Jonathan Kasych
Mr. Stravelakis
ENG 1101
19 June 2015
Heroes of Today
In society today, many of the people who have been considered heroes are no longer around. When there is a person that could be a likely candidate, people seem to find the bad things in their lives instead of the good. No one is safe from the onslaught of misinformation the media brings to the table. Gibbon writes, “Finally, in an age of instant communication , in which there is little time for reflection, accuracy, balance or integrity- the media creates the impression that sleaze is everywhere, that nothing is sacred, that no one is noble, and that there are no heroes” (247). It seems there are no ways around the media and its way of finding the worst in everyone. Presidents, …show more content…
Media members do anything they possibly can to get the inside scoop on anyone possible. It is their job to get a story by the deadline they are given, even if that means embellishing the truth sometimes. While one group of people can see a certain group of people as heroes, the media can turn them into villains. This assumption is most evident in the portrayal of the military and its soldiers. On one hand, they are fighting and sometimes dying for America’s freedom, which society should definitely see as heroic. On the other hand the media portrays some of these soldiers as trained cold blooded killers that destroy, kill, and torture citizens of other countries. Although media plays a big role in the images and information society receives, whether good or bad, it is up to society in general to distinguish someone as a hero. Gibbon writes, “But just as teachers are not responsible for poverty and disintegrating families, journalists are not responsible for satellites, fiber optic cables, transistors, and microprocessors- the inventions that make possible instant information” (250). This is most evident where some news groups show more good news than others. Society in general is fixated on hearing all the bad things going on, so it can be prepared for the …show more content…
For some people it could be a soldier, police officer, or fire fighter. Other individuals could see charity workers, teachers, and even their own parents as heroes. In the end, who is to say that someone cannot be a hero in someone else’s eyes? They may come in different colors, ages, or genders but they can still be considered a hero. Although media in general shows the bad side of people, it is still up to the individual person to decide whether or not they consider someone a hero. Do not let the few bad things in someone’s past destroy all the good things they have done in their lives. The most important thing to remember is that anyone, at any point in their lives can be a hero to somebody else. Work Cited
Gibbon, Peter H. “The End of Admiration: The Media And The Loss Of Heroes.” Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Reading across the Disciplines. 7th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015. 247-252. Print.
Gould, Chris. “Batman, The Unexpected Cultural Revolution.” Perspectives on Contemporary
Issues: Reading across the Disciplines. 7th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015. 268-271. Print.
Michaud, Ellen. "The hero next door: exactly what is it that makes ordinary folks risk their lives to save others?." Saturday Evening Post 2011: 36. Academic OneFile. Web. 14 June
Mr. Stravelakis
ENG 1101
19 June 2015
Heroes of Today
In society today, many of the people who have been considered heroes are no longer around. When there is a person that could be a likely candidate, people seem to find the bad things in their lives instead of the good. No one is safe from the onslaught of misinformation the media brings to the table. Gibbon writes, “Finally, in an age of instant communication , in which there is little time for reflection, accuracy, balance or integrity- the media creates the impression that sleaze is everywhere, that nothing is sacred, that no one is noble, and that there are no heroes” (247). It seems there are no ways around the media and its way of finding the worst in everyone. Presidents, …show more content…
Media members do anything they possibly can to get the inside scoop on anyone possible. It is their job to get a story by the deadline they are given, even if that means embellishing the truth sometimes. While one group of people can see a certain group of people as heroes, the media can turn them into villains. This assumption is most evident in the portrayal of the military and its soldiers. On one hand, they are fighting and sometimes dying for America’s freedom, which society should definitely see as heroic. On the other hand the media portrays some of these soldiers as trained cold blooded killers that destroy, kill, and torture citizens of other countries. Although media plays a big role in the images and information society receives, whether good or bad, it is up to society in general to distinguish someone as a hero. Gibbon writes, “But just as teachers are not responsible for poverty and disintegrating families, journalists are not responsible for satellites, fiber optic cables, transistors, and microprocessors- the inventions that make possible instant information” (250). This is most evident where some news groups show more good news than others. Society in general is fixated on hearing all the bad things going on, so it can be prepared for the …show more content…
For some people it could be a soldier, police officer, or fire fighter. Other individuals could see charity workers, teachers, and even their own parents as heroes. In the end, who is to say that someone cannot be a hero in someone else’s eyes? They may come in different colors, ages, or genders but they can still be considered a hero. Although media in general shows the bad side of people, it is still up to the individual person to decide whether or not they consider someone a hero. Do not let the few bad things in someone’s past destroy all the good things they have done in their lives. The most important thing to remember is that anyone, at any point in their lives can be a hero to somebody else. Work Cited
Gibbon, Peter H. “The End of Admiration: The Media And The Loss Of Heroes.” Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Reading across the Disciplines. 7th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015. 247-252. Print.
Gould, Chris. “Batman, The Unexpected Cultural Revolution.” Perspectives on Contemporary
Issues: Reading across the Disciplines. 7th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015. 268-271. Print.
Michaud, Ellen. "The hero next door: exactly what is it that makes ordinary folks risk their lives to save others?." Saturday Evening Post 2011: 36. Academic OneFile. Web. 14 June