ABSTRACT
In this presentation, I will discuss three men of honor, three magnificent baseball players, three icons, and three exemplary ethnic/racial heroes. To begin, some observations on the role of heroes in our culture invite mention. A democratic society seems uneasy in the presence of heroes because, aristocratically, heroes loom larger than life. Thus, throughout our nation's history, Americans seem eager to elevate the extraordinary individual followed by a propensity to topple him or her from the pedestal. In short, we are prone to smash icons. Some heroes, however, may go into temporary eclipse though their accomplishments and their traits resist our throwaway cUlture.3
