So the TV was on, and a light bulb went off

I was watching this comic the other day, and she was mentioning how she just finished reading a book, 101 Ways to Romance your Husband. "One of the ideas was when going out together, wear a badge that says 'I'm with my hero'." She went on, laughing, "if you did that - who would be more embarrassed?!"
That comment got stuck in my head, particularly because of something I've been thinking about for a long while now...

Exactly where have all our heroes gone?

Where are the 21st century George Washingtons, Martin Luther King Jr's, Rosa Parkses, Abraham Lincolns, and Susan B. Anthonys? Why are there no national figures of pride?

We as a nation have to reexamine our culture, morality, ethics, and principals. When celebrities, professional athletes, and CEOs are raking in millions of dollars, and shortages of teachers and nurses due to lack of funding keeps growing and growing...there's something that needs to change.
When did we start to support and glorify infidelity (Desperate Housewives), drug users (Snoop Dogg), criminals (Lil Kim, Martha Stewart), and all-around douchebags (Donald Trump, Diddy)?
Sadly, our government is all wrapped up in all those categories, too. DeLay, Rove, spies, unqualified appointees. Perhaps it won't happen within this administration - all hell's broken loose within Bush's White House - but hopefully, soon, someone will be able to step up and clean off America's good name.

I remember the first time I learned the press never printed a picture of FDR in his wheel chair or using his crutches while he was in office. They, like everyone else, had such an overwhelming respect for the president, his office, and his accomplishments, they never wanted to see his weaknesses. I was so utterly impressed, and now I wonder about the media - about their role in our society: their constant presence, incessant noise, countless jabs, attacks, and fake concern. News channels thrive on revealing flaws, to tear down could-be heroes. And we eat it up. In our strive for equality, we're eager to learn no one else is better than us.

I think that's wrong. Everyone needs someone to inspire them, to make them self aware, to make them do better. If no one thought Jesus was so special, we wouldn't have Christianity, would we? If you ask me, without heroes, life's gonna get very Harrison Bergeron-esque.

Of course there are the unsung heroes in life - police, firefighters, good parents, kind friends, teachers, doctors, and the occasional four legged pal. But it's sad to think these people don't get the credit they deserve.

Maybe it is a good idea after all to wear "I'm with my hero" badges. A hero is very hard to come by nowadays...you shouldn't be embarrassed.