Heroes

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In this well intentioned- but clueless- piece in USA Today, Joshua Woods tries to figure out what has happened to the heroes in American culture. Queried by his son as to who Daddy's hero is, Woods can't seem to think of one. Then, in true modern media-man fashion, he dances all around the answers to his own question.

[[ It seems possible that my lack of admiration is emblematic of a broader social trend. In other words, maybe it's a supply problem. Who among us is worthy of admiration these days?

Should we consider our president a great hero? For a growing number of Americans, according to recent Gallup polls, the answer is "no." In the past two months, almost every characteristic of the president's public image has reached its all-time low.

The lack of heroism in politics is not a one-sided trend. By offering us two nap-inducing presidential candidates and the bumbling governor of Louisiana, the Democrats have evoked many feelings, but strong admiration is not one of them.

Moving beyond the political sphere, it is difficult to identify anyone who enjoys broad recognition as an American hero.

In the past, we often looked to the military for heroes. While many Americans remember Dwight Eisenhower, how many know the name of today's top commander? Does John Abizaid ring a bell? ]]

Aha! There it is- right there, Joshua! Why did we look so often to the military for heroes? The answer is absurdly simple... the America hating media has all but destroyed any reporting system that paints our military in a positive light. There are endless examples of heroism- DRAMATIC heroism- in today's military... the same kind of actions that had the media of WW-II writing stirring accounts that made all Americans proud and showed what real heroes are. There are several men whose names should be (and, in a fair world, would be) household names.

So, really, where is the disconnect, Mr. Woods? As a sociologist, you should be right on top of this answer. Our culture now thinks of hollywood and music stars as heroes... and celebrates celebrities like never before. This is because nature abhors a vacuum... and since the media has patently refused to talk about the real heroes, the people have to take what they can get, I guess.

In closing his piece, Woods asks who is going to lead the way in America. Well, I think that the leaders will, as always, find their way to the front of the line. You won't recognize them, though, because sociologists like Woods and media types will continue to stare right through them while seeking their heroes.

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

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