Hero

A hero (heroine in female) (Ancient Greek: ἥρως, hērōs), in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion.

Later, hero (male) and heroine (female) came to refer to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice – that is, heroism – for some greater good, originally of martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence.

Stories of heroism may serve as moral examples.

In classical antiquity hero cults – veneration of deified heroes such as Heracles, Perseus, and Achilles – played an important role in Ancient Greek religion.

Politicians, ancient and modern, have employed hero worship for their own apotheosis (i.e., cult of personality).

Wikipedia

And so where have they all gone?

Are we left with none today?

The Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela are maybe the closest we have today to heroes

Both because they have moral power

Both stood up to tyranny

Both have will power

And compassion

And humility

And then recently we see the Noble committee giving President Obama a Nobel Prize after five minutes on the world stage, which seems to confirm that we have lost something as he himself says "I do not deserve a Nobel prize"

Fair comment

The Nobel prize as with most things over time is becoming more political and losing its way, become trivialised even

When the word hero is used to describe biscuits, socks and games one sees that even the concept of hero has also become trivialised 

Then we have minor celebrities promoted to the ranks of hero by the mass media, for whom hype is an essential feature of their daily fare

How is the truly authentic hero to emerge form the surrounding dross of modern communications?

From urgency

From a paradigm shift

From authenticity

From the coming times that we are entering

Times are becoming more and more challenging and for sure in the coming period when the world is faced with the breakdown of several of it's systems new heroes will emerge
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When breakdown forces change
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Men and women who have the moral courage and character to state what needs to be done and act accordingly

Their fight as for all heroes and heroines will not be easy in the face of well organised vested interests and those who oppose change

Their lives spent facing overwhelming odds

How nice to look forward to heroes of character and courage instead of the cardboard cutouts on offer today
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Heroes prepared to fight for what needs doing

Bring on our new heroes please...........