The Definition of Selflessness

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.
It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”
~ Arthur Ashe ~


I saw the news headline this morning: "7 Die In Holiday Weekend Shootings In Baltimore." The news stunned me. On a weekend where we are remembering heroic acts of men and woman who put it all on the line to serve others, something like this happens.

Seven people die.

Seven people are murdered.

Why?

For what cause?

Was it the "urge to surpass all others at whatever cost?"

It makes me angry. Really angry. Sadly, those who did the killing this past weekend will be viewed as a hero in someone's eyes. Those who were gunned down will become martyrs in someone's eyes. It's all part of gang life. They have no clue what it means to be a hero. A real hero. A person who serves. A person who comes to the defense of others, not the defense of themselves. A real hero doesn't fight for their own right to be right, but for the right of others to have the freedom to be right.

There are men and women fighting to protect us. Men and women who sign up knowing they could be called into action and never return. Men and women who sacrifice the comforts of home. Men and women who don't see their loved ones for months or years on end. Men who miss seeing the birth of their child. Women who don't get to see their child's first steps. They're the real heroes.

Thank you to the men and women who died fighting so I could be free. Thank you to the men and women who died fighting so I could go to church on Sunday and worship as I please. Thank you to the men and women who died fighting so I can own a blog and freely express my opinion. Thank you to the men and women who died fighting so others in oppressed nations and countries could have the same freedoms we are blessed to have in the USA. Thank you for being willing to serve at whatever the cost.

Below are some of the faces of military heroes, ordinary people who became extraordinary when they chose to become selfless instead of selfish like the city murderers. This was the Memorial Day ceremony at the Crownsville State Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville, MD. Thanks to my grandfather, Clifton Golden, for his years of service.






Congressman John Sarbanes