Is heroism still alive in the 21st century?
- Luca Filippazzo
- Dec 2, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 16, 2021
I was asked a very though-provoking question that made me contemplate what I consider to be a hero. Below is an essay with my answer to the question above.
In the following essay, I talk about whether I believe heroism has truly passed away in the modern world and if not, who I believe is a modern-day hero in the 21st century.
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” - Maya Angelou
Has Heroism Passed Away
As generations progress, I believe that the view on heroism is developed to meet the progression of our society in that given time. In life today, heroism is best described as an action that puts others before oneself without expecting anything in return. If I were to agree that “heroic times have passed away”, I would believe that we now view heroism as something that is no longer attainable by people in the real world. However, I believe that heroic times have not passed away, but have simply changed to match the progression of our society.
Due to the progression of our society, acts that were viewed as heroic back then may no longer be viewed as heroic in today’s modern society due to the change in expectation of a hero. The main reason why there has been a change in views of heroic acts is that in today’s modern world, the expectations of a hero have been raised by the fictional characters we watch in film. Anyone can become a heroic firefighter or police officer and although they are seen as heroes to some, their significance as heroes has diminished because there are thousands across the world.
Aside from this, I still believe that there is heroism left in the world but it is remembered for those who commit acts of heroism with originality. Terry Fox who is a hero to many for his attempt to beat cancer will be remembered for generations due to his original act to raise money to try and find a cure for cancer. As generations progress, it becomes much harder to find originality in acts of heroism.
In today’s generation, someone who will be seen as a hero and remembered for generations to come is Bill Gates. Gates has created a foundation named “The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation” and they aim to make health and learning available to all across the world. Gates is committed to doing so by donating 95% of his earnings before he dies. Bringing health and education to all across the world and donating almost all of his wealth to charity is an act of original heroism that will be remembered for generations to come. Gates has used his platform to influence the lives of millions worldwide and can be viewed as a modern-day hero.
Below are two links for websites where I learned about Gates' plans for his family and the world around him.
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