Thi s Week' s Attit ude

In our celebrity-obsessed culture, the term "hero" is commonly misrepresented, much like the words "superstar" or "megastar," which tend to be excessively cited.

For my money, a hero is generally someone who, though they may be scared, as anyone would be in certain instances, performs an unexpected act of bravery when their own life may be at peril or who goes out of their way to help someone in imminent danger. To a lesser degree, a hero may also be someone who makes an extraordinary impact on an individual's life. In the latter case, the hero probably doesn't generate widespread attention because it is exclusively in the eyes of the beholder.

An athlete who leads a team to victory, regardless of the feat, is a miserable excuse for a hero. Scoring the winning touchdown, smacking the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth or sinking a halfcourt shot basket as time expires surely warrants momentary praise and lasting glory, yet though they may be distinguished accomplishments, they are hardly heroic efforts.

When swimmer Michael Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals last summer he was suitably hailed, but the victories did not elevate him to hero status, though the worldwide media and millions around the world, presumably including lots of admiring youngsters, may have considered him one. He competed against and defeated the world's top amateur competitors in intense contests and achieved goals that no one else ever did, but that just made him an exceptionally skilled swimmer - nothing more.

When a professional New York sports team wins a championship, it is customarily celebrated with a parade down lower Broadway, the setting is temporarily dubbed the Canyon of Heroes. While that may be a clever public relations phrase, it simply dilutes the value of the word. A more fitting and, presumably, just as acceptable phrase would be Canyon of Champions.

But there's a HUGE difference between someone deserving fleeting admiration and someone whose action may have saved one or more lives.

Soldiers in combat are typically recognized for sudden acts of heroism with varied levels of medals depending on the extent of the act. While Bronze and Silver medals are exemplary, they aren't comparable to the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor that can be presented to an American soldier "for conspicuous at the risk of one's life above and beyond the call of duty." I added the Italics because those six words are perhaps the paramount factor in labeling someone a hero.

There have probably been many heroic incidents during the six-year war in Iraq, but only a handful have received much attention, possibly due to the conflict's extensive disapproval. There may also have been less notice of such incidents after a former football player was killed in combat and the Pentagon attempted to depict him as a hero.

Pat Tillman was a football star, considered an inspiration on and off the field, when he walked away from a potentially long NFL career after only four years to enlist in the Army's Rangers in 2002. When he died two years later, the Pentagon initially reported Tillman died engaging the enemy, but a subsequent Congressional investigation revealed there was a cover-up and the former NFL player was actually killed as the result of "friendly fire" on a mission in Afghanistan.

The government even went so far as to lie to his family, which did not learn the facts for more than a month. Tillman was awarded a Silver Star based on fictitious reports, yet, blame for fabricating the original account has never been designated.

Tillman surely deserved acclaim for his surprising enlistment, but it was inexcusable that the government concealed the truth just so they could elevate him to hero status in an attempt to garner positive publicity for an unnecessary war that was gradually losing public support.

The most recent hero in our midst — which is absolutely justifiable — is Captain Chesley Sullenberger who was at the controls when he safely ditched his U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River two months ago, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew on board the aircraft, when it became disabled after striking some geese after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport.

In the days and weeks after the incident, Sully, as he is commonly known, made countless media appearances and was bestowed with a variety of honors, including an invitation to Barack Obama's inauguration five days after the incident. Sully got more than the traditional fifteen minutes of fame — and deservedly so.

Now that's a hero!

Some lesser heroes, who impact, but don't physically rescue or save someone, usually go underappreciated and without the credit they inadvertently earned. Think about that teacher who may have opened your mind to explore certain challenges or inspired you to follow a particular career path. There may have been the parent, relative or family friend who felt a moral obligation to dispense crucial advice. Those types of actions are not normally deemed heroic, yet they are to the individual whose life was altered, especially when you reflect on special moments in your life.

Last, but not least, let's not forget everyone's perennial favorite hero. Not Superman, Derek Jeter or David Wright. It's the kind that's available at your local deli. You know, a long Italian roll or French bread piled high with meats and cheese and, sometimes, with lettuce, tomato and onions, plus spices and condiments, if that's your preference.

In different parts of the country it may be referred to as a submarine or hoagie. Though it has nothing whatsoever in common with an act of courage or influencing someone's life, it tastes soooo good when it rescues one's appetite, maybe that's why New Yorkers call it a "hero."