MYTHS & HEROES
A hero is a person admired for his achievements, noble qualities and great courage. He or she is a legendary character who has done extraordinary exploits. Through these myths and heroes, the values of society appear. The value or nature of a hero can vary with the country, society or people. We may ask the question: how have myths and heroes changed our lives? We will see that myths and heroes inspire fundamental values.
A myth or hero may have a cultural influence. In this category, we can talk about Steve Jobs. He became a real hero in his time. He had an ordinary life story but he was a genius. He overcame a lot of hardships, he was as vulnerable as other people, for example he left school, fought to make his company work, he was fired and had a lot of health problems. Steve Jobs was an inventor; he improved and advanced the computer and the mobile phone industry. He can be considered a hero because to make the top he was a hard-worker, career-driven and strong-willed. Today he remains a role model, an example of success.
There are heroes who have a political influence. For example, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks had a very important role in the history of the USA.. Martin Luther King was an African American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. He wanted equality for all, he fought against discrimination in the domains of suffrage, justice, education, and political representation. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. She was subsequently arrested and taken to jail for her defiance. She was tired and sick of the segregation laws.
Furthermore, we can identify a third category of myths and heroes. Today a hero is a person who is characterized by their bravery, and their mental or physical strength. A hero can be a main character in a movie, a story or a poem. A hero has many human qualities, he or she is generous, loyal, just, determined, brave and courageous. A hero can also be an illustrious person who is venerated and idealized. These can be everyday heroes like firemen, policemen or soldiers. They are considered heroes by many people. They risk their life for other people. An example, in 09/11 the Twin towers were destroyed by terrorists. Firemen, soldiers, policemen and other people, who had to help many people during this horrible disaster died and are considered heroes. Thanks to their courage, many people survived this disaster.
To conclude, we can say that myths and heroes have changed our lives. Real or not real, they have a capacity to change the minds of many people, to help them and to change the course of history. They do courageous things, they fight for something or they want to serve others. They represent a model, an ideal human-being.
Civil Rights Leader Dies By Ezra Billinkoff | October 26 , 2005
Rosa Parks, who inspired a generation to fight for civil rights, died on Monday at age 92. Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, nearly 50 years ago. She was arrested and fined for breaking the law.
In response to her arrest, black men and women in Montgomery boycotted, or refused to use, the city buses. They demanded an end to segregation, or laws that denied equal rights to black people. A young pastor at the local church named Martin Luther King Jr. led the boycott. Because of the protesters' refusal to ride the buses, the bus system nearly went out of business.
Many believe that Parks’ bold decision triggered the civil rights movement, a struggle to grant Americans the same rights, regardless of their colour. "She sat down in order that we might stand up," said civil rights leader Jesse Jackson yesterday. "Her imprisonment opened the doors for our long journey to freedom."
Parks’ action showed how one person could make a big impact. She inspired others, including Martin Luther King Jr., to use nonviolence and civil disobedience as a way to protest problems in society.
After Montgomery
The Montgomery bus boycott lasted 381 days. Throughout those months, churches and homes in the black community were attacked. Despite threats to their lives, the community continued to refuse to ride the buses. In November 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed segregation on buses. After the court order arrived in Montgomery, blacks began riding the buses again, sitting wherever they pleased.
Following the boycott, Parks moved with her family to Detroit, Michigan. A newly elected member of the House of Representatives named John Conyers Jr. hired her as a staff assistant. She remained there until 1988, when she retired.
"There are very few people who can say their actions and conduct changed the face of the nation," said Conyers. "And Rosa Parks is one of those individuals."
On December 1, Montgomery will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Parks’ stubbornness. Thousands of children from the area will participate in the Montgomery Children's Walk, beginning in the spot where Parks was arrested and ending at the state capitol.
Name: Rosa Louise McCauley Parks
Birth: February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to James and Leona McCauley
Childhood: Grew up on a small farm with her brother, mother, and grandparents.
Childhood Fears: Hearing the Ku Klux Klan ride at night, listening to lynchings, and being afraid the house would burn down.
School: Attended a school for African-American children. The old, one-room schoolhouse was only open five months a year and just went up to sixth grade. In 1924, at age 11, she was sent to Montgomery to continue her studies. Five years later, she left school in order to care for her sick grandmother, and later, her mother.
Marriage/Young Adult Years: Married barber and civil rights activist Raymond Parks in 1932. With Raymond's support, Rosa finally graduated from high school in 1934. Together, they worked for the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).