“Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.”

Baltasar Gracian

HERO & THE FAKE

by Mark Karapetyan

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine was involved in a horrific car accident. His condition was so severe, that he had to be immediately flown to the shock trauma center in Baltimore.  After many long hours of crucial, life-threatening surgeries and operations, he was finally stable and somehow able to breathe on his own. Miraculously, he is now slowly recovering day by day.  

I have visited him several times since the accident. The second time I went to see him, however, I witnessed something heart-warming and inspiring, which is why I am writing this article.

When I was there at the ICU, my friend was surrounded by no less than half a dozen doctors, nurses, assistants, and other trained personnel who were all working together harmoniously and cooperatively like a well-oiled machine, to provide my friend the medical care he needed. Some were taking regular blood tests, changing his treatment in line with test results, and giving him the drugs and fluids that the doctors prescribed. Others were recording my friend’s blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and clearing fluid and mucus from his chest using a suction tube. Different nurses wearing pink uniforms came in later to turn his bed every few hours to prevent skin sores. Every two hours they helped him stay hydrated by moistening his mouth with a wet sponge. They routinely washed him in bed, changed his sheets, and monitored him every minute to make sure he stayed alive. They basically provided my friend with the best care possible- as one of the nurses put it: “the golden standard of medical care.”

The medical staff delivered another dose of medication to my friend, stabilized his vital signs, and left the room in a hurry to attend to other patients in need of urgent care.

 I thanked them at the door as they were leaving: “thank you doctor, thank you nurse,” for I had no clue what their names were. I walked back into the room, and looked up to the TV screen in the top right corner where Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible 2 was playing. Suddenly, I had this thought in my mind:

Why is it that we live in a world where people like Tom Cruise and other Hollywood (or as I call them, “Hollyweird”) actors, are considered heroes and super stars, when in reality, they are nothing but phony, dim-witted, over-paid entertainers? It is actually comical that they are labeled such names as “super stars,” “mega stars,” “legends,” and many more. We live in an unbelievably superficial society that promotes anything that’s evil, fake, and counterfeit, but disregards godliness, substance, and values.

If I ever get invited (which I think I should) to one of their mindless, meaningless, arrogant, self-glorifying, conservative-bashing, pathetic Oscar events, here’s what I would do.   

I would get on stage, walk up to the front, and read my simple message:

“Dear Hollyweird creeps: YOU ARE NO HEROES! In fact, you are nothing but a bunch of immoral, godless, liberal, wealthy elites who know nothing about heroism or what it represents. Not only are you not heroes, you are bad role models who do more damage than good to the young. All of you are overpaid, underperforming, wealthy fools who are deceived into thinking that you are real stars when in reality, you are bogus and phony. The only star that truly exemplifies you is a Chinese-made, plastic star from the dollar store. Your white polished teeth are fake; your self-given titles are fake; your marriages and relationships are fake; your beauty and allure are fake; the outrageously expensive clothes you all wear, and the hideously scary make up you put on your faces are fake. Just look how narcissistic and pathetic you all are: You actually gather annually here, at the Oscars, to present each other with rewards for being someone you are not in real life! How crazy is that? You hypocrites! How dare you lecture the rest of us about morality, values, family, and love, when the majority of your pitiful movies are filled with filth, porn, violence, drugs and sex? In no way, shape, or form do any of your films change anyone or transform anybody into a better person. You vile snakes! You champion women and claim that you fight for their rights, but in secret, you sexually assault and violate them. You tell us that you hate guns and want them banned, but you make millions from taking leading roles in gun-violent movies. You constantly remind us that we must take part in helping the people around the world, and that the United States of America must accept refugees from everywhere, but none of you has taken a single refugee into your homes. Enough! Do us a favor: stop lecturing and telling us how to live our lives. We don’t need advice from godless, broken people like you. We don’t need advice from fake heroes like you. The real stars and heroes who should be celebrated here tonight are missing. Real heroes never self-glorify or take credit for their heroic acts. In fact, no one will even know their names or remember them…and that’s how it should be. A doctor who saves lives; a nurse that cares for her/his patient; a single mother who raises her children to be fine men and women; a teacher who takes the time to help a struggling student; an athlete who overcomes the impossible and becomes a champion; a fire fighter who risks his/her life to save others; a police officer who aims to protect the innocent; Sir Nicholas Winton who rescued 669 Jewish children from imminent death by the Nazis and never bragged about it; Petty Officer Second Class Navy Seal, Michael A. Monsoor, who without hesitation and showing no regard for his own life, threw himself onto a grenade, smothering it to protect his teammates who were lying in close proximity; Mother Teresa who lived her entire life serving the poorest of the poor and aiding the sick and needy; Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian Christian minister, who spent fourteen years in various communist prisons for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ; Nick Vujicic, a Christian man who despite being born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare physical disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs, traveled the globe speaking and evangelizing others; Last but not least, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who stuck to the truth of His message, despite the consequences. On many occasions, He had the opportunity to escape or change His message, yet He chose to suffer outer humiliation and pain on the cross so that you and I could live. These fine men and women are the real heroes, NOT YOU! 

