Where Have All the Heroes Gone? Part II

Five Notable Examples to Inspire You

It is hard to find people with true integrity and courage today. Everyone seems to want to take the effortless way. Want to beat your political rival? Easy. Bear false witness against your opponent and let the propaganda media magnify the lie. Want to be famous? That’s a cinch. Become a narcissist and post a deluge of selfies on social media in edgy attire and a boatload of makeup with lips pursed provocatively. Want to be rich? Piece of cake. Sue a small Christian business into oblivion for not wanting to participate in helping you celebrating your upcoming gay marriage. Want to win an argument with a political rival? Facile. Don’t debate the topic; instead, resort to calling your adversary a racist, homophobe, transphobe, misogynist, white supremacist or conspiracy theorist.

Because it is so hard to find heroic people today, it is refreshing when one sees a hero in action. Let the following heroes be an inspiration to you today. There still are some “good guys” living among us.

A Real Sports Hero

If you’re not a sports fan, you might not recognize the name Enes Kanter Freedom. Freedom, born in Switzerland and raised in Turkey, is an NBA basketball star. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Boston Celtics, and he’s attained several honors. Indeed, in 2019 Freedom became only the third player in team history “with at least 20 points and 18 rebounds in a playoff game,” according to Wikipedia.

Okay, so the guy is a great basketball player. But, what makes him noble and heroic? To begin, when he was just nine years old, Enes’ mother told him to always stand up for what was right–even if it meant sacrificing everything. And, that’s exactly what the successful center did recently.

His mother’s advice and his platform as an NBA player is what compels him to expose evil when he sees it. Unfortunately, when Freedom began denouncing the Chinese government for their abuses of the Uyghurs, his denunciations were met with silence by both players and management. Then, when he continued shining a spotlight on the re-education camps, the torture, the forced labor and sterilization of women, as well as the genocide of the Uyghurs, he was urged not to discuss the abuses. That didn’t deter Enes, but it has probably ended his career. Although one of the “highest-rated back-up centers statistically in the NBA,” he was traded by the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets in February of this year, and two days later the Rockets let him go. Despite this, the successful center has no regrets. Freedom explains:

“There are more important things besides money and businesses such as morals, principles, and values.”

He adds that if he didn’t speak out against the atrocities perpetrated by the Chinese, he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

Good for Enes Freedom (who, by the way, changed his name to Freedom after attaining his US citizenship in November of 2021). Freedom exposed wokeness as the phony morality it is when he stated:

“You can talk about all the social justice, all the injustices happening all around the world. But, when it comes to China, you cannot speak up. If you do, then you’ll have to face the consequences.”

You see, the NBA has a huge financial interest in China. Enes knew that he risked his NBA career and all the millions he could have earned playing basketball, but he took the courageous route and called out the abuses of China sometimes verbally and sometimes through the messages on his basketball shoes.

Enes Kanter Freedom is the epitome of a hero. He had the courage to stand for his convictions, his purpose is a noble one (calling out the atrocities the Chinese have committed against the Uyghurs), and he sacrificed a lucrative career to stand for his beliefs. Two days ago, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his “continued activism against the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses.” Way to go, Enes! Now this is a role model for kids to emulate.

The Heroics of Ordinary Parents

As a teacher of over three and a half decades, I can tell you that a favorite topic in the staff room is the lack of parent involvement in their children’s education. Educators often bemoan the fact that they can only do so much during the short time they see their students everyday but are made to feel that a failing student is their fault. So one would think these same teachers would welcome parental involvement at school board meetings, but if you thought that, you’d be wrong. It seems some subjects in education should be left to “the teaching professionals.”

Many parents believe the school mask mandates should be rescinded immediately. And, if you “follow the science,” you would agree with these parents. Betsy Herold, an infectious disease doctor, told Vox (no right wing media outlet) that she estimates “less than 2 percent of children known to be infected by the coronavirus are hospitalized, and less than 0.03 percent of those infected die.” Additionally, noting how leftist politicians have quickly dispensed with mask mandates at the same time that the polls show Democrats taking a crushing beating in the midterms, tells you all you need to know about the efficacy of mask mandates. That having been said, in the last year parents took their mask grievances to school board meetings. Generally docile parents, like Courtney Ann Taylor, found the nerve to publicly call out these school boards. Here is a short clip of Ms. Taylor passionately stating her view to the Gwinnett County School Board.

However, it’s not just the mask mandates that have stirred the ire of concerned parents. It’s also the indoctrination happening in classrooms in the form of the Marxist Critical Race Theory (CRT) and transgender ideology which have many parents up in arms. But, once again, brave parents have stood up to voice their opposition to this indoctrination. Here, an African American parent named Brian, takes his local school board to task regarding CRT.

These and all the parents who have stood up for their children and have given local school boards an earful should be applauded. Many are not used to public speaking or public scrutiny but–in true Shakespearean language–were willing to screw their courage to the sticking place. Moreover, not only did they show courage, but these parents spoke up for a noble purpose: to protect their children. Did they sacrifice anything? Absolutely! Let’s not forget the way they’ve been treated by local school boards. Often their microphones were cut off, they were maligned in local and national media, some were removed from school board meetings forcefully by law enforcement, and the National School Board Association (NSBA), in a letter to President Biden, referred to these parents as domestic terrorists. Merrick Garland, US Attorney General, planned to investigate these parents as terrorists until there was a public outcry and the NSBA disavowed the letter. Despite the negativity and slurs, these brave parents stayed the course. Truly, many American parents are real heroes!

