Real Heroes – a thought from Mockingjay Part 1

If you think for one second that the capital will ever treat us fairly, then you're lying to yourselves.  

People get emotional watching the scene - hearing this line spoken in front of all the devastation wrought by the capital.    
And it's not just the people in the movie - it's also us, watching the movie.  
If it didn't do anything to you - are you alive?
It was an incredible scene of hope.

Just in case you don't recognize the line, it's from Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 1.

What apparently used to be a peaceful world at some time in the distant past, is now ruled by a truly evil person - ruling by fear and terror from the capital.  Out of the Hunger Games comes a hero.  One who didn't want to be a hero.  The role was cast upon her by circumstances - by her own natural instincts (although not "hero" instincts) - and the people.

Her life - like everyone else in the districts - really sucked.  
She - like everyone else - just wanted something better.

She was turned into a hero.
By people that needed a hero.

If you think for one second that the thief will ever treat us fairly, then you're lying to yourselves.  

People generally do not get emotional watching the scene - hearing this line spoken in front of all the devastation wrought by the capital the thief.    
And it's not just the people in the movie directly hearing those words - it's also us, watching the movie reading and hearing about it later .  
If it didn't do anything to you - are you alive?
It is an incredible scene of hope.

Just in case you don't recognize the line, it's from Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games - Mockingjay Part 1.

What apparently used to be a peaceful world at some time in the distant past, is now ruled by a truly evil person Thief - ruling by fear and terror from the capital.  Out of the Hunger Games world comes a hero.  One who didn't did want to be a hero.  The role was cast upon him / her not by circumstances - but by his / her own natural instincts (although not "hero" instincts) to manipulate - and the people who were manipulated.

Her / his life - like everyone else in the districts really sucked.  
She / he - like everyone else - just wanted something better power.

He / she was turned into a hero.
By people that needed a hero.

Did you notice the difference?

Very similar - but very different.

And it shows the problem with human heroes.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I believe it's safe to say that anyone - yes, anyone - who comes in their own name - either is, or will become - a thief.  Who has come to steal, kill, and destroy.

The world wants - and needs a hero.  

The world wants a hero.  That why we watch movies like The Hunger Games - and get all emotional as Katniss speaks to gather the people together to save themselves with her as leader.

The world needs a hero.  Just look around.  Is there anyone who doesn't think that things could - and indeed should - be better?  But we feel like we can't do it by ourselves.  We need a leader.  We need a hero.

The world has a hero - but doesn't recognize him.

People as heroes are fine in the movies.  The movie starts.  Maybe has some sequels.  And eventually ends.  And if the hero succeeds - life is good after that.  Yes - the hero probably takes a beating - emotional and physical - during the movie.  That's part of why we root for that person as the hero.  We can identify - but we also know we don't measure up to what they can do.

But the reality is - at the end of the movie - it's over.  The "hero" goes back to being whoever they were in "real" life.  And in "real" life - absolutely nothing has changed.

People as heroes in the real world - that doesn't really work either.  We're all affected by "The Thief".  No one - by themselves - in their own name - can truly be the hero that we all want and need.  No matter how good and benevolent we may start out to be - The Thief is just too much for us.  The Thief will eventually turn any one of us into "a thief" when we act on our own.

There is one real hero though.  The one who said that line about the thief coming to steal, kill, and destroy.  Here's more of what this real hero said -