now, to add a bit to the question in the op.

Would you consider every police officer, fireman, military member a hero?

Not every member, no. If he/she goes above and beyond what is expected -- and, since that's pretty hard, since he's PAID to risk his life to "protect and to serve", the bar is much higher.

I remember a fellow officer (in a neighboring department) getting shot out in the open by a sniper, and as he lay bleeding, another officer ran out there to drag his body back behind the concrete base of a statue, getting shot at as he ran. He, in my book, is a hero.

That's why citations for valor or bravery use the phrase "above and beyond the call of duty" or such.

[mossrose]

Not every member, no. If he/she goes above and beyond what is expected -- and, since that's pretty hard, since he's PAID to risk his life to "protect and to serve", the bar is much higher.

I remember a fellow officer (in a neighboring department) getting shot out in the open by a sniper, and as he lay bleeding, another officer ran out there to drag his body back behind the concrete base of a statue, getting shot at as he ran. He, in my book, is a hero.

That's why citations for valor or bravery use the phrase "above and beyond the call of duty" or such.

Agreed.

What about the officer who was shot? Would you consider him a hero?

[Cow Poke]

Agreed.

What about the officer who was shot? Would you consider him a hero?

Which officer?

[mossrose]

Which officer?

The one the other one risked his life to save.

[Cow Poke]

The one the other one risked his life to save.

Ah, gotcha.

The first officer was just doing his job, and quite honestly, not quite so well. The radio dispatch advised of a sniper - he shouldn't have been out in the open in the first place. It could be argued he put the other guy's life in jeopardy by getting shot like that, and requiring a rescue.

[Carrikature]

Jesus? Maybe that's why English teachers/ annoying literature people like to claim that fictional good guy protagonists are Christ Figures? Because Jesus is the only one who was always heroic and never did anything wrong.

Going to guess that some combination of a) the protagonists in question actually do function as 'Christ Figures', b) they tend to only teach those stories that use the 'Christ Figure' concept, c) they don't know what 'Christ Figure' actually means, and d) they don't know/understand other forms that protagonists can take.

I've read a lot of fiction. Very few protagonists that I've encountered would count as a Christ Figure.

Ok, so we all seem to be on the same page here.

Now, to add a bit to the question in the op.

Would you consider every police officer, fireman, military member a hero?

Definitely not. Most firemen probably qualify. A significant portion of police and military definitely don't. In fact, I'd argue that public perception of these roles as heroes goes a long way to ruining its usage.

[Cow Poke]

Definitely not. Most firemen probably qualify.

I'm curious why you would think this.

[Cow Poke]

I am interested in what the members of Tweb consider the makeup of a hero.

Definitely not THIS.

[Cow Poke]

I think, in the case of fire fighters, police officers and the military, they each have their own standards for what constitutes heroism. They are generally well thought out and not based on emotion.

It might be a good idea to defer to each of those organizations as to the standards they set.

For example, not EVERY police officer gets a citation for service "above and beyond".

But, then again, we live in a "everybody gets a trophy" society.

[Sparko]

You are unique. Just like everybody else.