Modern Day Heroes and Legends of the Past

What has always distinguished heroes from others was their ability and/or will to do what others around them did not. The legendary heroes of the past gained fame through their record and/or sacrifices in bloody battlefields, dark dungeon rooms and crowded streets. Some of them were ambitious political and/or military leaders who through their brave and defiant actions inspired nations to follow them. They led by example showing remarkable mental strength and resilience. Their names were entered in history books, artists painted portraits and erected statues of them; their faces were even depicted in coins and paper money.

Nowadays modern day warfare produces no heroes, only war criminals and numerous innocent victims. People in dark dungeons and maximum security prisons are all considered common criminals. Demonstrations in crowded streets generally just cause frustration, the people leading them gain some notoriety but nobody considers them heroes. So who are the modern day heroes?

Some say doctors who save lives, others artists that touch our inner feelings while others glorify the achievements of famous athletes. The latter with their physical presence and struggle remind us of the days when men had to rely on their own strength and ingenuity to survive in environments much harsher than those we live in today.

In any case most people nowadays like to think that for every famous modern-day heroes there are thousands others we haven't discovered who with their sacrifices preserve and improve our society. These people will never gain fame and fortune, they know it well, and that makes them even greater.