<p>prompt: Should heroes be defined as people who say what they think when we ourselves lack the courage to say it?</p>
<p>Heroes come in many shapes and sizes but ultimately it is someone who does justice acts that the majority of others could not or would not do. The question "Should heroes be defined as people who say what they think when we ourselves lack the courage to say it" is true. People who stand up for what is just despite consequences are the true heroes of the modern age. The points to prove this fact are pervasive throughout history and literature.</p>
<p>Those who speak against crimes on humanity are the true heroes as demonstrated by Martin Luther King. After the Civil war, many blacks were still treated with contempt and many just stayed quiet and endured the pain and suffering. In the eyes of the suffering African Americans, Martin Luther King was their symbol of hope and it is because he spoke to the entire country while representing the minds of most African Americans. In the end, this heroic act did in fact save the "day" by pushing more blacks to fight for equality and not stand by quietly. Had everyone feared the punishment for speaking against the whites in the U.S, the issues of racism would have been exponentially more prevalent in the present times. </p>
<p>Similar to Martin Luther King, Atticus from "To Kill a Mocking Bird" shows how it is heroic to fight against the injustice in society. Throughout his case with Tom Robinson, many people derided Atticus as a "Black" lover. Despite these comments, Atticus still held his beliefs and defended Tom to the best of his ability. In the end, Atticus did in fact change the jury's mindset which was why the decision took such a long pending time. Even though the court case was lost, Atticus's heroic act to stand up against racism slowly changed the mindsets of people in Maycomb. Had Atticus stayed with the norm, afraid people would turn against him if he presented his beliefs on racism, the county of Maycomb would have continued to have an extreme separation of social classes that is beneficial to no one. </p>
<p>Also shown by Thomas Gatewell, an advocate against the War of 1812, it is heroic to speak for people who lacks the courage to. Pre-War of 1812, The WarHawks all promoted raging war with Britih in hopes of destroying the Native Americans to expand westward and to improve their trade. Most feared to be labeled as Toeries or Loyalist if they went against the Warhawks. Despite this fact, Thomas Gatewell printed a newspaper called the Weekly Gallows to show the downside if the U.S went to war. Even thouhh Thomas Gatewell was not successful, he was still admired by the U.S citizens against the war and influenced many to not fear consequences. He showed that it is most important to state one's own opinions.</p>
<p>Through the evidence of Martin Luther King, Atticus, and Thomas Gatewell, heroes are indeed people who speak their mind. If everyone expresses what he or she thinks about a situation, many human atrocities could have and can be avoided in the future.</p>