30 Days of Truth: Day 14

A hero that has let you down

Let's define the term hero:

hero [ˈhɪərəʊ]
n pl -roes
1. a man distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, fortitude, etc.
2. a man who is idealized for possessing superior qualities in any field
3. (Myth & Legend / Classical Myth & Legend) Classical myth a being of extraordinary strength and courage, often the offspring of a mortal and a god, who is celebrated for his exploits
4. the principal male character in a novel, play, etc.

There are heros everywhere - war, novels, movies, etc., but for me to pick one that has let me down... I am struggling with it.

Could it be Mel Gibson? I love him as an actor. He is the star of SO many of my favorite movies. But his exploits here lately leave much to be desired. Who is to say what goes on behind closed doors? To hear the tapes his girlfriend/baby-mama recorded shows a side to him I really, really, really didn't want to know about.

What about James Fry who wrote A Million Little Pieces? I loved that book and, when I read it, I thought he was heoric for going through his struggles to find sobriety. Then we find out it isn't true. What a let down!

I could even claim my Paw-Paw let me down when he passed away when I was 10. God, I loved that man. My favorite memory is sitting in his lap and watching while he traced the pictures in the TV Guide. I can remember walking into his living room and watching him put down whatever he was doing to reach out and hug me. He was bigger than life, and I miss him to this day. Why could he not stay around longer? Why did he have to be fallible?

So tough. Heros come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, professions, etc. ... but they are all human beings we put on a pedestal and hope they don't fall off. When they do, we are disappointed, angry and confused. Does watching and experiencing these transgressions make us more jaded? Do we "look" for the weaknesses in others?

I think so.

I think we start to expect our heros to fail. We have the "when is the other shoe going to drop" mentalilty. People look for flaws and either exploit them or ignore them. So sad. I want to see the better side of people. I want to take the good and bad in everyone and see that it is what makes them who they are. Will I like what I see (like Mel)? NO. But he is human!

Shoot. I am rambling. How do I wrap this one up?

Miss you, Paw-Paw. Love you.