There ya go, Rick, your thread is drifting on some more...*bg*

There is a distinction between what I think of as "societal" or public heroism and personal heroism. For some people just getting up and out of bed every morning is a personal act of heroism.

I do think, in the public realm, though, it has become overused and I also think this old world is in sore need of more *real* heroes to inspire. As for 911, the guys on the plane who tried to take out the terrorists acted heroically, imo; otherwise I pretty much agree with Spaw.

I also agree that most *heroes* do not set out to be so. They are just people doing what needs to be done, as they see it, usually in a moment of great import.

kat