Highway of Heroes?
In an act of political bravery unmatched in modern times, Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced that a section of Highway 401 is to be renamed the "Highway of Heroes".
What is a hero, anyway? At dictionary.com, the top result for 'hero' is
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
Ignoring the sexism explicit in the dictionary.com definition, I still have to wonder what courage, ability, deeds or qualities the fallen soldiers exhibited to warrant being referred to as heroes.
The act of showing up?
When I think of what a hero is, I think of someone who lost their job whistle-blowing government and/or corporate malfeasance, or someone who drowned jumping into a swollen river trying to save a kid, ie. someone who knowingly made a conscious decision to do the right thing, regardless of his or her own probable doom.
While they are all volunteers, news items (no links available) I have read seem to imply that Armed Forces members are eager to serve in Afghanistan because they can increase their income significantly.
Surely, that makes them fallen mercenaries, rather than fallen heroes?
Still, let's be charitable and assume that they weren't there for the cash, but were instead answering the eternal Call of Duty, where young men and women sacrifice their lives for the Greater Good.
To me, they would still seem victims, not heroes. Perhaps that is what heroes really are, not doers of brave deeds but useful PR instruments for recruiting future potential Heroes.
Anyhoo, here are a few suggestions for the renaming that I feel might be more appropriate:
Promenade of the Pawns
Civvie Street (the hard way)
No Life Like It Lane
Being a classy guy, I hesitate to submit:
Suckers' Street
McGuinty should be ashamed, and for all the right reasons...
