Heroes?
Americans LOVE heroes which, of course, begs the question - what is a hero? In answering this question we may be best served by understanding what a hero is NOT. Heroes are not without sin, they are laden with all manner of character flaws. Heroes are, first and foremost - human. They have all of the problems each and every one of us have. They make mistakes, they are not always what we’d consider “good” people. With that said, Heroes are NOT made, they are born, but not in the way some might presume. Let me explain.
My grandfather George was the youngest of 10 children. His parents had migrated to California from Chihuahua Mexico seeking a better life for their family. By all accounts George was a bit of a comedian. He was also brilliant, though his dark brown skin ensured his brilliance would ever remain largely undiscovered. When my mother, his eldest child, was born in the city of Pomona he no doubt had great hopes and dreams for her. A fe1w years after she was born so was George, the Hero. George and a number of family members decided to visit the the relatively new pool at Ganesha Park in the north part of Pomona on a warm day. Much to George’s chagrin many of his family members were denied admission to the pool because it wasn’t “Spanish American Day” (admission was literally based on skin color). George’s response was to sue the City seeking a Writ of Mandamus to compel the city to open the pool to ALL of the city’s residents whenever it was open to its white residents. While he was called many names, including by a man who later claimed to be a supporter of equal rights (Ignacio Lopez), George persevered and in December of 1941 the Courts issued a Writ of Mandamus compelling the city to open the pool to everyone whenever it was open for anyone.
My father was the oldest son of my namesake. At the age of 13 in a horrible accident much of his face was torn off. He was comatose for weeks and spent nearly a year undergoing many surgeries often performed by his brother-in-law, Doctor Leslie Leighton. Dr. Leighton took many bone and skin grafts to try and rebuild my father’s jaw and face (later his son and grandson would become doctors). You can probably imagine the psychological impact of such an event on a young teenager. While my father’s personality changed dramatically as a result of the accident, like his future father-in-law he persevered. In January 1953 my then 20 year old father set foot in Korea where he served with distinction in combat through the effective date of the cease fire. He also became penpals with a 17 year old Mexican girl from Pomona, but that’s a story for another day
These men, and thousands like them, never sought to be Heroes, they simply sought what was right and just. Certainly there are many who wished for such things however that alone does not a Hero make. Heroes are born in the crucible of battle. They are defined not merely by their goals, however lofty they might be, but by their willingness to sacrifice and struggle to achieve those goals. My grandfather was called, among other things, a Communist because the attorney who represented him was a Socialist. He never let the name calling stop him from fighting for and achieving his goal. So too my father fought to be regarded as the equal of others despite his disfigured face. Years later he was elected as a City Councilman, for 3 consecutive terms, in the city of Montclair where he was well known for being ready to always fight for what he believed in.
Heroes are those who choose to struggle and fight for what is right, regardless of the sacrifice required of them and despite having the odds stacked against them. Indeed, while the men I noted above are fully Heroes in my estimation I also have one who has battled, against very long odds, multiple forms of cancer. She did not retreat when she received her first diagnosis and fights on today as she has for most of my life. In so many ways she is the greatest Hero I have ever known. Of course I may be biased but I think her record more than speaks for itself - Delia Oliveri - Champion of Change To say I’ve been blessed would be an understatement, who else has a mom who not only beat cancer multiple times but still works to help others who face the same diagnosis. Not everyone is a Hero but, everyone can be if they can choose to keep fighting for what is right and good despite the struggle and without regard for the odds. Fight for what you believe in and BE the Hero you need.