What makes someone a “hero”? According to CNN, it’s “ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary deeds.”
Through a nomination process that is explained nowhere that I can find, CNN rounded up a group of unknown and unsung heroes and collected a blue-ribbon panel of celebrities, humanitarians and activists to choose 10 finalists. Between now and Thursday, November 20, you can go to the CNN website to vote for which of those 10 finalists gets named “Hero of the Year.”
Skip this part if you don’t want a critique…
I’m pretty torn here. Love the concept of showcasing everyday individuals who make the world a better place, weirded out by making it a contest. (Am I the only one?) And they could only come up with one “Young Wonder” under age 21? I can point them to 15 just by myself. Who did they ask for nominations? Yeesh…you would think CNN could get the word out a little better to get a thousand high-quality nominations instead of the 30 they seem to have found including just one “Young Wonder” and one person “Protecting the Powerless.” Really? You could only find one and neither made it as a finalist? Like I said, I’m torn…
…and continue reading here.
You and your family can see their stories and vote for your “favorite” hero here. The 2008 “Hero of the Year” will be announced during an “All-Star Tribute” Thanksgiving night, 9pm ET, so set your DVR now to catch what are sure to be some inspirational and moving stories.
Homework
There’s a resource for teachers included on the CNN site that provides some great questions that parents can use, too. Here’s a sampling:
- “How do you define the term ‘hero’?”
- “How would you define the term “celebrity?” What are the differences and/or similarities between heroes and celebrities?” (Great thought-provoking question for kids, many of whom name Paris Hilton or Hannah Montana as “heroes”)
- “Do you believe that one person can make a difference in the world?”
- “Who is your hero? How has this person made a difference for the better?”
I would add a few questions that also prompt young people to think of their own ability to make a difference. My kids love the show “Higgleytown Heroes” and without taking it to that extreme (where literally everyone is a hero because they perform some service for their friends, like painting the house so the ducks aren’t scared of it or baking bread so we can have sandwiches for lunch), I hate to leave the hero-ing all to other people as though we can only be passive bystanders. With that in mind:
- Have you ever been someone’s hero? Would you like to be?
- What are some things you could do right now to be a hero to others?
If you’re looking for examples of kids that I think are heroes, check out the Inspirational Kids stories on this site. And feel free to send me stories about the heroism of your own kids!
