Soap Box Sermon: On the Nature of Heroism

Since it's that time of year, thousands of fellow writers, complainers and soap-box preachers are taking to their electronic pulpits to declaim their opinions on the events that befell the United States on the day of September 11, 2001. I am no different.

That day, I was in high school French class when I heard the news. At the time, my father worked close to the City and was probably just arriving when the first plane hit. A classmate, a boy I didn't particularly like, walked up to the teacher and said, "A plane just flew into the World Trade Center." I didn't register the statement at the time. The first thing that popped into my head was, "Dad's alright." I honestly can't remember why I thought that, or even where he was - he was doing a lot of traveling for work at the time so it was possible he was in the air or in a far off place at the time. This isn't about me though.

This is about people. Normal people who did something extraordinary. Normal men and women who were pushed by fear and pushed back.

Whatever was motivating them, the passengers of Flight 93 were pushed down by fear. Fear of pain and suffering should they interfere. It was likely that, they didn't know where they were headed. It was likely that they didn't know what the hijackers wanted. But they were pushed. And they pushed back.

Because of their efforts, at least hundreds, if not thousands, of lives were spared. The Forty Heroes of Flight 93 pushed back when they were pushed. They did it for reasons that were to each one their own, but they still did not let fear stop them in their goal. Such is the nature of courage, and such is the nature of a hero. To those courageous Forty, I salute as heroes. May God bless them rest and respite, and may their bravery never be forgotten.

Brave, too, were others. In New York, the towers fell and millions stared in shock, then disbelief, then fear, then outrage. But while the public's mind was churning these thoughts, the New York City Fire and Police departments went to work. This was their duty. Their city was threatened, her citizenry endangered and an icon of her face destroyed. Yet these men and women went to work, when millions more stopped and stared. Lives were saved, lives were lost and into a breach of fire and stone and steel they charged, with all the bravery of Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day speech on their heels. These, too, are heroes. May their dedication never be forgotten.

Like the passengers of Flight 93, when they were pushed - however indirectly - they pushed back. Bless you, Heroes, for standing tall and pushing back through fear. Your example is a lesson to any who would do what is right.

Reader, it is not the nature of heroism to stand and allow. It is not the nature of heroism to be kept in place by fear. It is the nature of heroism to push back when an opponent tries to frighten you into submission. It is the nature of the hero to do what is right because it is right that it should be done, regardless of the fear you might feel. Don't be afraid of being afraid. It's normal. It means you're still sane and human. Judge for yourself if the fear is too great to overcome or what the right thing to do is. But if it's not too great, if you have the will to set your fears aside because you know what is right and are willing and able to stand for it; Godspeed, hero.

Since that day ten years ago, the face of the Nation has changed. In a single moment, our world was rocked by fear. And we pushed back. We showed that we are not controlled by fear. If we were, we would have folded up like paper napkins, been balled up and tossed away as garbage.

Let these words stand as a testament to our bravery and our heroes, both fallen and fighting: We are not afraid of fear. And if we are pushed, beware the recoiling force that strikes back.

-S.