Live as a coward or die as a hero?
- Gareth
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
I do not fear death or pain and would attempt to save the three yr. old child used as an example in a number of previous posts, however... I absolutely abhor violence. I am not a pacifist for I see the need for force to be used in rare occasions for the greater good but I find being involved in a violent situation myself truely revolting.
Thus in a situation where I am confronted by violent behaviour I will remove myself from it as rapidly as possible (in short I run away) but I can confront danger of a non violent kind, an out of control motor car for example and could I believe act quite bravely. So is that cowadice? I have certainly been accused of it in the past and do feel shame that I am unable to overcome my abhorance of violence. As I said this question gave me pause.
On a seperate but related point I think I judge as heroic those people who put themselves in harms way to protect others the greatest of which are those who can have no expectation of being recognised as such. As such the greatest heroes of our time may be people you have never heard of, who gain no medals or plaudits, the unsung hero for me is the greatest hero of all.
- Cyanse
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
- Icarus
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
Someone who performs selfless actions in order to help others, but, in order for anyone to do something, they must have a reason to. When helping others, some come to mind:
Fame:
- having people believe you are better then you actually are, because they only see that one act of heroism.
- getting rid of survivor's guilt. Point is, if you knew you could have saved a little girl and didn't, you will probably feel guilty for the rest of your natural life.
Power:
- addiction to adrenaline. Putting yourself in jeopardy makes you feel powerful, and helping others gives you an excuse to do just that.
- godhood. Knowing other people's lives are in your hands makes you feel like god.
A truly selfless action would be one, where, you do something that benefits other people without any expectation of rewards, be them external or internal (when you congratulate yourself for performing a good deed; please be humbly proud, know you've done well, but know too that destroying always takes less time then building, and what good you've done can be undone in a few seconds).
I don't believe a truly selfless action exists, so I am content with what "heroes" we do have in real life.
Just one more point to make. Who do you believe deserves best the recognition of being called a hero? Those who chance their lives to save others? Or those who spend their lives caring for others, like teachers in bad neighborhoods, or someone that has to take care of a sick family member for years, or even someone who has to juggle two jobs and raise a child at the same time?
And this is why I don't like so much fame going to firefighters and policeman, because, even though I recognize their plights, I shudder when I see all the other anonymous "heroes".
A coward is just someone to whom those reasons above are not enough.
I will not know which I am until the time comes. I will not congratulate myself in advance for being a hero. Might even be I'll never know. Let us hope so.
- Legallyinsane21
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
To me, that war in Iraq is really not heroism to me. There is nothing heroic in fighting against the terrorists, and Bush often said that Clinton was a coward.
It is pretty silly to think that when a person does not fight back when his country is attacked, then, he is a traditor and Bush had this kind of thinking, or he might exploit it for his profit.
Perhaps, it is much more heroic for a married man to have an affair with another woman than dying in a war in Iraq.
- Grotto19
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
That is to say that it is only courage if the cause is grave enough to warrant dying for it, otherwise it is simply being foolhardy.
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
So I am unsure whether or not we can have no regret.
- Che Guevara13
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
I mean, I've lived for so much time and suddently I meet a little 3 years old girl and I die for her? No I don't think I'd be able to do that. For myself, rather live as a coward. I prefer to live hated rather than dieing to serve a morale or something that doesn't matter if I cease to exist, like people proud of my action.(At least I'm honest^^)
- Steezy Philosoraptor
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
-- Updated April 16th, 2013, 4:41 pm to add the following --
Keiran wrote:Honestly, I'm not sure I'd choose to be a hero. Even for a 3 years old girl I'm not sure I'd be able to give my life to save her.
I mean, I've lived for so much time and suddently I meet a little 3 years old girl and I die for her? No I don't think I'd be able to do that. For myself, rather live as a coward. I prefer to live hated rather than dieing to serve a morale or something that doesn't matter if I cease to exist, like people proud of my action.(At least I'm honest^^)
Damn that is the most selfish answer I've ever heard, how can you deny a 3 year old the right to live in order to just save your own life? You state that you've already lived so long and can't just give that up, I believe you need to be living your life a little different, where you would be feeling like you could leave this world any moment and be content about it, and only hope that the 3 year old has a life half as good as yours.
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
I think that none of us now can know if he would indeed save another person's life when needed it to. Even the most certain could be refutered or the cowards could exhibit a superior spiritual power and would save someone. But none can know it on advance. It can be learned at the exact time of the event.
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
What is the difference between cowardice and heroism.
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
For me it me it is about overcoming my fears.Facing my demons.Trinity wrote:New to the forum and how it works. This might be a double post. Sorry.
What is the difference between cowardice and heroism.
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Re: Live as a coward or die as a hero?
Might be so. What about those of us who went and fought "despite" their fear? Even those of us who never actually saw physical combat? And, sometimes did?Xris wrote: (Nested quote removed.)
For me it me it is about overcoming my fears.Facing my demons.
What is the distinction between cowardice and heroism?
I know what it is.
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