I'm not on the hero bandwagon either. Yet your vehemence is rooted in starting the story at the wrong place.
Back it up. The reason he was there in the first place is because he joined an ad hoc group whose goal was the protection of public and private property, and providing first aid to anyone injured.
Kyle had a first aid kit. He was interviewed prior to the shooting and clearly stated his purpose. The thugs attacked him in response to his action of putting out a fire.
So I'm not labeling him a hero, but he could have a beer with one comfortably.
People need to understand that words are sometimes used in the vernacular. Also that some words are âobjectiveâ and some are âsubjectiveâ.
In the vernacular, the use of âheroâ as a noun is perfectly within the bounds of common usage. Still it is not the word that I have used to describe Kyle.
One of the things that gets me is that folks who demand strict adherence to a âdictionary definitionâ canât be bothered to pick one up. Instead they insist it is their âobjectiveâ definition that is the only one acceptable.
First I went to my 1946 copy of Merriam Webster dictionary to find the definition of hero. My thinking was this would be a more strict definition. Results below:
Then I went to the current American Oxford currently on my device.
Both examples clearly have multiple differing definitions.
Then, I went back in this thread to see where the term had been used first and it was someone using the term âhero worshipâ.
I am not sure what rises to hero worship in Kyles case, but I donât see that in this thread. I do think Kyle has become someone of a âcult heroâ to us 2Aers. If that was the intend meaning of hero worship, yes that has happened. Certainly Kyle is not âworshippedâ as say one would worship God.
The use of the term âcult heroâ is certainly used in the vernacular and the word hero within that context could easily fit both example definitions that I have provided.
No he is not a âwar heroâ or a âhero sandwichâ.