There are many different types of heroes. There are superheroes who roam the realm of the comics, battling all sorts of villains and destroying every object they stumble upon. There are extraordinary heroes who devote their entire lives to eradicating poverty and social injustice. There are also exceptional people who exhibit great courage under the most difficult of circumstances. Many of these heroes are well-known to the masses; they gain admirations far and wide for their works. Others are content with their obscurity and demand nothing in return.
The largest pool of heroes falls under the category of “ordinary heroes”. Every one of us can be an ordinary hero. All we need to do is to do our job and do it well. If you are a parent, you should take good care of your kids and serve as an exemplary model to them. If you are a teacher, you should dedicate yourself to seeking ways to inspire your pupils. If you are a firefighter, you should not hesitate from jumping into raging flames to rescue the entrapped. Of course, the list goes on and on.
No discussion of heroes, however, can be completed without a discussion about anti-heroes. An anti-hero is a person whom everyone absolutely loves to hate. Yet, anti-heroes usually end up triumphant at the end despite their loathsome acts and corrupted persona. In the world that we live in, anti-heroes hardly exist. We are constrained by a “good versus evil” mindset. There are only absolute heroes and absolute villains; nothing exists in between.
One important type of heroes that most people often forget about is what I would call accidental heroes. These heroes are people who become heroes just by being at the right time and place. One famous example of accidental heroism occurred during the Vietnam War. On an October day in 1962, the world awoke to the horrific image of a young Buddhist monk setting himself ablaze on the street of Saigon to protest South Vietnam’s suppression of Buddhism. The act sent shockwaves around the world and eventually led to the demise of the S. Vietnam’s regime.
Recently, an untold twist to the story was revealed. The incident was actually preplanned by a group of activists. The toughest part of the planning was to find a monk who was willing to burn himself for the cause; a young monk was ultimately chosen to carry out the mission. Unfortunately, the guy was not told of what type of mission he was about to carry out.
When he found out what his mission was, the young monk apparently had second thoughts about it. However, it was too late for the activists to back out of their plan since all necessary preparations had been completed. Reluctantly, the activists had no choice but to tie the guy up and set him on fire. Following the incident, the young monk became a national icon. His pictures were everywhere. He was elevated to “bodhisattva” status, and was worshiped by many people. I guess the end justifies the means.
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Regarding the monk — that image shocked many people throughout the world and brought attention to the cause. But, had he not been deceived into dying for his “mission”, he might have done a great deal more good with his LIFE.
I do agree with what you say about ordinary heroes, though. Look at what’s happened since Hurricane Katrina. FEMA has done nothing. The government has done nothing. The billions of dollars raised through many of the organizations never made it to the actual people who needed it.
But individuals continue to go down there and do their best work and quietly make a difference.
Positive change is created by individuals, those with commitment, not organizations. Change doesn’t happen by committees. Change happens through action.
I’ve seen pictures of that monk before, and I knew the basic story, but the background and deception was all new information to me.
I really enjoyed reading this. Your blog is really nice and is something I would wish to write. At this point, however, that will not happen. For now I will stick with the odd posts and a blog with no real direction. I too look forward to future entries of yours.
Yes it was deception — the monks were never able to hold any power under either the South Vietnam government or the communist government after 1975. So what was the point of the whole exercise?
I wouldn’t call that picture the turning point of the war either, even though the media ran with it. I would consider the burning napalm girl picture more powerful.
Also Tet Offensive was the true turning point of the war. The Tet Offensive was seen as a huge failure for the communists as they were unable to win any battles. But the US media went nuts over how the US embassy was raided. It wasn’t raided at all, the culprits were gunned down — having barely made it inside the gate.
Vietnam War will always be the first war won and lost by journalists.
“..Reluctantly, the activists had no choice but to tie the guy up and set him on fire.
Geez. are you serious? I think that’s absolutely horrible.
I appreciate your thoughts on heroes and illustrating different perspectives using the example of the monk.
The monk’s death was murder. There is no two ways about it. I can never condone such an act, no matter what potential benefit to mankind.
Unlike Spock, I do not think that in this case “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” or in this case the “one”.
He wasn’t an accidental hero, in the right place at the right time – he was an accidental murder victim; he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Accidental heroes sound too much like martyr-esque sacrificial lambs.
I appreciate what they’re doing, but, in the case of the monk, shouldn’t free will come into the equation?
Seems a bit scary to me.
There was nothing heroic about the plan or the monk setting himself ablaze or BEING ASSISTED by others. It served to shock the masses, about the horror that is war. That monk was a martyer (however you spell that) which was the purpose.
This person used to be a statistician in my company. He was a very good manager before before decided to become a monk.
Any reader that worked in HP components group (around 1990-1995) probably knew this person, he is from Penang, Malaysia. Neoh KT. If I remember correctly. His name now is Ven. Wei Wu.
He went on to start a temple, now expanded into Buddhist college, old folks home, nursery … many more. Even better, he ran it as self sustainable entites.
http://www.thanhsiang.org/en/
This is one hero .. that needs not to fight to bring goodness to mankind.
Woody.
Inspiring post…it comforts me to read something directed at everyone, especially in regards to such a nobel idea such as heroism
What a complex story about the burning monk. Yes, he became an accidental hero, however at a great cost and one that he did not accept on his own. I agree their our many accidental heroes and even more unsung heroes who our heroic without anyone ever knowing. This was an interesting post, one which I will be thinking about for a while.
When I saw your title, I thought maybe you were going to write about, say, the deliveryman who happens upon a burning house and rushes in to save the occupant, or the bystander who dives in to rescue the driver of a wrecked car sinking into a river.
I enjoyed all your examples but the last. The monk was no hero; he wanted to back out. (And even if he’d wanted to go through with it, doing it deliberately in order to bring glory to himself would not have been heroic.) He was murdered by his comrades. They are no less murderers for having done it “reluctantly.”
I agree with you Leafless, the young monk wasnt an accidental hero because even accidental heroes had to decide for themselves freely if they want to help or save. He was a murder victim.