Hero:
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble
qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
- a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
- (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
- (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
5. hero sandwich.
6. the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.
Many people look up to athletes. Many have been called heros and whether they have liked it or not have been seen as role models. Bruce Jenner was a hero in this sense for many because of his Olympic/athletic accomplishments. So by the first definition it would be safe to say Bruce Jenner had a distinguished ability and was thus a hero.
It is this second definition I want to focus. I first realize that "in the opinion of others" is where many can and have said Caitlyn Jenner is not a hero. I strongly disagree but believe you have your right to believe as you wish but I DO NOT understand or condone your willingness to tear this person apart simply because she doesn't fit your definition of hero.
The transgendered community has a hero in Caitlyn Jenner because her ability to transition into her true self will give hope to those struggling, she will serve as a reminder to those contemplating suicide that they can survive. Caitlyn Jenner will save lives because she was willing to be so public about her struggle and her fight to become who she always felt she was. The fact you try to discredit this is part of the problem.
If you can hear the statistic that over 80% of transgendered people experience some form of harassment and that nearly half of all transgendered youth have contemplated suicide and gain no understanding of why acceptance is important than you are part of the problem.
It takes incredible amounts of courage to stop being what you think you have to be or what people think you should be. It takes courage to stop playing your life by others standards. It takes courage to tell people something you know they won't like or accept and risk loosing their love and support.
Too often in this world we try to make everyone fit our definitions of what we believe they should be. We have struggled as a country to realize all people are created equal. I am horrified by the fact that too often we spew hatred to those different than us as if somehow we are better.
Instead of constantly trying to tear people down why not try to build them up? Instead of saying Jenner isn't a hero because she isn't a soldier, cop, or fireperson why not realize that one does not take away from the other. Saying Jenner is a hero does not take away from the soldiers who risk their lives to protect others. Saying Jenner is a hero does not take away from the cops who save children from violent situations or the firemen/women who save people.
My writing this blog does not take away from the millions of impressive writing by others.
I tell my kids all the time that just because their sibling does well does not mean they did badly. My daughter's running accomplishments are not diminished because her sister is faster. My daughter's hard earned B in math is no less important because her sister breezed through for yet another A. We are different and that's okay but we shouldn't be using those differences to tear each other apart.
Spouting about how Jenner isn't a hero just makes you a shmuck because you are trying to diminish another person's accomplishments. Yes, I said accomplishment because that is exactly what it is. It is an accomplishment that is a beacon of hope to all those struggling with accepting who and what they are while working up the courage to step out and say, "This is me".
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