Canadian Truckers Show Courage

Is there any doubt whatsoever that the Canadian truck drivers–whose only purpose for the convoy protest was freedom from COVID restrictions–are true heroes.  During their three week protest in Ottawa, they stood for the working class of Canada and, frankly, all citizens of western countries who simply want their freedom back after two years of harsh regulations which hit blue collar workers and small business owners the hardest.  These truckers sacrificed their wages while protesting.  They endured freezing temperatures and libelous allegations from their own government.  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau initially called them “a small fringe who don’t represent the views of Canadians.” That was a strange statement considering the fact that the convoy included 50,000 trucks and 1.4 million Canadians.

When it became clear that the truckers were not going to give up their protest in Ottawa, Trudeau maligned them by calling them bigots, misogynists, racists, anti-science extremists, conspiracy theorists, a waste of space, Nazis, insurrectionists (sound familiar?) and people with “unacceptable views.”  Then, the meticulously coiffed Trudeau froze the bank accounts of those involved in the protest, confiscated their trucks, and imprisoned some. 

However, even though the protest ended, it inspired copycat convoys in numerous nations, including one in the US which is currently underway, heading to Washington D.C.  Godspeed to these valorous, hard-working individuals, and God bless the Canadian truckers who stood against government tyranny and a Ken doll despot to create a worldwide movement.

Check out the following exchange between conservative, Melissa Lantsman, and Trudeau.  Notice he name-calls rather than answering her question and also note that he implies she stands with Nazis even though she is Jewish.  Spoiler alert:  Trudeau refuses to apologize for his ill thought-out remarks and walks out on Parliament.  

Volodymyr Zelensky, a Hero in the Fashion of Our Founding Fathers

The 44-year-old Zelensky was a former comedian and actor who starred in a comedy called Servant of the People in which he portrayed an anti-corruption President.  Then, in a “life imitating art” move, Zelensky actually ran against Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform and captured 70% of the vote.  Zelensky, however, never counted on a Russian invasion two years into his presidency. 

In true hero form, the young President has refused to flee his country even though his life, as well as his family’s lives, are in jeopardy.  The Biden administration has been trying to encourage Zelensky to leave his homeland, offering safe transport to another country. Upon hearing this, Zelensky apparently retorted, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”  Additionally, he has created several selfie videos with his cabinet donning flak jackets and military weapons while telling his citizens,

“The world saw: Ukrainians are strong.  Ukrainians are brave.  Ukrainians are on their native land, and they will never give it to anyone.” 

Zelensky is leading his people in this war by fighting alongside them which is reminiscent of George Washington’s leadership during the Revolutionary War.

Contrast this with Barack Obama’s failed motto of “leading from behind.” Or, the stylish pajama-boy, Justin Trudeau, who slithered out of his country’s capital because he feared his own countrymen. Or, the constant retreat of Joe Biden to his basement in Delaware when domestic or world problems become too sticky or journalists’ questions become too difficult for him to respond to. What an embarrassment these foolish leaders on the left are! They cannot hold a candle to the heroic figure of Volodymyr Zelensky.

An Extraordinary Hero

Jesus Christ is a hero beyond comparison. Although deity, he came to earth and was born a human. He was betrayed by one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, and was deserted by the rest of his disciples who fled after his capture by Jewish priests, scribes, elders and Roman soldiers. Jesus was also falsely accused, beaten severely, and flogged mercilessly. The gospel of Matthew tells us he was, likewise, mocked: “And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.” Finally, Jesus endured an excruciating death on the cross. This is true courage and sacrifice. Because he was God in human form, he could easily have saved himself, but he didn’t. And, even though he was human, he never sinned. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was done willingly to save us (sinners) from eternity in hell because only a sinless sacrifice would serve as payment for all of our transgressions. The only caveat is that we must accept what Jesus did for us, ask forgiveness, turn from our sins, and walk with Him daily.

Those who are not Christians don’t understand any of this. They make statements like this: There are all sorts of paths to Heaven. It doesn’t matter who you worship as God. I’m a good person, so I should make it to heaven.

To begin, Jesus tells his disciples:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Some will say that’s very narrow-minded. To that, the gospel of Matthew explains:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

Finally, it is very presumptuous to think we can be our own saviors through being “a good person.” Romans tells us, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven. He is the “unblemished lamb” sacrificed for us so we could live eternally in his presence. According to our definition of hero (a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life), Jesus fits the ticket. He courageously met torture by his tormentors, endured and died on the cross, sacrificing himself for mankind. And, to clinch the deal, he was resurrected and lives today at the right hand of God the Father, and in the hearts of his believers. If you don’t know Him, consider giving your life to Jesus today. He loves you and is a hero worthy of your dedication and praise.

Still not sure? Here’s a trailer to a movie about a journalist who tenaciously tried to disprove that Jesus is God.

If you’re intrigued, here’s the full movie.