American+Heroes

=Do we have American heroes living today that future generations might revere like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? If so, who might they be? If not, why not?=

Created by: NW-SOTH, NP-SOTH
A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for 10 minutes longer. ~Emerson

//**Why is knowing this important to United States History?**//
Being able to recognize American heroes is difficult. In the time of [|George Washington], many people loved him; he was a great leader and a smart politician. However, during [|Abraham Lincoln's] presidency, not a lot of people liked him. A lot of people disrespected him and didn't agree with his ideas. But look at him now: he's one of the most respected Presidents in the United States today. While you're living during these times, it can be difficult to distinguish a hero from a not-hero. Maybe being able to depict a hero could have shaped peoples' opinions about Abraham Lincoln, and maybe if we could find a hero today, we would look at that particular person in a different way, and therefore act around them in a way that is not the same as we might otherwise. (NP-SOTH) Hero: A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. It **is** hard to distinguish heroes from everybody in the world, because, maybe someone in another country has made a new invention that will shape the world's future in technology or science. Yet we don't recognize them. Instead they are put with all the other inventors and scientists behind one "face". Abraham Lincoln wasn't popular as a president during the Civil War, but today, we call him a great American hero. It takes time for people to recognize certain accomplishments because they can see the effect that that one person had on the them. It's kind of like the aerial view of the past- a clearer picture. Without these heroes like President Lincoln or George Washington, there would be no one to look up to as an example. President Obama is using the same tactics today, that Lincoln did over 100 years ago. Even though these people (Lincoln and Washington) are in the past, today, the people can still learn from those long ago. (NW-SOTH)



High Altitude Wind Power- []- This site tells about an inventor from the 21st century. It shows that there is a need for new ways to improve the way we live. This inventor relates to Eli Whitney because both had an idea and pursued it.

//** [|Are there heroes today? Who are they?] **//I think that perhaps a "hero" does not necessarily refer to the "best President" or "Noble Peace Prize." The term "hero" could refer to something as simple as a parent or friend. So, if you think about it, there are heroes everywhere in America. A hero believes in something strongly--believes in something so strongly that he/she acts on it.

George Washington never planned on being the first President of the United States of America under the new U.S. Constitution. He simply wanted there to be a strong government in our country. Abraham Lincoln did not plan on becoming great because he was President during the Civil War and made important decisions that effected our country. He wanted to keep the Union together. Even [|Rosa Parks], an African American during the [|Civil Rights Movement], is thought of as a hero today. All she did was refuse to give up her seat to a white person and go to prison in consequence.

Today, the biggest issues do not deal with the United States alone, but the whole world! I believe that someone who finds a way to solve our [|global warming] problem will definitely be a hero. Even small contributions, such as inventing a car that doesn't run on things that will pollute the air, or having companies that create and manufacture [|solar pannels] would be a huge help to the world in the long run.

Also, military leaders could be heroes. Few military leaders are recognized, including a man named [|General Doug Stone], who ran a detainment camp in Iraq and made a big difference in that particular camp. Who has ever heard of him?

Unfortunately, few heroes are recognized today. For example, I have never heard of General Doug Stone until LL-SOTH told me about him. Heroes are difficult to distinguish from other people; it is very difficult to find a specific hero today. (NP-SOTH) On the Iwo Jima memorial, there was an engraving that said "uncommon valor was a common virtue". Nobody ever plans to be put into a situation where people may die, or ask to be the first president of the United States. Sometimes, when we are put into these situations, we have to do the best that we can to make sure that the majority (whatever that might be) comes out alright, even if it means a sacrifice of our own.

The dictionary says that a hero is a man of distinguished courage or ability admired for his deeds of noble quality. True, but women are also heroes as well. Madame Curie was a woman who discovered that a certain type of mold could be used as a an antibiotic to cure sickness. This was called penicillin. Today, most, or even all hospitals use penicillin. I guess you could say that she gave her life for a cure. (She died from exposure to radiation)

Heroes are hard to distinguish today, so someone may not be considered a hero, but has the potential to be so. We have heroes today that maybe don't know it yet. Like George Washington, it was unexpected. Perhaps a kid in high school is working on a science project that could change the world someday. He/She, will or is might be a hero.

Another president whom people admire today and back then was Franklin D. Roosevelt. During World War ll, the US was at risk of attacks on the nation by Germany, Italy, and Japan. When Hitler did attack, the whole country was probably anxious and scared. Roosevelt gave a speech that became very famous called the Navy Day Address on the attack of the ship //Kearney.// He brought the country together by encouraging them and touching the fact that the whole country and everything in it belonged to everyone. [|"America has been attacked. The U.S.S. Kearny is not just a navy ship. She belongs to every man, woman and child in this nation. "] ~//Excerpt from Franklin D Roosevelt's "Navy Day Address"// (NW-SOTH)

__//Primary Sources//__
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Navy Day Address” on the Attack on the destroyer //Kearney// ** []  //**Washington's Commision as Commander-in-Chief**// []
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 **Interview for Military Leader ** []

**Rosa Parks** []

**Civil Rights Movement** []

[] []
 * Global Warming**

//__**Sources**__// [] []
 * Information on Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln **

Information about renewable energy sources  [] []

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 * Newspaper and definition of "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue" **