Where are America's sorely needed heroes?

By John Florez
Published: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 11:16 p.m. MST
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"When America was on its knees, he brought us on our feet." It is the tagline of the movie "Cinderella Man." It is the story of how one man, boxer James Braddock, fought to save his family during the depression of the 1930s and gave hope to Americans when there appeared to be no hope. He became a hero for his time.

Each time America has faced hard times, there have been men and women who stepped forward to give us hope that we could overcome them. Where are the heroes and the leaders today when they are sorely needed?

As a nation, we are being challenged as never before. People are feeling less secure and more fearful about the future. It used to be that one could count on staying in one job, owning a home, saving for the education of their children and a comfortable retirement. It was the American dream.

Now, we have a growing upper and lower economic class and a shrinking middle class. Perhaps most unsettling is the crisis of confidence in our leaders' ability to manage the institutions we depend upon to help maintain our quality of life. Just as disquieting is the lack of confidence we have in seeing our leaders deal with the pressing problems our nation faces today — natural disasters, war, affordable health care, immigration, an energy crisis and a deficit out of control.

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We are seeing people terminated from jobs without notice, pensions disappearing and the ability to help children with their education no longer a given. As Americans become more fearful and insecure about the future, many begin searching for answers. Some are reaching out to their religious roots while others are seeking new ones for answers and hope where they see little in their present world. Many feel helpless in trying to make a difference and become pessimistic about their future.

One of the things the Vietnam War did was to create a generation that did not trust their leaders and who learned they had to take responsibility for making institutions work for them. We have leaders who try to silence dissenters at a time when they are needed the most. Missing today are what great leaders do — set forth a vision, prepare people for the hardships they must endure, and make them believe they can get there — by giving hope.

Leaders come forward in a time of crisis such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At the beginning of WWII, he offered a vision to the American people, asked them to make sacrifices and made them believe America would be victorious.

The people responded. Men rushed to join the service, and women took care of the home front. Americans gathered tin cans and willingly accepted rationing of gas, coffee and tires. They were the generation that lived the values to which many now give lip service — perseverance, personal responsibility, their brother's keeper and duty to country. And when they came home, with the help of the GI bill, they put those values to work to make America the economic leader of the world.

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