You snakes don’t mind the vile, foul language in your movies, but are outraged and offended by the pure, honest, virtuous words of Jesus. You demean, ridicule, and mock Him because just like your father the devil, your hearts are filled with evil and darkness. None of you are worthy to untie the shoes of any of the real heroes I just mentioned. They are the real mega stars. They are the real ones who deserve Oscars. You deserve rotten eggs!

Every year, you walk on the red carpet to get to this pitiful event, thinking that the carpet denotes stratospheric status and opulence. I have news for you: You are just as classy as that cheap carpet you walk on. Seek God or all of you greedy, scandal-filled, satan-worshiping, pedophiles will perish!!!”

This would be my message to Hollyweird. Seriously, what do you think? Should I really say it when they invite me next year?

Many people fail to realize that heroism is something heroes do for the sake of others and not themselves. My biggest hero is Jesus and I’ll tell you why. There are many examples in the four Gospels that demonstrate the heroism of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross for you and me alone puts him in the category of “super hero.” However, one incident among many that I will tell you about shows how bold, brave, and thoughtful Jesus was.

When Jesus was arrested, John tells us the pulsating story of what happened:

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.  And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.  Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” (John 18:1-8).

Notice how Jesus boldly and fearlessly came forward and informed them twice that He was whom they were looking for. Jesus agreed to peacefully surrender, but asked the Roman soldiers to let His friends go. Jesus was aware that he was going to be crucified, yet the safety of his followers was on his mind-a selfless act that all the world leaders should learn from and follow.

Later on, when Jesus was taken to his first trial before the high priest Annas (we will cover the six trials of Jesus in the near future), Jesus cleverly dodged a difficult question to save his followers again:

“The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

Notice how the high priest asked Jesus two questions: 1. About his disciples, 2. About his doctrine. If you read the above passage again you will notice that Jesus brilliantly answered one of the questions only-the one about his doctrine. He avoided answering the other question in fear that his followers would be identified and harmed. 

There are many more examples that I can give you to show how brave and heroic Jesus is. These two are sufficient for now.

Before I end this, I want to explain something to you:

Heroism should not be defined as a few events in your life time. Heroism should be your life style every day. You don’t need to save a trapped passenger in a burning car, jump in the ocean to save a drowning swimmer, or travel to Alaska to save the captured whales. These are fine, courageous acts, I agree. However, most likely, the majority of you will never have the chance to perform these “supererogatory” acts ever in your lives. There are other things you can do on a daily bases that are just as heroic.

If you decide to earn your money by working hard instead of stealing and cheating, you are a hero. If you chose to go to school instead of joining a gang, you are a hero. If you eat a healthful diet instead of junk food, you are a hero. If you exercise a few times a week instead of doing your nails, texting, or fixing your classic car all day, you are a hero. If you care less about your outer beautify and more about your inner beauty, you are a hero. If you raise your children to be God-fearing, righteous boys and girls, you are a hero. If you stand up for the truth and tell it when surrounded by people who resent the truth, you are a hero. Remember, telling the truth will always offend, divide, and cost you. If you put the well being of others ahead of yours, you are a hero. If you love those who hate you, you are a hero. Finally, if you lay down your life for your friends, then, you are the grandest hero.

My question to you is this: Are you a hero or a fake?  

What is a hero without love for mankind?

Doris Lessing