Will Tunis
Persuasive Essay
Advanced composition
25 September 2007
Heroes Where Are You Now!

Did you know over 50% on children today are afraid that they will be bullied and that no one will be there to stand up for them? This sort of bullying can be devastating for our youth because it teaches them to do the same to others. In my opinion this cycle of hatred and abuse must be stopped. Although the need for hero’s has existed for centuries and continues, we are now choosing the wrong type of hero’s to represent our morals and shelter us when we are in need.

Imagine coming home to a family you believed did not believe in you? Crazy, right? But actually over half of kids today feel ostracized even in their own homes by their own family members and at least one third feel they do not matter at all! With over half of our youth distrusting there families, it is it is critical now more than ever before that people stand up and be heroes for others. Something as small as a compliment when one is feeling down from someone in there community from people who others look up to can make a world of difference. This could help them to believe in themselves again.

Today’s youth needs a guiding hand in everyday life to ensure they make it to the end. For far too long people have been living in a state of apathy towards there fellow man. This must end before it has a chance to begin again. Aristotle once said that “men will always bear justice rather than uphold it.” This would lead you to believe that apathy has been a major issue way before our time. Standing up for someone else’s beliefs when those beliefs are being scrutinized even when it is hard to do can and always will be an act of heroism and that may be all it will take to start the revolution ending the non chalant life stile of personal pleasures and pursuits that are so direly affecting our population as a whole.

A hero is someone who does the right thing even when it is hard. Unfortunately people’s ideas of heroes today are greatly distorted. Children are seeing the wrong people with the wrong values in a heroic light. Most teens recognize their favorite celebrity or music pop star as there heroes. This is not ok; movies stars are dangerous to gather one’s values from. Yes it’s true that sometimes such a “hero” may play a hero on a show or movie but they are just reading a script. What if that script were to chance? The man you saw as a hero just become a rapist and murderer these are not aspects that anyone should respect or watch especially youth who are constantly being shaped be the people they consider their hero.

Heroes are greatly lacking in our world today. The real heroes are not the rappers who layout a beat with some fancy words about abusing women. They are our mothers, fathers, teachers and community workers like fire fighters and police men who are not afraid to stand up and do the right thing even when its hard or there lives our on the line. Heroes are dieing bread which we should not let slip into non-existence. So I say, Stand up out of this age of apathy and make your world a better place. Maybe then we all can sleep sound and safe.