Find Religion

Earlier this week, I wrote a post about one of the professors, and ultimate victims, of the Virginia Tech shootings, who opted to stay behind to hold off the killer rather than fleeing. His actions allowed others to live. As the story unfolds, there are more and more heroes emerging–a boy, shot in the arm, who helped to barricade the door so others wouldn’t get hurt as well. Another student, who used his own shirt to try to stop the bleeding on a wounded student. And still others, who helped carry out the wounded or helped others jump out windows to safety.

What is a hero? We read about these stories, and we see Heroes, the television show, every week, but really: What is a hero?

Were these students and professors heroes, because they made split-second decisions to help others before themselves? What about the English teacher who attempted to connect to the killer earlier in the year through an independent study course? She may have failed at saving him…but was she a hero for trying? What about the countless police officers and EMTs who stormed the building, rescued the wounded, and closed the eyes of the dead–are they heroes?

Yes. Yes to all.

To me, being a hero is doing something that God would want you to do, even though it isn’t the easy path, and without thinking of any reward you may get later in life or in heaven. Being a hero is looking a killer in the face and saying, with your actions, no. No, you are wrong. These people are all heroes.

On a side note, some of you may have read that later this month there will be a day of blogging silence. In other words, bloggers from every network will post an image in honor of the dead, but not allow comments and not write anything.

I will NOT be participating.

It’s my believe that the dead would want to be remembered, but not mourned, especially by people who don’t know them. There’s a difference. It is also my belief that blogging is about all that is good in this world–speaking your opinions, talking to others, sharing ideas. Image if the killer would have had an outlet. Silencing blogging for a day doesn’t make sense to me, at all. Instead, I rejoice in the fact that I don’t have to be silent, not now, and not ever, even long after this blog has disappeared.