This is one of those comments that makes it clear why the United States is in such a mess. We refuse to be honest with ourselves.

John O'Neill was indeed a hero. The ballad says so, explicitly.
But he wasn't a plaster saint, one of the false icons that gets put forward to fool people. John Ashcroft is probably faithful to his wife, but he cheats on the Constitution. Louis Freeh doesn't swear, but he prevented O'Neill from doing his job of protecting American citizens. Which one-- the skirtchaser who protects lives or the "moral" man who lets them die-- is the hero? We have lost our way when men like Louis Freeh and John Ashcroft hold power and men like John O'Neill are forced out on shabby pretexts.

The ballad also points out that average people have everything that is required to be heroes on their own. What they need to do is look in the mirror and decide what really matters.

Would you mind, please, looking in the mirror?