Happy Heroes’ Day!

As we all know today, 10^th of November is Indonesia Heroes’ Day, exact 64 years ago, thousands of Indonesian resistances soldiers died during Battle of Surabaya at the height of National Revolution. Today is a remembrance day to commemorate those brave people who crumbled inch by inch to get Independence.  Our heroes, who fought our way into the light were the people who sacrificed themselves for this country. As a nation we should understand and appreciate these sacrifices. Obviously it was not easy because I have always wondered what it takes for a person to be willing to die for the flag.

Every year we commemorate the struggles of the heroes. But it feels the quality of the remembrance of heroes has been decreasing from year to year. Remembrance of heroes that we celebrate now tends to be a merely ceremonial. Indeed we do not have to come to sacrifice lives like the fighters in Surabaya at that time.

I have always wondered what it means to be a hero. What does a hero mean to me?

When I was a kid I was inspired by stories of courageous men or women who did wonderful things such supermen, knights, etc. I also learn history at school, I’m taught to appreciate what they did for this nation. I admire their bravery and dedication. And they inspire me to be courageous as they are. I think the truth is that we look up to people who make a difference to our lives to achieve goals. That’s a definition of hero in general.

So all I’m asking now is, who’s your hero now?

Being hero isn’t about achievement only. Being hero isn’t also about willing to die for the flag only. It’s the effect that their achievement has on us and what we can learn from the struggle and hardship. They are what we could call exemplars; they bring positive impacts into our lives. For example, it could be athletes, artists, or film characters. They are people who demonstrate high standards of character and dedication to achieve something.

However, being hero is not always front pages news. As Mariah Carey says in her song that a hero lies in all of you, it simply explains that we could be a hero. So you can achieve great things like win an Olympic gold or at least become an icon in your society. I think parents should be heroes too. They are two amazing people who have risked or sacrificed their lives for their children. My parents are my heroes, I would say. My mom brought me into this world and I know for sure that giving birth is not as easy as you reserve side of your hand. My dad strives hard all night and day to feed his children earn enough to send us to school or college later so that we can have a better future than him had at his age.

Not everyone has the same idea of a hero. A hero could be someone who makes you happy when you’re upset. That’s the simplest thing that we can do to be a hero. You could be a hero for your friends, siblings, or your society. You just need to do wonderful things for them and always be there when they need you to be and make them to be themselves; or make someone smile on his or her worst day, that’s a simple definition of a hero.