General David Petraeus has become the latest American hero to fall from grace, revealing that he is, in fact, human. Unfortunately, as a society, we love to bestow the title of hero, used to praise individuals who, despite risk to their personal safety or comfort, have demonstrated a selfless commitment to the welfare of others.
Loosely applied to a wide variety of individuals, from soldiers and firemen to teachers and social workers, the label implies superhuman dedication or accomplishment and, in a twisted way, sets them up for failure. While we cannot excuse behavior that hurts others or places the innocent at risk, we should not be surprised to find that our heroes have their own human frailties and that many have engaged in activity that we might find offensive, if not immoral. Indeed, those who demonstrate an excessive commitment to their career are often compensating for personal deficiencies in other areas of their life.
It is best that we praise individuals for their heroic acts rather than saddling them with the title of hero. In the end, we discover that they are mere mortals, as susceptible to temptation as the rest of human society. Whether that truth is revealed during their lifetime or postpartum, by a diligent biographer, it serves to round out their image in the eyes of the public but should not diminish their acts of heroism.
