Reading this morning about Penn State's decision to take down the Joe Paterno statue, I was reflecting on the nature of heroes. People use the phrase "fallen heroes," which is odd, because we are all fallen, all flawed, all inadequate. There is no such thing as an un-fallen hero (with one exception, of course, to Christians).
One remarkable thing about the Bible is that it describes its human heroes as terribly flawed. Paul doubts and falters. Peter messes up again and again. David, of course, is presented like an action hero, but his worst moments (with Nathan) are also described. Noah saves human and animal life on earth, and then has a totally inappropriate celebration. Interestingly, unlike the contemporary story-telling method we see so often, in the Bible the heroes often first do the good thing, THEN the inadequacies are revealed, not vice versa. They are more like Joe Paterno than Harry Potter.
Of course, that does not mean that they aren't to be admired. Like any other fellow member of the fallen human race, they are imperfect, and it is fair to learn from both their good parts and their flaws. Perhaps it would be healthier if we would think of our more contemporary "heroes" in the same way.
Anyone who stands up for a defenseless person is a hero. Somehow the horror of an unspeakable act make the hurrahs inaudible.I try to see the whole picture,but know the cost of not standing up in the history of my own family. I suppose taking that knowledge to the grave,that you hadn't acted to prevent this from ever happening again,is as hellish as it gets.
ReplyDeleteYou say we are “all fallen, all flawed, all inadequate” which is all true, but in the context of “fallen heroes” it implies that somewhere down the line we or some of us were some sort of hero. WHAT IS A HERO? Someone who is a protagonist of some story? A demigod? Someone who is a model of moral excellence (a non Christian, according to the original sin collective guilt) or perhaps someone who shows courage and self sacrifice from a position of weakness? The latter seems to be the most popular choice for the ascription of “hero”...a position of weakness being the super operative word and the first to be overlooked or totally dismissed. The built-in guilt of my Christian upbringing makes me feel really bad for totally not understanding why we call “heroes” people who sign up and get paid for jobs that require courage and self sacrifice (i.e. a firefighter cannot be called a hero for saving someones' life when it is part of his job description to do so).
ReplyDeleteAs for Joe Paterno, I'm not sure where his “hero” status lies; not a demigod for sure, not a model for moral excellence (he was a Christian) and not in a position of weakness. So maybe the protagonist of a story...but it turns he was unaware of or blind to the story unfolding around him, which would be perhaps the only way he can be called a “fallen hero.”
I share Marta's question: why does Joe Paterno deserve the label hero. Even before we knew of his complicity in concealing Sandusky's sexual abuse - I'm not convinced he deserved the label. He was a great football coach who led his team to numerous victories. But that doesn't, to me at least, qualify him as a hero.
ReplyDeleteRenee and Marta are correct; the “heroic” mantle is foisted to frequently, holding us hostage. Most heroic action is seldom brought to light, as intended. Trite use of the heroic label seldom generates stimulating conversation, though any and all things remotely scandalous become bold tabloid headlines.
ReplyDeleteThe weight of words… “Fallen” and all its connotations –so Biblical. Who among us has the right to imply the mantle is warranted? Those who desire to retain control?
Behavior (performance) and sin… A major league ball player who hits at 33% (.333 average, 1 out of 3) is often an all-star. Behavioral moral activity, accounted and scrutinized by many, is often deemed heinously sinful when 2/3 of the time we do not measure up to the “standards” of those willing to march behind mantles of rightness and judgmentally profess.
Such a dichotomy, the fear of God instilled and the mercy and encouragement of Christ…
From a Christian perspective, when we walk with Jesus, the first whispered words we will ever hear are His. Are we “fallen” when we listen and pray for a new tomorrow? Simply human. Loved unconditionally, challenged and continually offered the grace to love God, love each other, love ourselves and share the gifts we have been given.
It is a blessing to “fall.” His hand extended, listen, “…Come!”
My mom, who is a marriage and family therapist, and who treats a lot of young kids, often laments the lack of real heroes for kids today.
ReplyDeleteAnd I echo Marta's and Susan's questions of what makes him a hero, even before the scandal happened. I say this as a proud graduate of a big football school, but when the bloated excesses of college sports programs have as much power as they do, I think that "person with a lot of power" gets confused for "hero." Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but too often they are linked together without a second thought.
I love this reflection and these comments, because they prompted my own reflection on what a "hero" is. First thought: my dad. Quiet, dogged, devoted, humble, self-sacrificial unconditional love.
ReplyDeleteI am glad they took his statue down.
ReplyDeleteI am uneasy about taking the statue down. It is too Iraq or USSR. Why don't we have pictures of someone hitting the fallen symbol in the face with a shoe?
ReplyDeleteHeroes. Before his precipitous fall, Joe Paterno was a hero because we saw him as representing great success and implacable integrity.
Now we are humiliated. So much so that we are now uncertain about the definition of a hero.
Thankfully, I am of a certain tribe that does not have to decide anything for sure today. I'll think about all this tomorrow.
@Waco Farmer...implacable integrity doesn't make a hero, it makes a decent human being and representing great success is not heroic it's industrious.
ReplyDeleteFor Marta:
ReplyDeleteYour push back is appreciated. Let me see if I can come up with something more satisfactory.
Two dictionary definitions:
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal.
---
Wikipedia says the English word hero comes from a Greek word that literally meant "protector" or "defender."
----
I said Joe Paterno was a hero because he was successful and noble (hailed for his implacable integrity).
It seems to me that heroes are generally heroes because they are successful. The other option would be a celebrated failure that embodies courage and character. But a hero has to be known to be hailed as a hero. Surely, one could embody heroic attributes and be completely anonymous, but statues are for heroes that we know (by definition).
I really liked Seraphim's contribution. His dad was a hero because he was successful (at being a dad, protector, defender, role model) and he was also clearly an upright person. Being a good dad is not easy. Seraphim's dad was/is a hero.
Joe Paterno coached a major college football program for fifty-five years. He retired with more wins than any other person in his profession in the history of the game. Along the way he won a reputation for playing by the rules and valuing education over football. He used his money and influence to build libraries and inspire young people. Or so we thought.
Perhaps implacable integrity does not a hero make. But implacable integrity over the course of a lifetime, especially in situations in which implacable integrity seems an obstacle to success, is heroic. As a role model, a successful person who embodies integrity in any profession casts a long shadow.
If a car salesman stays in business for fifty-five years and doesn't lie to his customers and stands behind the vehicles he sells, I would call him a hero. If a history teachers stands up in front of a class for fifty-five years and sticks to his principles and values students over expediency, I would call him a hero. Success, longevity, fidelity, uprightness. I would say these are important ingredients to hero-dom.
I will say again, from the information we had available, conferring hero status on Joe Paterno was not a very tough call.