Heroes

Posted by shush

March 4, 2015

“Ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo”
This is the last line of our country’s national anthem.
It’s the only line I do not like nor appreciate in the whole song.
Primarily because death is so much non-progressive than life.

I have nothing against the person who wrote this. When I am required to sing the national anthem I do not sing this line. For to me it seems like I am already accepting the fact that I am going to die even if I fight as much as I could. And that I am going to die for my country.

Why should you die for your country?
If it’s not your profession to die for the country, then you should strive to live and fight everyday. Because when you are alive, the country prospers and grows more than when you die.

A simple example is the notion of heroes and superheroes.
Heroes are called those who die for their country. It is a recognition of their valiant efforts to defend the country from whatever it is that wants to destroy it. It used to be that you could only be called a hero if you have already died. But someone decided to create the phrase “living heroes” or “everyday heroes” so that people’s perception of heroism is changed into a more lively and positive concept.

Now let’s look at the concept of superheroes. They have powers or abilities that are more than the normal average person. They too fight for their country. But they also fight to stay alive. Because they know that if they die, they would not be able to fight for their country anymore nor would they be able to help people.

What helps them keep themselves alive?

Simple.

A mask. An anonymous identity.

Heroes don’t stand a chance of staying alive because those who want them to be removed from the picture know their identity. And that makes it easier for them to be eliminated. Superheroes are harder to eliminate. Because they hide their identity. Those who want them eliminated do not know who to eliminate. And those who know their secret identity really keeps it a secret. For they too know that the superheroes are more useful alive than if they are dead and just called heroes.

And that’s why they are called super.

I am not a hero but I have a mask. My anonymity here in itself is my mask. And I have no plans whatsoever to reveal my real identity. Because I know I am more useful anonymous than having to display my real identity here. Does that make me a superhero? No. It simply makes me a careful person. Why? Because some of the issues I talk about here are sensitive, confidential sometimes, and damning for some. Many of the things I say here are hurtful because as we all know, the truth really hurts sometimes. But I look at it as my responsibility as a citizen of this country to reveal these issues. For I know that someone might be able to read it here and do something about it.

Very soon, I shall be adding a new feature here, entitled the “Contributed Articles”. These are articles contributed by readers of my blog who have contributed their own work for publishing here. I have decided to publish the articles as they are submitted by their authors, with no editing. Some of these articles are submitted by people who prefer to be anonymous, which is okay with me. The topics are varied, and some are even offensive. But they too want to say something so they would be able to at the “Contributed Articles” page.

It’s easy to be a hero and be called a hero.
It’s hard to be a superhero and live life while helping others.
But at least with a mask no one knows who you are.

Keeping Safe, Streetwise

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