Peggy, sorry, but the Bush “Heroes Narrative” breaks down in that 4-5 “cowards” confronted 45-90 “heroes” on each plane. And managed to take over cockpits and put one hijacker on controls without struggle, disposed of the second pilot easily, and then put 3 of 4 planes right on target.
The evidence suggests that the crews, professionals, did exactly as they were ordered to do. The official policy before was to take skyjackers where they wanted to go and not fight back. Except on Flight 93, they followed it. And went out largely oblivious to their impending doom until, powerless, they observed and prayed that the final attack approach on the Pentagon and WYC was all some big mistake.
Hard to claim people “would have been heroes” in a different situation, ergo…they are heroes simply from being victims in a situation where they failed to react properly out of standing orders to behave differently and lack of situational awareness.
The Greeks were the best thinkers on developing the logic of what heroism was, and the source of most of our Western thought on it until recently, when the Cult of Victimization combined with a near-Fascistic worship of people in uniform became prevelant.
The Greeks had strict criteria for heroism, since they considered true heroism “near-Godlike”.
1. It was RARE. Not everyman is capable of it, hence the considered claims of “collective heroism” were ridiculous. Where people acted commendably in tribulation, at most, they rallied around a few true heroes. And heroism was not defined as every member of broad job categories who simply showed up to do the job they were paid to do, and happened to die doing it.
2. Heroism required sustained bravery. Not a single, quick impulsive act like flopping on a grenade, doing a Banzai charge, a single vote made under threat of repercussuins. Nor did it arise in kill or be killed combat or fighting death from a disease…because….even the most cowardly beast or person will fight when cornered and having nothing to lose.
3. Heroism also required that it be not simply for saving one’s ass or risking honor for a personal principle – it must entail sacrifice for others.
It’s “nice” I suppose, if society would simply surrender to the moral blackmail of victim’s families claims and surrender to a growingly all-inclusive concept that everyone is a hero, everyone is a winner deserving of special accolades and trophies.
Except that it is a crock.
The Flight crews on the 4 planes were admirable, professional Americans, and some foreign-born who found their calling in wonderful, demanding jobs. But they were not “33 Heroes”. Most went down following hijackers orders to the letter, more than a few ordered passengers on 3 of the flights to remain seated, cooperate, and do nothing to “upset” the hijackers.
Now, crews and passengers know better than behave as sheep – but those remorseless Greeks would still not call them “heroes” even if a future planeload of 50-200+ crew and passengers DID fight 4 or 5 or one hijacker – because it’s simply then a logical kill or be killed situation, where many fight not from sustained bravery but fear and desperation.
