Not the Death of a Hero, but the Death of Heroism: Part I

J+M+J


What a world of contradictions we find ourselves in today. As basic human rights, once considered fundamental, become increasingly threatened, abused, or discounted by our modern society, the common rhetoric enveloping the abortion issue has become evermore warped and manipulated to promote the prevalent thinking of the day. Last month’s attack upon the life Dr. George Tiller, an emblem of the pro-abortion movement and a provider of the still highly controversial (at least, for the moment) late-term abortion procedure, has once again brought this issue to the forefront, leaving the American public to navigate the murky and muddled waters of the popular lexicon.

In the days following his death, Dr. Tiller has swiftly been catapulted into the stratosphere of secular “sainthood,” acquiring titles such as “Tireless Supporter of Women’s Dignity,” “A Man Who Honored Women,” an individual of “Extraordinary Courage.” While no reasonable and just individuals are condoning the violence which claimed Dr. Tiller’s life, his ascension to the status of hero betrays our modern culture’s lamentable loss of the concept of true nobility and valor. Our society is witnessing the death of gallantry, as supporters of abortion, including the brutal and grotesque partial-birth abortion, have successfully equated abortion with compassion, and convinced many that self-interest supersedes self-sacrifice.

When one conjures up the concept of heroism – or, I should say, traditionally, when ones conjures up the concept of heroism – images of complete self-denial are evoked: the fire-fighter who bravely darts into a burning building, without thought for his own safety, or the individual who courageously confronts his fellow’s attacker, despite the personal danger which threatens him. It seems safe to say that, even in our largely self-centered world, had a person, such as our aforementioned fire-fighter, shrunk from his impulse to rescue another in order to safeguard his own well-being, he would have simultaneously forfeited his right to be called a “hero.” Moreover, it is likely that this individual, after refusing to offer his aid to another, would be labeled cowardly: after all, how could a compassionate individual deny a man in his greatest hour of need? Yet, we live in a culture that supports a woman’s “right” to terminate her own child’s life should she deem it necessary for her physical, spiritual, financial, or emotional well-being. In the greatest of ironies, we expect strangers to make greater personal sacrifices for others than we expect parents to make for their own children.

In this topsy-turvy world of ours, self-preservation is paramount. No longer is self-sacrifice heralded; in fact, it is now something to be avoided – no matter what the cost. Not even parenthood, which should be the near pinnacle of selflessness, is exempt from this distorted mentality. For a mother or father to be complicit in the murder of their child seems utterly nightmarish. Nature itself revolts against such a notion. Yet, when abortion advocates assert, as Dr. Tiller himself did, that “…abortion is about women's hopes, dreams, potential, the rest of their lives. Abortion is a matter of survival for women,” people unhesitatingly rally behind such “noble” words, all the while forgetting the innocent children left in the destructive wake of abortion.

True parenthood is the embodiment of self-sacrifice. If, say, a truck was racing toward a child, undoubtedly, in an effort to rescue him, his parent would race headlong into the street, regardless of whether death appeared imminent for parent, child, or both. The possibility, no matter how remote, of saving a life - particularly that of one’s own child - should always trump considerations of personal interest or well-being. Though the physical, emotional, or financial challenges confronting a pregnant woman may seem insurmountable, her willingness to confront those difficulties, should they even threaten her very life, attests to true heroic virtue.

This is not to belittle the heart-wrenching tragedies faced by some pregnant women. Dr. Tiller’s supporters often point to extremely uncommon, though none-the-less devastating, stories of women whose unborn children are diagnosed with a host of incurable diseases or abnormalities, which make their survival outside the womb almost certainly impossible. But, I ask, is true heroism found in turning away from challenging, if not outright terrifying, circumstances? Or is it recognized in the gallant determination to do what is morally sound, regardless of personal cost? Can we really elevate a man to the status of hero, when his life’s work consisted in regularly taking a child’s life (however grim its chances of survival were) to “safeguard” the life of its mother?

Unfortunately, life is often rife with disappointments, sorrows, heartache, and, occasionally, even disaster. These are inescapable components of the human condition. True heroism is found in meeting these adversities with courageous dignity, marked by sacrificial love and devotion to principle. As supporters of Dr. Tiller point out, many women and their families face truly heart-wrenching tragedies surrounding their pregnancies. Yet, no matter how tragic the circumstances they face, it can never justify the outright killing of an innocent human being. Everyday, men and women across the world encounter extraordinary challenges, but by meeting and overcoming these obstacles with moral character and fortitude, they show themselves to be heroic champions over the evil or misfortune that oppresses them. Furthermore, in this heroic triumph over tragedy, men and women often discover a dimension of strength and tenderness within themselves that few people are ever able to comprehend. It is this self-sacrifice that truly exemplifies love and raises the individual above the evil and selfish tendencies often pervading our culture, and, moreover, demonstrates the best there is in humanity. Throughout history, heroes - often themselves ordinary people -have done this: individuals, who, in order to maintain their personal safety or comfort, could have merely stood by and watched their fellow neighbors die, have instead rushed into burning buildings, defended the helpless, or opposed tyrants. As truly valiant and compassionate defenders of those in need, we should champion the cause of all human life (particularly the lives of the most vulnerable among us) and commit ourselves to charitably aiding the women who face these challenging situations, so they may make decisions, which, although difficult, are praiseworthy and truly heroic.


M.K.