Heroism with a lowercase ‘h’
Last Friday I was lucky enough to enjoy some fish fry from Amber Muehlbauer’s Colby Cafe and then watch the Academy Award winning movie “1917” with my editor Kevin and his wife Linda.
The movie is set during the horror of WWI, also known as The Great War, and The War to End All Wars. Sadly, those titles would be proven wrong just 20 years later when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, touching off another terrible world war.
The movie I watched on Friday followed the lives of two ordinary soldiers, one a private, the other a lance corporal, who had to cross the barbed wire fences and sunken pits and bodies that made up the dreaded No-Man’s Land.
They did so to deliver a message that would save the lives of hundreds. It was a harrowing, gripping tale, and I have no doubt such a thing has played out countless times over the many years that man has waged war with man.
Small acts can have far ranging consequences, and during the events of '1917” our eyes are witness to heroism with a capital “H” — the sort of heroism that forces one to risk life and limb for the betterment of others, sometimes complete strangers that will never know what was sacrificed.
But then there’s heroism with a little “h”, the heroism that most people perform each day, but so seldom get recognition for. There’s no ceremony, no medal awarded when you help an old lady cross the street.
There will be no announcement in the paper when a young boy or girl mows a neighbor’s lawn for free, or when someone pays for a stranger’s groceries or Christmas gifts.
But I would wager these small acts of heroism have just as much importance as the ones we see on TV or read about in history books. They’re the small acts of kindness, courage and selflessness that help a weary stranger persevere for another day.
I saw so many small acts of heroism over the past few days. Our country, our way of life is once again being challenged. Only the enemy is so small as to be invisible to the human eye, detected only by the most sophisticated of machinery.
It’s a small thing that has brought whole nations to their knees. It has forced the world to be at a standstill. I’m talking about COVID-19.
It’s waging its microbial war on us right now, and it seems to be winning. But only for the moment. Human ingenuity and stubbor- ness had gotten us through sickness and disease before. They will again.
What also gets us through is neighbors helping neighbors. People shopping local, ordering a carry-out dinner from a small business or restaurant. Trust me, every tiny bit helps and is appreciated.
So, if you got some change to spare, help one another out, because together is the only way we’re going to get through this. Heroism with a little “h” goes a long way.
M USINGS AND G RUMBLINGS
ROSS PATTERMANN REPORTER
