NOTE: I am publishing this blog entry retroactively because during this time I was busy performing base defense operations and didn't have enough time to write and post.
Today marks the ten year anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, leader of the United Islamic Front (AKA the Northern Alliance), and the last holdout to the Taliban's campaign to completely take over Afghanistan. On the 9th of September 2001, terrorists posing as a press crew went to interview Massoud and assassinated him with a bomb hidden in a video camera for the interview. The assassination was carried out by Al Qaeda, who performed this operation for the Taliban in order to gain asylum in Afghanistan for after their planned large scale attacks in the U.S., which were planned to occur in just two days. Today in Kabul stands a large obelisk to the man considered a martyr to the fight for freedom, and this day is known as Masoud Day to commemorate their national hero.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shah_Massoud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Alliance
This got me thinking, who do we consider a modern hero in the U.S.? If you ask people today would they name a sports star? Would they name a famous rapper? Would they name a movie star? What even makes a hero? We aren't talking about a comic book super hero, but many of the same qualities could apply. Traditionally, when we think of a hero, we think of a person who does extraordinary and selfless things at risk to themselves. Does this fit our modern definition? Let's look at some popular examples.
As often lauded by the media, children often consider sports stars as heroes. Sports stars today no longer play for the fun of the game. They play for money, and lots of it. They live opulent and extravagant lifestyles that often involve brushes with the law. Illegal drugs, rape, assault, larceny, and murder are just some of the crimes these "heroes" have been convicted of perpetrating.
Movie and music stars are often considered idols. How about the socially conscious rapper? Let's not discuss the rap sheet of the majority of these goons, when we can just discuss their glamorization of the "pimp/hoe" lifestyle. And these are role models for children? What about rapper "Soulja Boy" who thinks it's cool to disrespect the very Army who guarantees his Constitutional right to free speech and be an ignorant thug? Disgusting is what I'd call him, but certainly not a hero or role model.
Heroes don't have to be perfect, but they do need to act with a certain level of selflessness. We honor them because they put others before themselves and aspire to a greater good for the betterment of those around them.
I got to wondering about what qualities in Afghanistan make someone a hero today: The man who turns in the suspected Taliban supporters who are planning an attack on a girl's school is putting himself at risk for retaliation, but believes that children should never be punished for the disagreements of their parents. The Afghan National Police who put on a uniform and become targets every day just to provide for their families and help stabilize their country. The Imam who denounces terrorism as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Quran and praises those who strive for peace and tolerance among all peoples. They all put themselves at risk to further the cause of justice and peace for their society.
Sometimes the civilized world can learn a lot from a third world country. Heroes don't a always have to be super stars, just normal people who do super things.
More to follow.
Today marks the ten year anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, leader of the United Islamic Front (AKA the Northern Alliance), and the last holdout to the Taliban's campaign to completely take over Afghanistan. On the 9th of September 2001, terrorists posing as a press crew went to interview Massoud and assassinated him with a bomb hidden in a video camera for the interview. The assassination was carried out by Al Qaeda, who performed this operation for the Taliban in order to gain asylum in Afghanistan for after their planned large scale attacks in the U.S., which were planned to occur in just two days. Today in Kabul stands a large obelisk to the man considered a martyr to the fight for freedom, and this day is known as Masoud Day to commemorate their national hero.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shah_Massoud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Alliance
This got me thinking, who do we consider a modern hero in the U.S.? If you ask people today would they name a sports star? Would they name a famous rapper? Would they name a movie star? What even makes a hero? We aren't talking about a comic book super hero, but many of the same qualities could apply. Traditionally, when we think of a hero, we think of a person who does extraordinary and selfless things at risk to themselves. Does this fit our modern definition? Let's look at some popular examples.
As often lauded by the media, children often consider sports stars as heroes. Sports stars today no longer play for the fun of the game. They play for money, and lots of it. They live opulent and extravagant lifestyles that often involve brushes with the law. Illegal drugs, rape, assault, larceny, and murder are just some of the crimes these "heroes" have been convicted of perpetrating.
Movie and music stars are often considered idols. How about the socially conscious rapper? Let's not discuss the rap sheet of the majority of these goons, when we can just discuss their glamorization of the "pimp/hoe" lifestyle. And these are role models for children? What about rapper "Soulja Boy" who thinks it's cool to disrespect the very Army who guarantees his Constitutional right to free speech and be an ignorant thug? Disgusting is what I'd call him, but certainly not a hero or role model.
Heroes don't have to be perfect, but they do need to act with a certain level of selflessness. We honor them because they put others before themselves and aspire to a greater good for the betterment of those around them.
I got to wondering about what qualities in Afghanistan make someone a hero today: The man who turns in the suspected Taliban supporters who are planning an attack on a girl's school is putting himself at risk for retaliation, but believes that children should never be punished for the disagreements of their parents. The Afghan National Police who put on a uniform and become targets every day just to provide for their families and help stabilize their country. The Imam who denounces terrorism as un-Islamic and against the teachings of the Quran and praises those who strive for peace and tolerance among all peoples. They all put themselves at risk to further the cause of justice and peace for their society.
Sometimes the civilized world can learn a lot from a third world country. Heroes don't a always have to be super stars, just normal people who do super things.
More to follow.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments will be logged and reviewed for appropriateness.