'I'd rather be a hero myself'

'I'd rather be a hero myself'

For many young residents, the word "hero" has lost much of its
meaning, being associated mostly with dead guys streets are named
after. In commemoration of National Heroes Day on Nov. 10, The
Jakarta Post talked to some young people about what they thought
of modern-day heroes.

Anindhita Maharrani, 23, works at the online news portal
Detik.com in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta. She lives in Pamulang,
Tangerang:

Who are our modern-day heroes? I don't think we have any. I
find it difficult to point out even one example of a modern-day
hero.

Heroism is about fighting for the rights of other people,
sacrificing your own ego to defend the interests of others
without expecting an reward in return. And anyone who bothers to
look can see that most people, either officials or regular
people, help others with the evident hope of some reward in
return. While others just do their jobs without any intent of
helping others.

I think we are in dire need of modern-day heroes to set an
example for us, to show us the good things we can do. I would
like to be a hero myself, starting with simple things like
disposing of garbage in the proper place and waiting in lines.
Hopefully, other people can do the same and become heroes
themselves.

Advent Tambun, 27, is a Spanish teacher at Trisakti University
in Grogol, West Jakarta. He lives near the campus:

For me, modern-day heroes are people who create job
opportunities. The basic idea is the same as the heroes of the
past who struggled to create a better life, in their case by
bringing freedom to the country.

When entrepreneurs create jobs, they are providing better
lives for other people. Of course, I mean those people who create
the job opportunities fairly.

I might include exporters on the list of modern-day heroes
because they create benefits for residents, while at the same
time forging good relationships with people around the country.

Unfortunately, a lack of publicity means very few people are
aware of their contributions to the country.

-- The Jakarta Post