Whose Turn Is It To Be The Hero?

Right, so I was talking to a friend awhile ago, and he was having some trouble with a bully. And one of the things he said got me thinking. He knew that he could ignore the guy, because he'd done it, and it'd worked. Solved, right? Not really. See, he also wanted to be the guy to cut this guy down to size. He wanted to be the Hero. I know that I've seen a bully and wanted to put them in their place. I'd be surprised if everyone hasn't thought that one time or another. Even if it's not their business, or if they know it's best to just let it go...You want to be the person to punish this bully. "What goes around comes around." "You reap what you sow." Yeah, well, it's often the case that people want to be the person that makes that happen. You don't want to wait till the person is forty, and all alone...Because, hell, that probably wont happen.

So dealing with that little gem of life, what do you do? Why do we, the human race, but probably especially males, want to knock them off their high chair? I've got a couple of ideas. Number 1: What's more masculine then beating up the most masculine guy around, the tough guy? Number 2: Resentment. Nobody likes to be picked on. And it feels sooo good to put them in their place. Number 3: Glory. And Number 4: Because I don't think too many people actually feel that you reap what you sow. There's too many corrupt politicians that seem to get by fine, and a million others who just abuse, use, and take...And nothing is done.

So why not go all John Wayne, Rambo, or Patrick Swayze(Patrick Swayze?!? Watch Roadhouse. I watched that movie after my friend talked about it. It only reinforced this topic for me. It's pretty much exactly about what I'm talking about.) Somebody needs to protect the people of the world. Except that it never works out that way...Generally it works out like it does in the comedies. Geeky nerd takes a swing at jock bully...Gets whooped. And then everyone gets suspended.

Mostly, I just think it's interesting that we have what I shall now refer to as The Hero Syndrome. I think this is a contributing factor behind some of our greatest achievements...And our greatest failures. It has led to countless acts of bravery and selflessness. And it has led to wars. Hundreds of them, leaving uncounted numbers dead. I suppose THAT's what really interests me. The inherent complexity and confusion in the Human character. The black and white. There often doesn't seem to be much grey, deep down. Lotsa grey on the surface. But when you throw people in to the fire...It's black or white.