h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My hero is the common working class man/woman who put up with poor housing, low wages etc. Without the common man (e.g. bin men)society as we know it would collapse.

Hope this stimulates some discussion on what a hero is!

FYI i think my equal first choice would be mothers, there is a truely heroic role.

A hero is a bug strong bloke on a horse, who carries a huge sword and fight monsters ans saves the world on a daily basis. That's a hero.

...more to the point, I strongly agree with you about mums. They keep the world spinning.

*hugs all mothers*

I agree with you both. We're all heroes really. In our own way.
Benjamin Zephaniah wrote a poem along those lines, with the same name I think.

My hero is Sir Edmund Hillary. And not just for what he did on May 29th, 1953. He continues to do great work for the Sherpas of Nepal: building bridges, hospitals and clinics.

I have a huge painting of him right in front of me in my office.

Awu

In my more cynical moments, I might argue that there are no heroes, only survivors. "A good day is a day you can walk away from."

In my less cynical moments, I might say Muhammed Ali and Rosa Parks, who stood up to an entire society that was hostile, pretty much on their own.

But surely to survive is heroic - even if war memorials don't seem to agree.
But would the common man not have been more heroic if he had made life better for his other commen men/women?

hmm...yesss..... (I think I get what you mean).

Spot on dear Awu I stood in a queue for about four hours in Harare (then called Salisbury) to attend a lecture which he gave on his climb. He was so modest and so unassuming he could teach us all a lot about approaching life's difficulties. I had heard about his work in Nepal. Good to see you again. Regards. AR1

hello
who is rosa parks? I have never heard of here. I am not sure all common people are heros. I think mums can be heroic. especialy if they have difficult children

"Parks, Rosa Lee

Parks, Rosa Lee, 1913-, American civil-rights activist; b. Tuskegee, Ala. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955, led to a local bus boycott that inspired civil rights activists nationwide."

She was arrested and fingerprinted by the police.

About that time here in Houston, Texas, USA, some young blacks decided to sit at the counter in the restaurant of a large downtown merchant, against accepted custom. After a while, one of them called a friend, saying "They're serving us!"

There are still problems, but its getting better.

Hi Also Ran,

Nice to see you back.

I once met him. He comes to Toronto evey year for a black tie dinner and slide show, to raise money for his work in Nepal. This year he was too ill, so his son came.

I belong to the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.

Awu.

Hi Awu, Great to hear from you. I wonder how one can join the Foundation. How marvellous to hear him talk every year. You must tell me about it. That is the sort of thing that I find so courageous except that of course people are going to Everest every year and leaving a pile of rubbish which is really sad. I also think that going to the Moon was a very courageous thing to do. I know that I do not have that sort of courage!!. Greetings to you - you must be happy it is Spring. Are you sailing yet? AR1

Just fyi: for every year as long as I can remember a prominent national magazine has done a survey on the country's trends etc; sort of a 'hot or not' thing. And every year, Sir Edmond Hillary has won the title of "New Zealand's favourite New Zealander".
I suspect that Peter Jackson might win that title this year though, but only just. Sir Ed's still considered very heroic. (I was actually hoping to go to Kathmandu to help his cause at one point, but I couldn't afford it. )