Hero: Another Word Bites the Dust

When I was a young lad, many moons ago, when we sang, "Don we now our gay apparel," it meant dressing up in our happy Christmas clothes. Today those lyrics conjure up images of putting on swishy clothes in preparation for a night out at an Ybor City alternative lifestyle night spot. Don't misunderstand, I am not attacking that lifestyle. I have been to gay clubs in Tampa, Ybor and Key West, and I have had a gay old  a great time (see what I mean)  partying with vibrant, creative, thinking people who in many cases epitomize the word style. I am just bemoaning the loss of a perfectly good word that had been applicable to the masses but now is the exclusive domain of a select group.

I have pretty much come to grips with the loss of the word "gay" but along comes another word and it's derivatives that is being bastardized and this one really pisses me off. In today's world, it seems if a person can manage to drag themselves out of bed and get to work on time they are referred to as a HERO (a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities), and their effort as HEROIC (worthy of a hero; bold; daring; brave). The word has truly lost its meaning. He did his job and nothing more. He is a hero! He pitched a team record no-hitter. It was a heroic effort! He went to war for his country. He is a hero! He was killed, by friendly fire or enemy fire; it makes no difference. He is a hero!

Based upon that criteria, minus the no-hitter and the getting killed part, I am a hero. I enlisted in the U.S. Army (1968 to 1971). I did the job I volunteered for. In 1981, I enlisted in the Florida Air National Guard and I did my job. I volunteered for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. I did not wait for my unit to be called up, and in the combat zone I did my job. Am I a hero? Hell no! In all cases I knew what I was doing and what I was getting myself into and I just did my job...honorably, but I just did my job.

Like any other compassionate human being I am saddened by the loss of a human life, but error in judgement, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or forgetting to duck does not a hero make. This horrid over use of the word is a tragic disservice to those, military and civilian, who have truly earned the honor of being called a hero for their heroic actions.