In this day and age, are there still heroes?

Question

When I say 'heroes', I do not mean some idiot who thinks it's heroic to go to war and never ceases to engage in warfare (ok, an extreme example, but you get my point). I mean it in the ancient Greek sense, of a person with honour, who would sacrifice his/her reputation, comfort, or even his/her life for the ideals he/she believes in.

Here's something else I just thought of, having read through the replies:
Is a hero someone who simply uses the strength he has to save/help someone or is the person who is weak but does his utmost with what he has, the hero?

Answer 1

Yes, but apart from those we know personally, we only hear of those to whom the media pay attention. People emerge as heroes through this celeb quagmire somehow. Nelson Mandela, who spent years in prison for his ideals, is the only person I can think of right now who is famous worldwide and meets your criteria.

But there are millions who care for disabled relatives, and thus sacrifice their own futures, volunteers doing difficult jobs, medical and teaching staff choosing to work in poorly paid jobs in unpleasant conditions, but you won't see them on the red carpet, twirling for the cameras. Instead we are invited to admire Britney Smears.

Answer 2

NZ special forces soliders who are trying to do the right thing in Afganistan (Today's news)
(Iraq was wrong, but Afganistan was a country in need of help from the clutches of the Taliban leaders. I remember seeing a BBC documentary on the Taliban take over back in 1991... and wondering why neither the UN nor any other capable groups were putting pressure on the new regime... Soviet legacy I guess.)
Gandhi, who gave up wealth and priviledge to fight the British Raj and uphold his ideas. Heroic. Is he in our day and age?
Al Gore, a successful businessman with a strong sense of duty and honour regarding climate change, who entered the public arena to get involved at the highest level in positive social change and action on global warming, only to see his stock drop... and then risked more jeering by making a serious documentary and touring it around the world. Heroic.
John Lovelock, author of Gaia Theory, who risked public ridicule by speaking out for the building of fission nuclear power stations immediately as the only short term solution to halt power generation carbon emmissions. A lifetime committed to mankind, even when the answers are very unpleasant. Heroic.
...
Perhaps it is easier to glorify the past, and see the heroes once the job is done and the battles been won.
After all Lenin remains a hero, as does Napoleon. Hitler might have been considered heroic today, if he had won.
Personally I don't think anyone can be considered heroic unless they save lives rather than take them.
Peace keepers are truely heroic. Mercenaries are scum.
Soldiers exist somewhere in between these two ends of the spectrum, depending on their orders, their government's agenda, and their own individual values and moral actions.

Answer 3

Definition of a hero.
The hero is many men on a field. Back in ancient days the act of heroism was many warriors on a battle field fighting to win. Today’s heroes would be football players on a football field.
The fantastic heroes include characters like Batman, The punisher, Mr. Incredible and The family Spiderman, Daredevil, Electra and many more. All these heroes are not super they spend their time performing acts of heroism by saving lives. But if we were to talk about people who were the real heroes should we talk about fireman, policeman, army soldiers, men and women of the S.E.S.? (state emergency services)
Yes we should, although we should also take into account that these people are heroes in everyday life and accept heroism as commonplace ,so, are they heroes at all.
The everyday man in the street that saves a man from an oncoming car would be considered a hero because he risked all in his act to bring safety to another as an uncommon act of valor. This man is a real hero.

A SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT THOUGHT ABOUT VERY CAREFULLY BY MY 15 YEAR OLD SON, I THINK HE NAILED IT.

Answer 4

Yes. In the recent past there have been people who live up to the ideals that you set forth in your question, but not necessarily for reasons that are considered admirable to most people. Che Guevara, or pretty much any revolutionary figure for that matter. Then there are people that are just doing there jobs and they are seen as heroes by those that are affected by their actions- firefighters, policemen, soldiers, etc.

Answer 5

Heroes to me are people who have saved a life at risk of their own. As to war, a hero is a person who as well as recognising a war chooses not to fight in it.

Answer 6

No more. Heroes expressed unnecessary worldly powers and depend on ignorant supporters.
Now is the time for universal, silent and unknown sacrifices.

Answer 7

I see Sara Payne mother of Sarah (victim of Roy Whiting) as a heroine. That woman has contributed so much after this tragic event, to make things better for other kids and parents. She is so strong.

Answer 8

They kill and remove heroes to be now a days. Its because , their skills is used for his or her own interest and achievements for others . money is the basis reason that abolishes the absolutely of peoples moral values.

Answer 9

Yes. My heroes are the people that fight diseases through research, but a firefighter is also a hero. There are plenty of them.

Answer 10

i know some real life heroes who would sacrifice his/her reputation, comfort, or even his/her life for the ideals he/she believes in.