Our "Hero" problem....

It seems to me that our American society has a "hero" problem. Actually, probably better defined as a "need to have a hero" problem. The word is used as an "anointment" far too easily and tossed out to someone without enough thought as to what it really means.

Here is the definition from my trusty old Random House "College Addition" dictionary:

hero: 1. A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. 2. A man who is regarded as having heroic qualities and is considered a model or ideal. 3. A type of sandwich made with a small loaf of Italian bread.

(OK---#3 is probably best included in my "simple solution" section below)

America had a pretty good idea of what a hero was back in my Father's time. Those young men that signed up to go to war to defend our country after hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor and ended up in some hellish battle on an island in the Pacific. Or those boat loads of young soldiers who were heading toward the beaches of Normandy---knowing full well what they were heading into and knowing that it was going to be a day when every single one of them would "hear the call"-----there is no doubt, to me, that heroes were amongst all of them.

Growing up, I knew what a hero was. He was some kind of cross between a fireman, Superman, The Lone Ranger and the pool guardian who helped pull me out of the deep end when I just could not finish that last required lap. Kinda.....................

We have all heard tales of local people who suddenly jump down onto the Metro tracks to save a man having a seizure or just recently a young man that dove into the water to help save a baby. Those actions are certainly heroic and worthy of the title.

But I have suddenly become aware of the endless stream of "heroic" comic book "superhero" movies. What started with Superman--then Batman---has turned into a torrent of X-Men and Ironman and soon, Green Lantern. We seem in search of heroes---even imaginary ones.

And then we have the "news story" heroes of the day. Pilot "Sully" Sullenberger is a good example. Now, certainly he did a phenomenal job of bringing Flight 1549 down smoothly onto the Hudson River in New York. But I do agree with him---it is his JOB!! Let's not forget that his years of training preparing for that exact event---or any variation of emergency landings---allowed him to pull that off. And he was ON THE PLANE himself. I cannot imagine after all of the years of training ANY pilot in that situation would suddenly unbuckle and go running toward the back of the plane screaming "WE'RE SCREWED! EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!"

His co-pilot has repeatedly stated how calm and controlled Sully was but I bet somewhere in there he was saying "Come on, baby, glide, baby, glide" In the end, a good job, well done.

I actually began to feel bad for him when at the podium of some college, I saw him say once again, "I was just doing my job".

Which brings me to ------sorry, you probably were hoping I wouldn't go there-----the latest word from "The Master's" in Augusta. In the annual media address before tomorrow's opening round of the Master's , Augusta national chairman Billy Payne was quoted as saying, in part, and in reference to Tiger Woods, "Our hero did not live up to the expectations of the role model we saw for our children"

OK----I'm sorry, I gotta say it----he is "just"a golfer. An athlete. Probably one of the best golfers in history but, just a guy playing a game. Where the idea of a man playing a game well made him a "hero" is beyond me.

Now, I am the first to admit that I play----badly. In fact, embarrassingly bad. So, I do understand the "wow" factor of his talents and accomplishments. But the fact that he has treated his wife and family miserably and proved himself one epic horndog does not ruin his status to me as a player. Nor do I understand all of the weeping and sniveling of "He let me down." HUH?

He has provided some good entertainment over the years with his talent and, recently even more with the "over share" of his philanderings, but-----a hero? Come on.....

I'm sure everyone can remember seeing Michael Jordan do some of the most amazing things I have ever seen done on a basketball court, but hero? Some kind of super human alien creature maybe but "hero"? I don't think so........

and one last thing on Tiger................if you are going to allow yourself to be the central image of a marketing campaign like this one:

You had better be sure that you are everything that they are presenting. I, as a jeweler, can't send out some photo of something that I did not make or cannot do. It has to be exactly what I can provide---which then leads to trust (that I can provide exactly what is presented) faith (that you will receive exactly what is pictured from me) and loyalty (for following through and doing exactly what was promised)-----I know-----SURPRISE!!

(I will say that after a summer of trips in and out of airports with these HUGE billboards everywhere, I did actually like them. Especially the one about "having a good exit strategy"----classic)

Anyway----a true hero? Here's one:

On September 11, 2001, fireman Stephen Siller, off duty and heading to a day of golf with his brothers, hearing what was happening in New York on his radio, turned and headed toward the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Finding his way blocked by traffic, he pulled over, strapped on his over 75lbs of gear, and headed---running---through the tunnel to the Twin Towers to offer his help. It is a 3.1 mile run through the tunnel. This Father of 5 children was never seen again.

There is an annual "Tunnel to Tower" run honoring him and his heroism that day. I have emailed back and forth with one of his brothers, George-----explaining my wish to one day do that run. Let's say it's on my "bucket list".

Now THAT'S a hero!!

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Which leads to that other "hero"---as in "----- sandwich" mentioned above:

Today's "Simple Solution":

Want to lose weight? STOP EATING SO MUCH FOOD!

I know. Simple. With all of the diets and plans to help you lose weight, it really couldn't be simpler. If you want to lose weight, the incredibly simple solution (which, of course, we all know to be true) is to lower your "fuel" intake. ("fuel" being defined as calories or carbohydrates needed to keep us functioning) If there is less fuel coming into the system (that would be "us"), then the system will use backup fuel (better known as "fat") to keep the engine running smoothly. If, on average, you are taking in 3000 calories of food per day, and you cut that down by 500 calories to 2500 per day, you will lose weight. Now, let's be realistic here. If you take in 2500 calories in the form of Snicker's Bars or Vodka, I am really not so positive of your weight loss--or, for that matter, mental function, but a mixed diet of "healthy" foods...there you go.

And here is the "secret" to every diet plan---and you will find this noted somewhere in every diet no matter if it is the simplest, easiest, or most expensive----add exercise to your diet and you will lose even more weight.

Eat less=lose weight. Burn up excess calories with exercise=lose weight. Combine the two=lose more weight.

Simple. That is all it takes.

I know. A fortune is being spent out there looking for the next miracle diet that will ""help you lose those pounds" etc etc etc. You can come up with all kinds of arguments as to "but if I eat this or less than that or more liquids or?" That's all a smoke screen to explain why you need to spend all of that money on that new diet plan. And you already know (and "may" have chosen to ignore) what actually works best and it is exactly what I am telling you here:

Tom's Miracle Diet: Eat less, exercise more, lose weight. Your choice.............

See? What did I tell you? Simple.

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Today's quote:

"It takes the whole of life to learn how to live" Seneca

Thanks for dropping by...........................