--The omnipresent misuse of the word 'hero'. Case in point: the CBC's motto for this year's NHL playoff coverage..."Where Heroes Are Made".
Now, let's first clarify: I am a hockey fan. Not a fanatic, but a pretty big fan. And this is nobody's sour grapes, despite the fact "my" team isn't in it--again--this year. But hockey players are not heroes. Not one of them. Not for anything they do on the ice, at any rate. Sidney Crosby's called a hero because he scored the goal that won a gold medal for Canada at the recent Olympics. In the context of a hockey game, there are few bigger goals. But note that game. Hockey is like any other sport: a game, an activity, a pastime. It does not create heroes.
There remain a few players who are pillars of their communities, and who give unstintingly of their time and money to any number of causes, and who encourage and tutor children. I call these people role models. Their behaviours are certainly worthy of emulation. But quotidian worthy behaviour doesn't make a hero either.
The etymology of "hero" is instructive. As far as we can tell, it derives ultimately from an ancient verb meaning 'to protect' or 'to safeguard'. Which makes a police officer a hero. Or a firefighter. Or (one could argue) a teacher. But not an athlete.
Another thing, tangentially related: when did standing ovations become ubiquitous? Where is it written that at the conclusion of any public performance, everyone must leap to their feet? I'd like to reserve standing ovations for occasions when I am truly astonished. Just like I'd appreciate reserving tips for wait staff who actually earn them. (I'm not a skinflint in the tipping department: on more than one occasion I've tipped 50% of the bill. But I did so because the wait staff went well beyond the call of duty, and did so with a smile.)
Further in the "when did" file...when did apologies become conditional? Over the last few years, most public mea culpas I have heard have included some variant of "if I have offended anyone, I am truly sorry." If? If? If you don't know whether or not you've even offended somebody, you're not sorry, let alone "truly" sorry.
There. I feel better.
4 comments:
*Standing Applause*
You're my hero!
Unless that offended you, in which case I might be sorry.
And I mean all that with the same sincerity that we name our heros, give ovations and apologize.
...walked right into that.
That should hold off that 'rampage' that was building within you, for a little while. ;o) I totally agree with all 3.
Catelli, very nice.
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