We live in a immoral, troubled, evil society. For many people, there is little belief that there is good in the world. Having a hero helps, in many ways, to balance the good and bad that we see everyday.
In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the most fundamental need is physiological or basic survival. Air, water, food, clothing and shelter are all physiological needs that must be met before one can move up to the need for safety.
We need a sense of safety especially when we are immersed in a cold, unforgiving world. Heroes are one tool for affirming our feeling of safety. Heroes save us when we are in trouble. They pick us up when we have fallen. They solve problems and give us justice. They give us hope that the world can be a better place.
Think about all the horrific things we see going on today...war, famine, beheadings, cop shootings, domestic violence, abuse. Now think about the heroes who fight against these horrifying acts each and every day. We absolutely need them. We need them, so we can feel safe and at peace.
Will our world ever be free of evil? Absolutely not. But knowing there are people, strangers even, who have your back, is so important in making it possible for you to walk out of your front door and live your life.
I agree that heroes are there to give us hope in this world. I think evil is very powerful, but it is the heroes that keep us from going to the dark side if you will.
ReplyDeleteHeroes do give us hope and a sense of comfort as well knowing that we will be safe. I also agree with you that heroes help balance out the good and evil in the world even though we see more of evil and not so much of the good on the news or papers for example. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI love how you mentioned Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how heroes tie into that. I never thought of that.
ReplyDeleteI agree. All the crimes that we hear about everyday, from the across the world to our own town can become overwhelming. It is easy to become cynical. But Heroes give us hope. They embody the benevolence we need so desperately. I think that is why there is such a big market for superheroes movies and comic books. As a society we love how a superhero can serve justice and save the victim's from the bad guys.
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