HeroesHeroes

By Anthony Zhu Pd 2

What do you think of when you hear What do you think of when you hear the word hero, or superhero?the word hero, or superhero?

When someone asks someone, “Who is your When someone asks someone, “Who is your favorite superhero”, many answer with a favorite superhero”, many answer with a fictional superhero, myself included. Many often fictional superhero, myself included. Many often forget about the heroes and the superheroes forget about the heroes and the superheroes who protect us everyday. who protect us everyday.

What is a hero?What is a hero?

Police officersPolice officers

Probably the most scrutinized profession in this Probably the most scrutinized profession in this slideshow are police officers. Many see the slideshow are police officers. Many see the police as inconveniences and nuisances. Many police as inconveniences and nuisances. Many adolescents respond to them with sayings such adolescents respond to them with sayings such as “F#@k the police.” Even though not all of as “F#@k the police.” Even though not all of them are necessarily “good people”, the police them are necessarily “good people”, the police are an important part of our society.are an important part of our society.

Numbers Don’t LieNumbers Don’t Lie

In NYC from 2000 until 2012, reports of most In NYC from 2000 until 2012, reports of most of the major felony offenses have dropped. of the major felony offenses have dropped. Felonies such as murder, grand larceny, assault, Felonies such as murder, grand larceny, assault, and rape have all dropped. I am not an advocate and rape have all dropped. I am not an advocate for the police, but I do believe that civilians for the police, but I do believe that civilians should appreciate the police.should appreciate the police.

Fire FightersFire Fighters

Firefighters play a pivotal role in the safety of Firefighters play a pivotal role in the safety of civilians in NYC. In 2012 alone, there was half a civilians in NYC. In 2012 alone, there was half a million reported incidents of fires and other million reported incidents of fires and other situations that they had to respond to. From situations that they had to respond to. From those incidents, they rescued over 54 thousand those incidents, they rescued over 54 thousand people.people.

MilitaryMilitary

The forgotten heroes. Military personnel from The forgotten heroes. Military personnel from all branches of the military are spending their all branches of the military are spending their lives right now further protecting many of the lives right now further protecting many of the rights we take for granted. Five branches of the rights we take for granted. Five branches of the bravest men and women are often willing to die bravest men and women are often willing to die for the country we all love. for the country we all love.

The Costs of WarThe Costs of War

During the Iraq War, over 4000 service men and During the Iraq War, over 4000 service men and women have given their lives, as well as over 2000 in women have given their lives, as well as over 2000 in Afghanistan. 1000 service members have suffered Afghanistan. 1000 service members have suffered wounds from those conflicts and those wounds led to wounds from those conflicts and those wounds led to amputations. They all protect us and make sure our amputations. They all protect us and make sure our freedoms don’t ever get taken away. And they protect it freedoms don’t ever get taken away. And they protect it by giving up limbs and sometimes their lives. Never by giving up limbs and sometimes their lives. Never forget about the freedoms that you have. Freedoms that forget about the freedoms that you have. Freedoms that people have DIED for. The ultimate sacrifice.people have DIED for. The ultimate sacrifice.

InterviewInterview

I was very lucky to speak with someone in the I was very lucky to speak with someone in the armed forces today. He is a hero, as with all of armed forces today. He is a hero, as with all of the people who protect our lives. His name is the people who protect our lives. His name is David Lee and he is in the Army. David Lee and he is in the Army.

(Interview read off of cards)(Interview read off of cards)

ArticleArticle

Here is an article I would like to read to the class Here is an article I would like to read to the class to demonstrate the things soldiers in the military to demonstrate the things soldiers in the military have to go through.have to go through.

http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20130508/NEWS/305080017/3-Marine-officers-dismissed-wake-deadly-mortar-accident-Hawthorne-Nev-

QuestionsQuestions

What makes a hero? What are a hero’s special What makes a hero? What are a hero’s special qualities?qualities?

Can anybody be a hero?Can anybody be a hero? What can you do to be a hero?What can you do to be a hero?

Additional InformationAdditional Information

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/home.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/home/home.shtml http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.shtml http://www.goarmy.com/http://www.goarmy.com/ http://www.marines.comhttp://www.marines.com www.airforce.comwww.airforce.com www.navy.comwww.navy.com

Cited Page Cited Page

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/phttp://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/citywide_historical_sdf/analysis_and_planning/citywide_historical_seven_major_felony_offenses_2000-2012.pdfeven_major_felony_offenses_2000-2012.pdf

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/vital_statshttp://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/vital_stats_2012_cy.pdf_2012_cy.pdf

http://journalistsresource.org/studies/internatihttp://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/conflicts/us-military-casualty-statistics-onal/conflicts/us-military-casualty-statistics-costs-war-iraq-afghanistan-post-911costs-war-iraq-afghanistan-post-911

Last WordsLast Words

We should stop worshipping these superheroes that writers We should stop worshipping these superheroes that writers created. We should focus on the heroes in our everyday lives. created. We should focus on the heroes in our everyday lives. Instead of thinking of Batman, Superman, or Ironman when we Instead of thinking of Batman, Superman, or Ironman when we hear the word superhero, we should think of our own, real hear the word superhero, we should think of our own, real superheroes. Police officers, fire fighters, and the military. They superheroes. Police officers, fire fighters, and the military. They actually give up their personal freedoms and put their lives on actually give up their personal freedoms and put their lives on the line to protect us. These fictional superheroes may give us the line to protect us. These fictional superheroes may give us entertaining movies to watch, they should not be mentioned in entertaining movies to watch, they should not be mentioned in the same light as our heroes. When you see a police officer, fire the same light as our heroes. When you see a police officer, fire fighter, or service man or woman, say thank you. It’s a small and fighter, or service man or woman, say thank you. It’s a small and very simple gesture of gratitude for what they do for us. Civilians very simple gesture of gratitude for what they do for us. Civilians will never understand how much they give to us. will never understand how much they give to us.