a hero is gone

[Sir_Russell]

Evel lived most of the last 10 years in my area, and I think the man was nuts but lets give credit where it is due. For what ever reason he stared death in face most of his life and continued on doing what he did. I think that I would have quit on the first attempt looking down that ramp seeing the cars or buses lined up and me on a small bike.

He did things for the kids in our area helped get funds for childrens hospital. So to finish up Yeager is hero but also the same kind of nut that evel was. He knew he was facing death but wanted to go fast higher then anyone else. Where is the difference really.

Course my heros are Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, people that didn't really face death but brought music and joy to the world.

[Thorne]

Yeager is hero but also the same kind of nut that evel was. He knew he was facing death but wanted to go fast higher then anyone else. Where is the difference really.

In my mind, Yeager, and any hero really, did what he did to benefit someone or something other than himself. In Yeager's case, that was his country. Yes, he knew he was risking death, but his death would have served a purpose. Knievel, on the other hand, was a show-off, benefiting only his own pocketbook (and those of his employees, of course) and satisfying his own ego. Courageous? Certainly! Talented? Maybe. Insane? Undoubtedly! But a hero? I don't think so.

Course my heros are Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, people that didn't really face death but brought music and joy to the world.

Again, I must disagree. While they might have talent and a flair for showmanship, and might even be worthy of a certain amount of respect, their primary motivation was for their own gain. One might enjoy them and even look up to them (in fact, I wrote a High School term paper about Dylan back in the '60s) but I don't see how they could be considered heroes.