John Glenn died recently. I think most of us
would agree that he was a national hero. To mention just a few of his
accomplishments and contributions: he was a multi-decorated fighter pilot of
150 combat missions; the first American to orbit Earth; a national political
figure for 24 years in the Senate; and at 77 years of age, the oldest, by far,
to return to space via the space shuttle Discovery.
But I want to focus on something else. John
Glenn was not only reluctant to talk about himself as a hero, he apparently
didn’t think of himself as one. He said, “I figure I’m the same person who grew
up in New Concord, Ohio, and went off through the years to participate in a lot
of events of importance.” When referring to his Earth-orbiting mission, he was
flatly dismissive. “What got a lot of attention, I think, was the tenuous times
we thought we were living in back in the Cold War. I don’t think it was about
me. All this would have happened to anyone who happened to be selected for that
flight.”
I don’t
think it was about me. I’ve noticed that
many of the greatest heroes have this self-effacing quality. We see them often.
A cop or fireman risks their life to save the lives of others, and what do they
say? “I was just doing my job.” When asked, they say they don’t think of
themselves as heroes. They habitually defer to others and avoid the spotlight.
They don’t think of themselves as superior to anyone, and praise and attention
often embarrass them. If I may be permitted a personal reference, this is a
major quality of Turtan, my fictional hero. For God’s sake, don’t praise him or
make speeches in his honor. He was just doing his job.
This description describes to a T the values
of Irena Sendler, a Polish woman. She risked her life to save the lives of 2500
Jewish children during World War II. She was caught, tortured, and severely
beaten by the Gestapo who tried to make her reveal the names of the children
and of her comrades. Despite her agony, Irena Sandler refused to do so. She was
then sentenced to death and narrowly escaped. You would think after
demonstrating such courage and conviction, that this woman would pat herself on
the back a little and accept a compliment or two. Not at all! When interviewed,
Irena Sandler said, “Every child saved with my help is the justification of my
existence on this earth and not a title to my glory.”
In other words, I was just doing my job.
I’m not saying that people who display
bravery and courage are not heroes if they thump their chest and brag a little.
It’s okay to strut a bit and bask in well-earned praise. And I’d be lying to
you if I said I didn’t like movie superheroes and men and women of action who
risk their hides and do glorious and splashy deeds. It’s just that during my
life, I’ve noticed that it’s often the unsung and unnoticed heroes who are the
most noble and praiseworthy. They may not be as glamorous or romantic, but they
shine with a truer light, the kind you may have to watch closely to see.
I’ll give you one more example. I taught for
nearly forty years at HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).
Often the families were poor and struggled to send their children to college.
As an English professor, I came in contact with single mothers who labored at
two or more jobs to afford a higher education for their children. To me, they
were heroes. There was no stirring, uplifting music when they got down on their
knees to wash a floor, and they weren’t featured on TV shows or the covers of
any fashionable magazines. Nevertheless, in my book they were heroes, and I
sometimes reflected on the strength and courage they must have possessed,
especially when they themselves pursued a higher education thirty years or more
after they had dropped out of high school.
In a way, these women were just doing their
job too and didn’t think of themselves as heroes. Yet they were, and I believe such
individuals deserve our recognition and appreciation far more than the
glamorous stars we so often worship.
CONQUEROR OF THE STARS, Book 4 of John’s Inspector of the Cross
series releases January 2017 . . . Pre-order now available...save $3.00. AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXW1RFM MUSEITUP http://bit.ly/2glo2Vxhttp://bit.ly/2glo2Vx
The first three novels of
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Website: http://johnrosenman.com
Blogsite: http://johnrosenman.blogspot.com
