Every war needs a hero. And as the world divides itself over an attack on Syria, it is time to find an appropriate hero for our times.
Well, guess what, we're in luck. We have two heroes to choose from instead of one. Interestingly, the choice is not a clear one, though that's not unexpected given that we live in a world where grey is the dominant shade of life. Barack Obama is the most obvious option. He leads the argument for an attack on Syria. He says America and its allies must act now, not because they can, but because the principles that humanity has sworn to live by have been violated. In the other corner is Vladimir Putin - although he may rest a bit uneasy in the hero's mould given his history - who is asking for a solution through dialogue and consensus.
Who is a hero? A hero is "someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself," according to Joseph Campbell. (Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, First Anchor Books, a division of Random House Inc, New York, 1991). He or she is one who performs remarkable deeds that seem to be beyond the reach and understanding of common people.
Most heroes also live for kleos which is Greek for glory. Thus Achilles in Iliad chooses to go to war under Agamemnon even when he knows that he would have to pay with his life. He wants kleos; as do many other minor and major heroes in Homer's epic. In Indian myths, a hero's life has a preordained purpose which could be to deliver a civilisation from its crisis or thwart evil or help a culture establish its supremacy or resolve a philosophical dilemma. Whatever be the purpose of a hero's journey, he must always emerge victorious.
Across civilisations, a hero is also somebody who has been able to battle past his personal and local historical limitations. Campbell says a hero improves humanity and establishes a fair and just world order. Both Obama and Putin claim to be doing just that. Obama said on September 10, 2013: "If we fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons… other tyrants will have no reason to think twice about acquiring poison gas, and using them." (Full transcript of speech at https://bsmedia.business-standard.comgoo.gl/AzZsYS). Thus, he bears responsibility for the entire human race.
Putin, in a signed article in The New York Times, writes, "Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law." Putin would rather see America not as an upholder of humanity but as a brute force, "cobbling coalitions… ." (http://goo.gl/CjYgbr)
The peculiar thing about our times is that both Obama and Putin tick most of the boxes on the hero's eligibility form. Obama is ensuring chemical warfare becomes taboo - (like cannibalism and gas chambers) - a la the saviour who overthrew a cruel tyrant. And Putin, by advocating peace and upholding international law, helps preserve order in the world.
It is difficult to predict who finally emerges as the hero because that depends on the values that are believed to be heroic. As times change, the definition of heroism changes and new heroes are born. However, we may find some clues when we dip into the Mahabharata. Krishna played the advocate for peace, while the Pandavas (pushed and encouraged by Draupadi) and the Kauravas led by Duryodhana sought war. The idea is not to compare Krishna with any of the heroes above because not only is such an exercise irrelevant but is also erroneous as a hero must be measured and understood within the context of the times and people that create him. In the end, war does take place, despite Krishna's intervention.
The Mahabharata warns us that vanity can cause a hero to lose his heroic status. Duryodhana and Karna, for example, possess qualities that were considered to be heroic by the people of their times. They were accomplished warriors, good husbands and dutiful sons. Yet, they fell from grace because arrogance and pride overshadowed their nobler principles.
In the months to come, Obama and Putin will find a way out of the present imbroglio. And, we the people may find ourselves taking sides and eventually the side with more power behind its agenda will emerge victorious. Whatever be the final verdict, we will have a new hero in our midst. And, here's the final thought: like the times throw up their own heroes, do heroes also shepherd in unique times primarily through their actions?
Well, guess what, we're in luck. We have two heroes to choose from instead of one. Interestingly, the choice is not a clear one, though that's not unexpected given that we live in a world where grey is the dominant shade of life. Barack Obama is the most obvious option. He leads the argument for an attack on Syria. He says America and its allies must act now, not because they can, but because the principles that humanity has sworn to live by have been violated. In the other corner is Vladimir Putin - although he may rest a bit uneasy in the hero's mould given his history - who is asking for a solution through dialogue and consensus.
Who is a hero? A hero is "someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself," according to Joseph Campbell. (Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, First Anchor Books, a division of Random House Inc, New York, 1991). He or she is one who performs remarkable deeds that seem to be beyond the reach and understanding of common people.
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Across civilisations, a hero is also somebody who has been able to battle past his personal and local historical limitations. Campbell says a hero improves humanity and establishes a fair and just world order. Both Obama and Putin claim to be doing just that. Obama said on September 10, 2013: "If we fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons… other tyrants will have no reason to think twice about acquiring poison gas, and using them." (Full transcript of speech at https://bsmedia.business-standard.comgoo.gl/AzZsYS). Thus, he bears responsibility for the entire human race.
Putin, in a signed article in The New York Times, writes, "Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law." Putin would rather see America not as an upholder of humanity but as a brute force, "cobbling coalitions… ." (http://goo.gl/CjYgbr)
The peculiar thing about our times is that both Obama and Putin tick most of the boxes on the hero's eligibility form. Obama is ensuring chemical warfare becomes taboo - (like cannibalism and gas chambers) - a la the saviour who overthrew a cruel tyrant. And Putin, by advocating peace and upholding international law, helps preserve order in the world.
It is difficult to predict who finally emerges as the hero because that depends on the values that are believed to be heroic. As times change, the definition of heroism changes and new heroes are born. However, we may find some clues when we dip into the Mahabharata. Krishna played the advocate for peace, while the Pandavas (pushed and encouraged by Draupadi) and the Kauravas led by Duryodhana sought war. The idea is not to compare Krishna with any of the heroes above because not only is such an exercise irrelevant but is also erroneous as a hero must be measured and understood within the context of the times and people that create him. In the end, war does take place, despite Krishna's intervention.
The Mahabharata warns us that vanity can cause a hero to lose his heroic status. Duryodhana and Karna, for example, possess qualities that were considered to be heroic by the people of their times. They were accomplished warriors, good husbands and dutiful sons. Yet, they fell from grace because arrogance and pride overshadowed their nobler principles.
In the months to come, Obama and Putin will find a way out of the present imbroglio. And, we the people may find ourselves taking sides and eventually the side with more power behind its agenda will emerge victorious. Whatever be the final verdict, we will have a new hero in our midst. And, here's the final thought: like the times throw up their own heroes, do heroes also shepherd in unique times primarily through their actions?