Characteristics of the American Heroes

 
Characteristics of the American Heroes
Everyone has that one person whom he or she considers a hero. It can be a president, a
minister, governor, pastor, a parent, or a prominent person in the society. An American hero is an
individual who has made a significant impact on the country. Some of the famous American
heroes are Barrack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Susan B. Anthony, Benjamin Franklin, among others. American heroes are courageous,
selflessness, patient, and caring.
Bravery and courage are major traits of heroes. It is impossible to achieve anything
heroic unless one is up against daunting odds. Allison & Roderick (318) argue that heroes are
ordinary individuals with the strength to do extraordinary things to inspire people. They remain
calm even in the stressful situations, unlike villains who flee away from problems. They are
determined to attain their goals regardless of the obstacles they face. Heroes never quit, they
always find the courage to confront fear, peril, and pain and eventually stand tall. In most cases,
they do not know what lies ahead, but are always brave to hold on. Heroes are daring to take
huge risks, even those that are likely to take away their lives at no cost (Darowski 131). Besides,
heroes depict physical courage that helps them to be brave in times of hardship and pain. They
also possess moral courage that helps them to act morally right in times of discouragement,
shame, and opposition. 
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Further, American heroes are selflessness (Allison & George 49). They put the need of
other people first. In fact, self-sacrifice is an essential heroic trait, which drives heroes to thinks
about other people. The greatest American heroes fight solely for others, and do not expect any
personal gain into account. Besides, they are compassionate and can forfeit something dear or
sacrifice their comfort for the betterment of the society or country.
Besides, heroes are caring. They are community leaders whose aim is to improve the
lives of all humankind by making the world a better place. This is manifested through their
strong but gentle actions. For instance, Justice O’Connor, a former Supreme Court judge cared
so much for her family (Denenberg et. al. 72). When her children were young, she resigned from
work to become a full-time mother. She later resumed her law career though she still prioritized
to serve her family. In 2006, she retired to nurse her husband who was suffering from
Alzheimer’s disease.
Lastly, heroes practice patience despite their quick thinking and determination. For
example, Martin Luther King Jr. fought against racism in America. During his movements, his
life was in unceasing danger (Denenberg, Dennis, and Lorraine 58). He was harassed, arrested,
and detained. However, this did not make him avert from his mission. His impeccable patience to
eradicate racism makes him an inspirational hero of all the time.
Heroes’ traits of courage, selflessness, patience, and caring give them the ability to do
extraordinary things that an ordinary person cannot do. American heroes do not rely on book
learning but common sense. Their knowledge comes from experience. They are drawn to nature;
hence, reject the society’s standard guideline to adhere to their morality and justice code.
Although not all heroes are awarded medals, they all demonstrate these traits in one way or the
other as they serve their country. 
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Work Cited
Allison, Scott T, and George R. Goethals. Heroes: What They Do and Why We Need Them. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2014. Print.
Allison, Scott T., and Roderick Moreland Kramer, eds. Handbook of heroism and heroic
leadership. Taylor & Francis, 2016.
Darowski, Joseph J. The Ages of the Avengers: Essays on the Earth's Mightiest Heroes in
Changing Times., 2014. Print.
Denenberg, Dennis, and Lorraine Roscoe. 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet!, 2016.
Print.