I have never had any heroes. No musicians, actors, artists. No politicians, neighbors, friends or family. The closest thing I could call heroes were the characters of Star Trek. As corny as it sounds it is true. Although it wasn't necessarily the characters themselves, it was the ideals they had and shared. It was the ideals of what they did, what they accomplished. They were explorers, diplomats, and scientists. They often stood at the edge of human knowledge and wanted more. They looked death in the face and fought. They made the tiniest of hope reality. They made us examine ourselves for our own betterment, not for reward or gain but because it was righteous, it was good and correct for its own merit.
Our characters in our stories are always a mirror on us all. What it means to act or behave in certain manners. What it means to be human. Surely our stories don't answer the question but they ask it. It will never be answered but that does not mean the question is invalid. Only, truthful. Star Trek is interesting because each alien our crew meets is a trait of our selves. One species is devious, treacherous and smart. Another consists of the ultimate greedy capitalists. And another yet is violent and brutal, harsh and unpleasant, but they hold honor and integrity above all else. All this is a mirror on humanity and all of us seem to exhibit these traits, among others, with uncanny single mindedness. There is far too much hatred when compassion should rule out. Far too much fear when understanding is in order.
What are the heroes of today and what do they say of our state of affairs. Pick any problem out there and there are too few voices standing up to challenge them. Our terrestrial heroes have failed us but our heroic ideals will live on. It is often said that America is not a place but an idea. To live the American idea of independence does not mean to hoard our money and close the world out. It means to strive ahead with both hands open, ready to grab another and elevate all into a better world. A place where people take care of other people, in person, in the community, in solidarity with one another. But we have fallen short of this dream.
What must we do I ask? How do we change our course for the better? Our goals in essence are the same. We need not be divided by politics or charlatans, hucksters who take your mind away from you, who turn you into wage slaves in competition with the man who will work longer harder and with more sacrifices. They pay you for your time and tax your worth. You no longer own your labor, we no longer own ourselves.
The revolution will never begin for just like the scabs who usurp the union, they will simply replace you and I. What we need is a groundswell of the like that would make occupy look like the county fair. Only when a super majority of people stand for the future will things change. Only when we as a nation no longer tolerate monetary greed, political corruption, the police state, can we begin to change the road we are on. Our heroes may save the day yet but not the heroes of today, the heroic ideals that we hold most dear to our hearts and the men who follow the righteous path because it is good and for no other reason.
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