The local media demonstrates a growing tendency to call anyone who has achieved anything reasonably notable as: a hero. So…
We have: a former Olympic swimming hero; Aussie cricket heroes; snow-boarding heroes; a racing car hero; a music industry hero…
It’s blinkin’ ridiculous!

I find myself shouting at the television: “He’s not a hero, he’s a sportsman for crying out loud! He gets paid megabucks to be good at this.”

You want a hero? What about the country fire-fighters, putting their lives on the line to save other people’s lives, homes, property and stock? Some of these fellows have been fighting a fire that’s been raging in the mid-north of our state for nearly a month, in deep gullies and what was once inaccessible bushland. And, they do it out of a sense of community and compassion for others, voluntarily. That’s right; no payment whatsoever. Some of them have died while doing it. That’s a hero, baby.

We’ve just had a Victoria Cross medal awarded posthumously to the last Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan. He ran towards enemy fire, making sure he was in front in order to protect his platoon. He knew the dangers, he knew what it might cost, but he did it anyway. That’s a hero, baby.

The sad thing is, the news item about the medal for “an Aussie hero” came on straight after the advert for the up-coming interview on a current affair program. “See the interview with former Olympic hero, Mr X, who is a convicted drug dealer.”

That makes a mockery of the word: hero. It’s an insult to put that bloke in the same category as the deceased soldier and the living fire-fighters. ‘Hero’ is becoming meaningless.

Now I know some of you are thinking: You’re just raving on because you’re a grammar tragic. There’s an element of truth in that. But, language is all about communication. The more we debase our language the less able we are to adequately communicate with others. If we don’t make an effort with how we communicate we might as well be lemurs hooting at each other across the forest.

I think the media, in its attempt to stay relevant in this age of the internet, are becoming increasingly desperate to keep the interest of the smart-phone generation. As a result they are dumbing down in both language and material. Now gossip, speculation, tale-telling and libel is taking the place of genuine news.

I’m a grumpy old lady, I know, but I think if there was someone who could turn the tide and bring back journalism I could respect, I’d almost be tempted to call that person: a hero. (But, I wouldn’t because that’s not the right use of the word. 😉 )