Hero today, gone tomorrow?

‘Show me the man you honour, and I will extremely dangerous acts (for example, have heard of her, so she is a very personal know what kind of man you are.’ those experienced by Carnegie medalists hero, and I became interested in finding out (Thomas Carlyle, 1795–1881) and non-Jews risking their lives to save who other people’s personal heroes were. Jews during the Holocaust) and risky but I conducted an informal survey of staff Recently I was asked to give a short less dangerous actions (such as, living members from the Department of presentation, on a topic of my choice, to a kidney donations or volunteering for the Community Based Medicine at the group of young people from the Young Peace Corps or Doctors of the World). I University of Bristol, asking who their Offending Service in Gloucester. I decided think that their definition, as well as hero(es) were, and leaving the definition of that I’d only agree to it if I could think of a physical death or injury, could also include heroism completely open. Forty-eight topic that would engage them, or at least financial, emotional and reputation death people responded and, since some put keep them awake! Around the same time, or injury. Their work was prompted by the forward more than one individual, they the director of a local charity I work with observation that the characteristic of generated a list of 82 heroes in total. This (the National Association for Children of heroism appears to be more associated list included non-famous people (around a Alcoholics) was given an Unsung Heroes with masculinity than feminity. They found quarter of the responders nominated family award, and that set my mind thinking about that although the majority of Carnegie members or friends) and Table 1 shows the heroism and what it means to me. medallists were male, in the other list of famous heroes (n = 71, including However, I found that the more I thought categories the ratio of males to females those nominated more than once) — about heroism, the harder it became to was equal or even lower. although some of them are less famous define — although I am certain that it is In addition to gender, other factors may than others (I spent many hours on internet more than just bravery, compassion or play a role in the perceived ‘greatness’ of a search engines trying to find out about wisdom alone. person. North et al found that perceptions some!). Also not included in Table 1 are the In the medical and psychological of the emotional significance of a pop song nameless unsung heroes that were literature, a number of definitions of could be mediated by whether the mentioned by several people; for example, heroism have been used. For example, a composer was dead or alive, and this firemen, doctors, sailors, mountaineers, hero has been described as ‘a person who interacted with whether they had naval commanders and people who have already has or will produce objects, ideas demonstrated ‘good’ or ‘bad’ conduct overcome disability or other adverse or followers (which are of national or during their life. Interestingly, when situations. Four responders stated that international importance), and whose conduct was ‘good’, death led to the music they did not have a hero, and a couple achievements persist through time’.1 The being rated as more meaningful.1 were also cynical about the overall concept authors used this definition to distinguish My own personal hero is both alive and of heroism, questioning whether it really heroes from celebrities, with the term female. Her name is Camila exists — at least in today’s world. celebrity being defined as ‘a famous Batmanghedlijh and she works as a Looking through the list, it is fascinating person whose achievements are well psychotherapist in London. She was born how varied people’s suggestions were. In known nationally or internationally, but who in Iran to a very wealthy family and grew up order to make the results more ‘readable’, I does not create any objects or ideas of believing that everyone had bodyguards categorised the heroes into groups permanence or lasting importance.’ It’s just as she did! During the revolution her according to the particular domain in which important to make this distinction between father was imprisoned, although her they were believed to be heroic: adversity heroes and celebrities — within the boarding school arranged political asylum (individuals who lived through extremely celebrity culture in which we live, people for her. She trained as a psychotherapist in difficult circumstances yet strove to create can be famous purely for being famous, England and set up The Place to Be, a something positive), society (those who but that doesn’t necessarily equal heroism. charity that provides emotional and changed the status quo with regard to their How many heroes are there in the Big therapeutic support for children in primary community or culture), science (individuals Brother house? school. Later, she founded Kid’s Company, who greatly contributed to our Becker and Eagly2 argue that heroism a day centre for young people in South understanding of, or ability to navigate the falls into the larger category of prosocial London, and now works with adolescents world), spirituality (those who have stood by behaviours, so that heroism would consist who are often extremely challenging and their religious beliefs and acted as spiritual of ‘actions undertaken to help others, have been excluded from a string of other guardians), sport (individuals who have despite the possibility that they may result services. She works tirelessly to raise advanced their sport) and entertainment in the helper’s death or injury’. In their funds and decided against having her own (those who have inspired others through study of gender differences and heroic family in order to stay committed to her art). A final category consists of people who behaviour, they analysed a range of vocation. Not many people that I speak to were nominated more than once and I felt

