Over the past holiday my wife and I were discussing heros and role models and so I'm offering the topic up to the board for your thoughts.

I am of the belief that today's heros have fallen in hard times. We seem to be living through a draught of people who lead good lives while offering up extraordinary achievements. Sure those are subjective ideas but perhaps you could help me by pointing out a few modern public figures who might be considered a hero or role model. Perhaps Obama? Who?

I really don't see anyone who qualifies in athletics, the performing arts, or politics. Just where have our heros gone? Who can fill the shoes of a role model for adults and our children alike? I'm thinking there aren't any. Perhaps there are no global heros and just maybe there never were. Perhaps the role of hero falls to the ordinary persons in our neighborhood. Perhaps today extraordinary achievement is measured by uncompromised ethics despite adversity or temptation.

My wife said my lack of optimism means that I have officially turned old. On the other hand, she isn't quite as pessimistic and tells me of an old Chinese proverb that translates into 'a hero arises when the world most needs one.' I guess this old man thinks the world most needs one now.

What are your thoughts?

We don't have heroes because most of America is as cynical and pessimistic as you. Few believe in anything these days.

Jon Krakauer's next book was going to be titled "The Hero" before he pulled it just before release.

It was going to be about Pat Tillman, one of my heroes.

There are 140,000 heros in IRAQ and more then a 1,000,000 world wide that are away from their familys defending freedom, A hero is a everyday person that does more from the heart then required.

What are your thoughts?[/quote]