> > What makes a hero? ... Can you be heroic simply based on attitude-say you're in a bad situation but you never complain about it?
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> As part of a preference to keep words strong, I wouldn't call people heros based on attitude. I'd call them longsuffering, dedicated, gracious, and such. Basically, for "hero" I like what might be a child's image of a hero, someone strong, good, and brave who does uncommon great things.

Which for some unexplainable reason that makes me think of the so-called "sports hero." Is it really heroic if all you do is win ball games?

Even someone who risks a lot to win, is still just a successful competitor. My favorite competitors are race car drivers and they risk their life to win races and make money. But does that make them heros? It's true that some of them are good role models, but Heros??? Maybe not.

But then there is the story of Tiny Lund. Tiny was a giant of man, over three hundred pounds, who looked too big to be a race car driver. Especially when he raced sports cars. Back in Tiny's day, sports car were somewhat like roller skates. They were small and they weren't even very fast, but they were fun to race and fun to watch.

Tiny was in a race when an accident caused another car to flip over and catch fire. The driver was trapped underneath. So Tiny stopped his car, leaped out and single handedly flipped the little flaming car back on it's wheels, allowing the driver to escape with only minor injuries. That sounds like a hero to me.
Howard