Heroes/Heroines

[joette]

With all the broohah surrounding the World Cup & talk of "England's Heroes" it got me thinking on who my heroes are & why I think they are/were heroic.
We have the obvious heroes-those who went to War & fought for the freedom of others & those in good consience could not kill even to defend their freedom.
My Grandpa was a reluctant hero-he went off to the Boer War as a youngster & had some horrific experiences.He was then sent of with the BEF in 1914 & returned a broken man with horrific injuries.His brother returned to die in the trenches despite being passed unfit for service due to his war wounds-somebody called him a coward & his pride cost his four children a Father & his widow a loving husband.
Davie Ross my Granny's big-in every sense of the word-brother who enlisted three times under age & twice was brought back by his Father.
He went to Ireland & in 1917 was shot in the back by Irish Insurgents(terrorists I think is what we would call them now & freedom fighters to others.)
It took almost three years for this tall,handsome happy lad to die.Paralysed,suffering from Renal Failure-no Dialysis then but he would sit at his window chatting up the girls,hair brushed & clean shaven,dragged their in a carpet by his siblings because they couldn't afford a wheelchair.The Army however gave him a military funeral & he was interred in a War Grave.
My Grandparents who as soon as they had a home of their own took in my Granny's orphaned youngest sister & provided a base for the other sibs to return too.This despite the depression & their own children to provide for.
My Mother who daily battles for independence & to take care of us all as she has done for all of her life.Her health is bad but she carries on offering her love,comfort & advice as she always has.
My brother who struggles with long-term renal failure & tries to lead a normal life.He is my hero.
The numerous ancestors who carried on despite loss,ill-health,poverty & tried to give their families a better life.
Those who sailed away to what they hoped would be a better life for themselves & their families.
The parents who buried their two little ones on the same day,who nursed others through Typhus& Typhoid & Whooping Cough & TB.
The single Mothers who gave their children life & did their best.
Those that sailed for fish & dug for coal & worked in hellish factories.Those that dreamed & passed on their dreams& hopes & stories & songs.
Not some person who is good with their feet & can header a ball & earns an obsence amount of money.That is a footballer that's all-although if it was the Scottish Football team carrying the Cup through Edinburgh I might just change my mind!

[mallog]

Do you feel better now, joette ? That was a story well worth documenting. You feel you owe some of the people you uncover honour don't you? I echo all you said and would add when I see young mothers and children who worked in factories and then died young of lung diseases my heart bleeds.
As far as footballers are concerned I would also add newscasters to the list. Have you seen what they get paid for reading !!!

Mallog

[joette]

I reckon I could do it for half the price & make a better job.Only problem is would they understand my accent?
I just had to get that off my chest because if I hear another thing about Wayne Rooney's toe I will scream.I'm betting with a name like that his forbears had more to worry about than where their next Burberry coat was coming from or whether their toe would take the strain!
Get a real life,travel on a bus, live of a state pension for a year-that would probably pay for his socks -no wait they would be given to him & his ilk by sponsors.
Money goes to money not the least bit bitter that I am skint!

[delmarco]

Joette:

That was a two tissue read!! It breaks my heart when I read some of the accidents and deaths from the mining sites, and see children as young as 7 or 8, who were maimed or killed in accidents, in order to help their familites survive. Ive shared all Ive found with my teenage sons, so they can really appreciate all they have, , and they should remember those who are and were less fortunate than they. So they may govern themselves and their children accordingly
I worked for many years for a brilliant doctor, It would gall me to no end how the goverment would nickel and dime the fees doctors could be reimbursed, however there is no problem for professional ball players, actors etc, I just cannot get my mind around the logic!!!!!

wonderful post as always!
Karen

[paddyscar]

A lovely tribute Joette, and true definitions of heroes!

There was a great deal written in the major media about the word 'hero', when a major football 'hero' was charged with murdering his wife and another person.

Finally, a few had the sense to question the use of hero , rather than the more accurate term 'star' or 'celebrity'.

Evolution of our language is an on-going and odd thing! I'm with you ... and I like your 'heroes' better ... even if today's media would feel the need to call them 'unsung-heroes'.

Thanks, again, for your warm and caring observations.

Frances