Penny for Your Thoughts?
What do you think? Was Billy Bishop a true Canadian war hero or not? What really makes a hero?
A hero is someone who shows selflessness and altruism. A hero puts others before him/herself and puts him/herself out there to make a positive difference in the world and especially to help others. A hero doesn't necessarily have to be the bravest person, but the selflessness in its own is a bravery of some sort; it is courageous to push your own needs aside for the welfare of others. Heroes are people that others admire, respect, and look up to; their actions are things to be thankful and grateful for and to appreciate.
So is Billy Bishop a hero?
Yes, he is a hero. He went out on his own to fight enemies, with no assistance or accompaniment. He was very accomplished as well - even if he didn't achieve as many victories as he claimed to have achieved, he was still very successful, considering he was the 3rd highest-achieving pilot in war history. He became the British Empire's highest scoring ace with 72 accredited aerial victories, and was a role model for emulation to many. His work in the field even produced Canada's own air force.
Additionally, his accomplishments then were seen as a success at the time but would still be seen as a success now, in modern-day warfare. The difference is that when he fought, he did it in a less advanced aircraft than is available today, but still managed to achieve something that would even be admired now with our modern aircraft. It shows the effort he put into the field. It's like when Greenhous said"...he deserved his decorations for flying alone, deep in German airspace, in a fragile butterfly of an aircraft."
However, when it all comes down to it...every soldier is a hero in a way. They fight for our country and the lives of the people in it, sacrificing their own. The simple act of enlisting in war makes you a hero - you are signing up for something that requires you to risk your life and own well being to better the well being of other people. Soldiers engage in selfless activity on a regular basis; they put themselves in dangerous situations and show bravery and courage and determination to better the nation, making a positive difference to an entire country's population of people.
A hero is someone who shows selflessness and altruism. A hero puts others before him/herself and puts him/herself out there to make a positive difference in the world and especially to help others. A hero doesn't necessarily have to be the bravest person, but the selflessness in its own is a bravery of some sort; it is courageous to push your own needs aside for the welfare of others. Heroes are people that others admire, respect, and look up to; their actions are things to be thankful and grateful for and to appreciate.
So is Billy Bishop a hero?
Yes, he is a hero. He went out on his own to fight enemies, with no assistance or accompaniment. He was very accomplished as well - even if he didn't achieve as many victories as he claimed to have achieved, he was still very successful, considering he was the 3rd highest-achieving pilot in war history. He became the British Empire's highest scoring ace with 72 accredited aerial victories, and was a role model for emulation to many. His work in the field even produced Canada's own air force.
Additionally, his accomplishments then were seen as a success at the time but would still be seen as a success now, in modern-day warfare. The difference is that when he fought, he did it in a less advanced aircraft than is available today, but still managed to achieve something that would even be admired now with our modern aircraft. It shows the effort he put into the field. It's like when Greenhous said"...he deserved his decorations for flying alone, deep in German airspace, in a fragile butterfly of an aircraft."
However, when it all comes down to it...every soldier is a hero in a way. They fight for our country and the lives of the people in it, sacrificing their own. The simple act of enlisting in war makes you a hero - you are signing up for something that requires you to risk your life and own well being to better the well being of other people. Soldiers engage in selfless activity on a regular basis; they put themselves in dangerous situations and show bravery and courage and determination to better the nation, making a positive difference to an entire country's population of people.