644 British Journal of General Practice, August 2005 Essay

that they deserved a category of their own, Regardless of whether we can draw any Table 1. Categorised list of since they were examples of shared concrete conclusions from this mini- nominated heroes. admiration. These categories are in no way survey, the subject of heroes did get Adversity (n = 10) mutually exclusive, and many individuals people talking, and most responders were Anne Frank (d. 1945) Douglas Bader (d. 1982) could easily fit into more than one group. eager to share their views about the nature Helen Keller (d. 1968) For example, Chris Martin, the lead singer of heroism and what it means in modern Hugo Gryn (d. 1996) Jane Tomlinson with musical group Coldplay, may also be society. Some people believe heroes play a Johnson Beharry described as a humanitarian (belonging positive role in our society whereas others Lance Armstrong Marla Ruzicka (d. 2005) perhaps in the society group), through his find the term hero unhelpful or even Primo Levi (d. 1987) dedication to publicising the Fair Trade dangerous. I would definitely agree that Simon Weston campaign. hero worship or unnecessary heroism Society (n = 13) However, although some individuals could would, in the long term, lead to greater Albert Schweitzer (d. 1965) Alexander the Great (d. 323 BCE) be seen as being heroic across categories, costs than benefits to an individual and Bruce Kent heroism does seem to be fairly domain- their community. But the debate is Camila Batmanghelidjh Ho Chi Minh (d. 1969) specific, in that having superior skills in one interesting! While browsing through various Margaret Thatcher area does not guarantee excellence in hero-related journal articles, I stumbled Martin Luther King (d. 1968) Princess Diana (d. 1997) another. And in fact several responders across one entitled ‘Jack Kevorkian: a Rosa Parks noted that although their hero had medical hero’ and found that it had Steve Beko (d. 1977) Tony Benn contributed greatly to, for example society, prompted many people to write to the William Gladstone (d.1898) they were not superhuman and had flaws journal and express their, at times very Science (n =5) just like the rest of us. I began to wonder angry, views about this unlikely hero (Dr Ernest Shackleton (d. 1922) Isambard Kingdom Brunel (d. 1859) whether there is a difference between Kevorkian admitted to assisting in the Ray Mears performing a heroic act, and having a heroic suicides of 28 people).4 With medicine in Thomas Brassey (d. 1870) Vilayanur Ramachandran character. Some of the nominated mind, DeAngelis argues that everyone who Spirituality (n =7) individuals seemed to have become heroes is ‘involved, directly or indirectly, in the care Basil Hume (d. 1999) almost by accident, for example Rosa Parks of patients is a potential hero’ and that all it Dalai Lama David Sheppard (d. 2005) (who managed to change the course of would take would be to remember the Derek Worlock (d. 1996) American civil rights history by not giving up noble and courageous reasons for Desmond Tutu 5 Jesus Christ (d. 27/36 CE) her seat on the bus to a white person) once becoming a physician. St Cuthbert (d. 687 CE) said: ‘I did not get on the bus to get arrested It’s probably best not to take the subject Sport (n =9) … I got on the bus to go home’.3 of heroes too seriously, but instead enjoy Andy Irvine With regard to the male/female ratio, only heroes and allow them to inspire and Bill Shankly (d. 1981) Eddie the Eagle 13 females were nominated as heroes, illuminate our own personal strengths. Jean Gallia (d. ?) which was slightly surprising considering Heroes are like lighthouses. They help us to John Aldridge Laird Hamilton that 67% of the survey responders were find our way when we are in darkness. Or at Martin Johnson female. I wonder what the results would least they can do if we look out for them. Puig Aubert (d. 1994) Steven Gerrard look like if I had asked responders who the Entertainment (n = 14) kindest person they knew was. The gender P.S. The kids really enjoyed my Bono and heroism issue is too big for this article presentation! Chris Martin Clark Kent however! The heroes nominated came from Daniel Day-Lewis all over the world and their lives spanned Jessica Zetteler Han Solo John Lennon (d. 1980) from before the Common Era to today (just REFERENCES Laura Morante under half of the individuals — 49% — are Luke Skywalker 1. North AC, Bland V, Ellis N. Distinguishing heroes Maggie Tulliver still alive). In terms of celebrity, I decided not from celebrities. Br J Psychol 2005; 96: 39–52. Marge Piercy to categorise the individuals into celebrities 2. Becker SW, Eagly AH. The heroism of women and Michael Palin Nanni Moretti men. Am Psychol 2004; 59(3): 163–178. versus heroes, since the responders had Sean Connery chosen them all as heroes. It is worth noting 3. Dove R. The Torchbearer. Time Magazine 14 Jun The Beatles though that the largest group of people is 1999. http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/ Shared heroes (n = 13) profile/parks01.html (accessed 14 Jul 2005). from the entertainment industry (four of Nelson Mandela x 6 4. Roberts J, Kjellstrand C. Jack Kevorkian: a medical Winston Churchill x 3 (d. 1965) whom are fictional characters), and most of hero. BMJ 1996; 312(7044): 1434. Ghandi x 2 (d. 1948) Mother Teresa x 2 (d. 1997) them are alive and very famous. 5. DeAngelis CD. Heroism. JAMA 2002; 288(10): 1280.

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