On Heroes
It's easy enough to spot a superhero. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Check. Faster than a speeding bullet. Check.
The same however is not true in real life.
When we speak of heroes, images of people dying for love of country come to mind. But one need not die to become a hero.
In the medical profession, there are many instances of heroism. Blood donors. A resident on duty taking care of other people's kids while his own is nursing a fever. Medical personnel missing out on family because duty calls. A doctor contacting an infectious disease while taking care of a toxic patient. And so on.
Yet these contributions are hardly recognized.
The overseas Filipino worker is dubbed Ang Bagong Bayani for contributions to the economy. I lament however the seeming double standard when it comes to physicians. Doctors who choose to train abroad or shift to nursing are lambasted for their choice and considered selfish. Yet, aren't they new heroes too? Why should they be treated differently?
Perhaps central to the issue is the question when does the job end and heroism begins? There is no easy answer and most probably opinions will vary. Let me know what you think.
People need not die to become heroes. One must only touch the life of another to become one. We need not erect monuments for our heroes, medical professional or otherwise. A thank you is more than enough.
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This is my entry to The Blog Rounds 16th Edition: Unsung Heroes
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6 comments:
Ah, unfortunately most of the time a thank you never even comes... :( Oh well! All in a day's work!
i think people feel so entitled to doctors' service that they take it for granted that we have lives of our own - that more often than not are encroached upon by our work big time.
i find it sad that the media focuses so much on the negative events and hype surrounding our profession that the efforts we make to make the most of a bad health situation for our patients are completely taken for granted. it's never said in the media how many hours doctors in training spend in the hospital and how little we are paid, how many years it takes for us to finish our training, etc. it's just plain sad.
Manggy, I think that's what most think. Since it's work, thank yous are not necessary but just perks.
Claire, I wish both sides are equally presented. Unfortunately, most of the time one side gets a much better spin.
...and a thank you, unfortunately, is hard to come by.
When a job ends and heroism begins? The distinction must be blurred, especially among doctors, for their job - to heal, to relieve one of illness and pain - does go beyond the confines of the clinic.
Thank you so much for joining TBR-16 and for providing a different perspective to the theme.
distinctions are a blur. we look at people from different angles as an ecg would a heart. there must be heroism and vapidity to an act. the OCW, while being hailed as a hero upon return, was originally encouraged to stay home by our opinion leaders. what confounding paradox!
"when does the job end and heroism begins?"
Uhmmm one tough question to answer. Can one they co-exist?
Sometimes, by just doing your job you seem like a hero to someone else, even without knowing it. But the opposite can also be true. You think you are hero by doing something, when in fact, you are only doing what you are suppose to do. ;)
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