They Could Be Heroes

by Ruth A. Sheets

After a disaster, reporters interview “ordinary people” who have done something extraordinary.  Nearly always, the person says that he/she is not a hero and just did what had to be done. 

To the rest of us, these folks are genuine heroes.  They go far beyond what one should be expected to do, but they do it anyway.

If ordinary people can perform such heroism, those in power should be natural heroes.  Most of the time, they don’t even have to put their lives on the line.

Egyptians elected a president last year to get their country on the right track to an inclusive political system.  President Morsi was elected and almost immediately began limiting the rights of the people, particularly those not part of the Muslim Brotherhood.  He could have been a hero, but chose to be a divider, an ideologue.  The Egyptian people are now suffering for his anti-heroic actions  

Our state, Pennsylvania, is in need of strong financial support for public education, particularly in the poorest districts.  A hero would find ways to get legislators to find some funds, perhaps add some fees to the frackers in Pennsylvania, but instead, the gas drillers don’t even pay enough to make up for the destruction they cause through their operations.  And, no other money can be spared for our kids.   We need a hero, but our governor is about blaming everyone who is not as wealthy as he and his backers.

Many Americans cannot afford medical insurance and are vulnerable if they or someone in their family becomes ill or injured.  We need some heroes to stand up to the Republican Party and their core constituency, saying something like, “it might not be perfect, but at least it’s a start, that Obamacare.  Instead they tell young people “You don’t have to carry insurance since you are healthy and you should not have to support those old folks who just suck up the money.  Only get insurance when you actually need it.”  How about the notion that Americans take care of each other.  I guess not, right?

Why do our leaders shy away from talking about poverty and its role in keeping our people down, keeping our students performing poorly?  There are no heroes here either.  Democrats ignore the issue and speak only of the middle class, while Republicans pretend that the poor are reaping the results of their own actions. 

Compromise is a 4-letter word, a curse for Republicans.  No heroes will come from that quarter because their fear of losing power keeps them from donning a cape and jumping in for the good of America and its people.

Every challenging situation, especially the big ones like health care, poverty, jobs, climate change,   needs heroes.  People in public office and other positions of authority can make large changes quickly if the will is there.  Just think of Harry Truman integrating the armed forces, Lyndon Johnson moving the Civil Rights and Voting Acts through Congress, John Kennedy spurring America on to the moon.

Alas, maybe we can’t wait for the “chosen” few to accept the role of hero.  Maybe ordinary people like us will have to go far beyond what is expected and will just do what has to be done.