The Hero Test

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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587132,00.html

An amazing number of people are calling Joe Stack a "hero" for his criminal actions of burning down his family's home, destroying government property, killing someone, and causing serious trauma to many more - and for what - tax evasion?

I don't think Mr. Stack is a hero. He doesn't fit any of the criteria. Let's take a test on what makes a person a hero, shall we? These are all "yes" or "no" questions, with examples of heros following.

1. Does the person consistently and successfully champion individuals who are in trouble?
2. Does the person extend help to others at considerable physical risk to themselves?
3. Does the person have a firmness of purpose that will benefit others but not themselves?
4. Does the person exhibit loyalty and dedication to their altruistic purpose?
5. Does the person exhibit a firmness of spirit that allows them to confront dangers with courage?
6. Does the person shield others from harm at considerable risk to themselves?
7. Is the person selflessly devoted to helping others or to promoting a cause?
8. Does the person exhibit and unselfish concern for others?
9. Does the person act on the behalf of others with less concern for their own needs?
10. Does the person complete the tasks required of them cheerfully and complaint free?
11. Does the person confron the tasks they've set themselves with a steadfast and unbroken spirit?
12. When needed, does the person exhibit impetuous and daring courage?
13. Does the person persist in their commitments despite all obstacles?

Examples of heroes:

1. Rosa Parks
2. Christopher Reeves
3. Douglas Mawson
4. Joan Baez
5. Bella Anzug
6. Dame Edith Cowan
7. Stephen Hawking
8. Erinn Phelan
9. Todd Beamer
10. Barack Obama
11. Chesley Sullenburger
12. Wesley Autrey
13. Martha Stewart

All of these people did what had to be done. Some of them were/are only briefly heroes, one moment of decisive action that saved someone else. Others were/are heroes for a lifetime of dediction and commitment to an ideal or a cause. Some became heroes due to circumstances, and rather than be pitiful, they rose above their challenges to help others.

Not one of these people ever killed an innocent person in a suicide bid to get attention.

Suicide killers are not heroes. Ever.

Suicide killers are sad, often pathetic, and always misguided. They are inherently selfish, believing their woes and problems so outweigh everyone else's that the best they can do is go out in a "blaze of glory" and if they kill others, why, that makes their message more memorable. Some delude themselves into believing they are killing themselves and others for a "greater cause", but really, they aren't. They are seeking personal glory - and that is the act of an un-hero. If they kill others in the process, that makes them an anti-hero.

So let's be straight here - if you kill an innocent bystander in the process of killing yourself to get attention, the closest you will ever come to "hero" is "anti-hero".

Oh, and sad as it is to say this, if you're the one who gets killed by the suicide killer, that doesn't make you a hero, either. It makes you a martyr, perhaps. It makes you a victim for sure. It can make you a symbol or a catalyst. It can make you an inspiration to future heroes, but sadly, never a hero yourself. I think it's a good thing to have your death become an inspiration and a symbol - heroes need that.

A hero helps others, paves the way for future rights, dedicates their lives to a noble cause. There are many more heroes than I named above, and it takes no great effort to learn why any of them are heroes. A google search is enough.

If you want to be a hero, study the list of test questions and compare them to your actions, because the most defining characteristic of a hero is that they act.