Memorial Day and heroes

This weekend is Memorial Day in the US. A time to remember those that fought for our ideals. A time to remember heroes and heroines, the recognized ones and the unsung and forgotten. It makes me think: Do we know what a hero is? Do we still need heroes? Do we even believe in heroes and heroines anymore?

What is a hero?

According to Wikipedia, A hero (heroine for females) was originally a demigod. But later, came to refer to those who, in the face of danger and adversity, or from a position of weakness, display courage. They had the will for self-sacrifice for some greater good of all humanity.

From the origins of the word, from Latin and Greek, it is believed to mean protector, defender, to preserve whole, to keep vigil over. Therefore, the basic sense would-be protector.

When we think of past heroes and heroines from any country they all qualify by brave deeds and noble qualities.

Take for example the story of Juana Galán, from Spain (Valdepeñas, 1787-1812), a story that is not well remembered, and that not many outside of Spain even know. She was a single twenty-year-old who worked at the first tavern in her village of Valdepeñas. 

On June 6, 1808, in the battle in Valdepeñas against Napoleon's troops, there were not sufficient men to defend the village. Juana encouraged women to go out and fight. The other women poured hot water through the windows and boiling hot oil on the road. Meanwhile, Galán, armed with a baton, took to the street to fight against the French cavalry. 

Through this battle, the French army abandoned the province of La Mancha and was delayed at the Battle of Bailén, which ended in victory for the Spaniards. The town was named "Very heroic." And a heroine was born, who later served as inspiration for Spanish women to become more involved in public affairs.

Do we need heroes?

Traditionally heroes exist only to protect people who need protecting. Have we become so proud as a society that we think we don’t need heroes? Is our society a place deserving of heroes? Why would heroes want to hang around, and risk life, with people that don't value the very things that heroes stand for, like virtue, morality, and honor? 

Maybe we need to admit that life is trying and that we need heroes to help us through and inspire us.  Maybe we need to ask for help from our heroes. Maybe we need to embrace our heroes instead of making them look like villains. They are still around us. We just have forgotten how to look for them. 

We need to forget the hype that we must make others smaller, so that we may feel bigger. Discard the idea that watching others sink is the way to rise to the top. We still need to believe in heroes that serve a greater purpose. 

Do heroes or heroines exist today?

Let’s think about the business world. Business heroes are responsible for putting people to work. They don’t just ask employees at the lowest rungs of the ladder to do more with less, but who actually lead by example when there is a need for sacrifice.

They cut their own salary before they cut any employees. 

They might offer employees part of their hoard of stock options when they are let go. 

They go out of their way to offer additional healthcare or other benefits to recently laid-off workers. 

They also call back first those they had to lay off when things improve.

We certainly need that kind of heroes.

As  Bill Taylor once said: “Real heroes of business are leaders who are more concerned about unleashing freedom than amassing power — about creating economic value based on the values they espouse and that their colleagues live and work by every day.” 

Taylor defines business heroes by. . . 

. . . the quality of the ideas around which they build their organizations, 

. . . the depth of the humanity with which they guide their colleagues, and 

. . . the humility with which they approach the truly difficult challenge of making positive change in perilous times.

This could also be applied to politics, where many times quality of ideas, depth of humanity, and humility are not the operative concept.

And what about marriage and our families? We also need those qualities in relationships.

But without stories, nobody knows about heroes or heroines. Look around you and discover the stories of heroism that your fellow citizens, coworkers, and family members have to tell. Maybe we need more time for others to tell us their stories of standing up for Country, God, and truth.

Are you a hero or heroine?

I think one of the reasons we don’t strive to be heroes or heroines is that we think of a "hero" as one who has no failings. We expect our CEOs, Presidents, partners, parents, etc to live up to impossible standards. And the media “demotes” any modern “hero” that shows any faults.

Think instead of becoming a business and family hero wherever you are. Look for the direct connection between human values and economic values. Build a department, an organization, or a family in which everyone has a voice. Don’t look only for yourself, but for the benefits that everyone can gain. 

Don't think just to outcompete your rivals. Look instead to redefine what's possible, what really matters. Live your values and seek to inspire your workforce and your family to strive for quality and excellence. That is what will give you the cutting edge.

REMEMBER. . .

Remember the high price many paid for the liberties that many times we take for granted. Ask people around you for stories of their loved ones who died fighting for our country. They are not with us anymore, but we need to keep their stories alive.

Only then will we be inspired to also step up to heroic deeds when we are called to face danger and adversity. When we are called to protect, to defend, to preserve whole our workplace, our families, and our country.