Rarely do I get on a high horse. In fact I strongly urge you to never mount an equestrian animal when it is under the influence of illegal substance, but that's besides the point and a blogging adventure for another day. Today, however, I do feel impressed to express the power of heroes.
I was a child who was molded by fiction. A lot of my morals were decided by answering the familiar question "What would Superman, Spidey, or Batman do?" For the most part during my forming years the heroes had a code and it seemed to line up with a pretty strict black and white, right or wrong mentality with the occasional test of scruples. I learned honesty, I found personal accountability, and realized someone needed to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves.
The superheroes never let me down. Every cartoon, tv show, movie or comicbook continuously threw them into physical, emotional, and psychological peril only to witness them rising from the ashes better than they were before and forever changed.
I consider myself a humorist and rarely add my two cents on things of a sensitive nature but the events in Boston have seemed to be hanging out at the Kwik-E_Mart of my mind for the last couple of days. The immediate question is always "WHY?" followed by "WTF?"...at least for me. I can understand the human emotions of frustration and anger, but it takes a lot to go from mad to hate and then to take violent action against someone. I don't understand that level of hate. We are constantly aware of these types of actions whether they be in our hometowns or on a global scale.
My superheroes would want justice and for right to prevail and even revenge for the pain and suffering caused to innocent people, but my eyes, mind, and heart are constantly turned to those who run towards the danger, not to attack, but to help. THESE are the heroes. They don't usually even know what they are doing in the moment of chaos. All they know is that someone needs help and they are't going to wait for someone else to do it. The parents who work everyday with no thanks to keep their family safe and fed, those people who do what is right even when no one would ever know if they decided to do otherwise.
These are my real heroes.
I hate to say "bad guys" who do bad things have been around for a long time and will be around forever. Depressing, I know!
But for my children, and for everyone else who loses hope during these times of violence and disaster I want to let them know that there will always be heroes to help, comfort, protect and to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. I also want them to know they don't need superhuman strength or galactic instilled powers of the Cosmos. They simply need to do SOMETHING! We can do something. Something good. Something kind. Something today
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." -Mr. Rogers
