Do we still need heroes in the present day?

JAKARTA (JP): What is a hero? Do we need heroes? Can we find a "real hero" in the present day? Such simple questions probably emerge every November 10 when Indonesians celebrate National Heroes Day.

The Jakarta Post asked a selection of people for their views on the subject.

Rizal Ramli, a noted economist and Econit's managing director: "A hero does not necessarily have to be someone that is, or ever will be, buried in a heroes cemetery.

Nowadays, a hero should be someone, regardless of profession, who can give added value to their country.

A hero can contribute to science and technology, education, culture... anything, because the war we are in now is no longer a physical fight.

A hero is someone who, in fighting their "war", does not have personal interests or looks to become the focus of the struggle."

Purwanto, a driver: "Heroes, in today's world full of hypocrisy, are those who dare to say "no" to what is wrong and "yes" to what is right."

Hera, a university student: "I'm no longer sure what the term hero really means in this age when all sorts of people are named "heroes" virtually on a monthly basis.

I have become suspicious of those people who have received the title 'hero' because it is likely that they are not really worth noting.

According to Hera, it is easier to respect the heroes who struggled for independence than to memorize those who have been granted hero status in the last two years."

Arswendo Atmowiloto, former editor of the now defunct Monitor tabloid, novelist: "Heroes sacrifice their own interests for the sake of others. They are more than just altruists. For instance, Father Sandyawan. The Catholic priest risked his own life when he harbored Democratic People's Party chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko who is regarded by the government as a rebel. What's more, heroes need not be 'clean' or politically correct. Thus prostitutes, homosexuals, people of antiestablishment political orientation and the like could be recognized as heroes if they are really heroes."

Diah Rahayu, a housewife, living in South Jakarta: "The word hero could have various meanings depending on people's interests. It could be my husband.

Someone who was awarded national hero status in the past and buried at the heroes cemetery could be found to be a bad person in the future. So, I can't convince myself, what a national hero really is."

Noeh, chief editor of Antara News Agency: "Heroes are those people who have undertaken the most worthy services for their country and committed the fewest faults in developing their nation. Based on that definition, hero status should not be reserved for the military.

We can also say that heroes are those to whom God will say: You have done a lot of very good things and therefore I'll forgive all of your sins.

But of course, the subject of heroes is debatable. Other people may have different opinions."

Puji, a manager of the Ciputra Group: "Heroes for me are people who did the most to develop a certain group of society, disregarding the so-called SARA (tribal affiliations, ethnics, religion and race).

That's my opinion and I don't know whether it is agreeable to others or not. But one thing I think is that other people will also agree that heroes are people who have done good things."

Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Education and Culture: "Heroes perform beyond their call of duty. Teachers, for practical purposes, can be referred to as heroes as the song Heroes without Medals of Honor suggests. This, however, does not automatically make them eligible for a place in heroes cemeteries."

N.H. Dini, a novelist: "Heroes are those who have done something of great virtue for the community in which they live, provided their heroic acts are not performed as redemption for losses incurred nor are they spurred by base motives such as money. I know some highly revered people whose acts fit my definition but I could not refer to them as heroes as I do not know who they really are. Our late first president Bung Karno is certainly a hero, not only because of his struggle for our country's independence but also because of his contribution to the development of the Indonesian language. Our language would not have attained its perfect unity without him. In addition, heroes can also be animals, such as dogs which have saved people's lives."

Let. Gen. Wiranto, chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command and chairman of the Indonesian Bridge Association: "Athletes who have done our country proud are heroes. The Indonesian men's bridge team, for instance. It finished second to France in the just-concluded 10th Bridge Olympics on Greece's Rhodes Island after a grueling 14 days which exhausted them both mentally and physically. It was the best finish we have ever had since we first took part in the Olympics in 1982. It is a heroic act though not of the same type as that of a man who saves a child's life at the expense of his own." (Team)