For the past month, the only news in television has been the progress and happenings of the protest in Egypt. For years, the Egyptians had suffered under the rule of Hosni Mubarak who ruled under a  communist government. Since 25 January the citizens of Egypt have congregated for justice in the form of riots and protests. No countries intervened in this upheaval, no one tried to step in and tell the Egyptians to lay down their arms because this had to be done. Instead the whole world took a step back and saluted them. Military units where set off against the protesters but not even guns and tear gas could stop them. Mexico saw Egypt. Thailand saw Egypt, Holland, Australia and Quebec are all witnesses to the stepping down of Mubarak. But if any part of the world really saw this revolution it was Libya because right now, as I type, they are attempting to accomplish freedom too. The people of Libya admire Egypt's courage and strength under pressure. The world admires the fact that the Egyptians achieved what seemed to be the impossible.

     In his highly acclaimed novel, The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway made a successful attempt of capturing the essence of a hero of his era. Hemingway singles out one young man who shines brightly throughout the depressing story. Pedro Romero, a handsome, charismatic Spanish matador is described and idolized by all the characters in the book as a romantic hero. Romero stands out from his fellow matadores. He dis not fear the angry bulls, for he worked closely with the bulls, his red silk cape barely skimming their lethal horns in the wind. He was so passionate about his art and everyone felt it. Romero's grace was so powerful that Hemingway devoted chapter after chapter to emphasise it.

   All eyes where on Romero in the ring. He was a hero. He did not save anyone but he was a hero because he dared to do what the common person dare not and when someone does something out of the ordinary, we admire it. When people hit above the mark and achieve what seems to be the impossible like stepping out of the bullring victorious after dancing with an enraged bull or overthrowing a cruel ruler and setting your people free of all things disabling. When great things are at risk everyone stops and watches.

   Since bullfighting is strictly a Hispanic and Latin tradition and the United States consists of a variety of cultures, not may can say they know the fluidity of a bullfighter's grace. But think about it. A hero does not have to be majestic or foreign. Take out the "Bull" from bullfighting, keep the word "fighting" and so many different heroes come to mind. Thousands of miles away and across the ocean,  thousands of soldier's lives are at stake and we honor each and every one of them. We honor them because they have risked something precious for a chance at something better. They are able to function under the unbearable tensions of war. Heroes, we call them. 

   Not all heroes are armed with a cape and spear like Romero or a gun and grenade like soldiers. Some are armed with their hope and faith. They come in every age and color. They may suffer differently but they all do. Cancer patients. Whether they survive or not all cancer patients are heroes today. There are so many people battling it out with cancer. I'm not sure if it is because I am older and more aware of my surroundings now but so many people I know have cancer. It has even affected my family multiple times. Cancer patients are heroes because they go into this battle under surprise attack, unarmed and without knowing how to fight back, but they still somehow manage to. They encourage others to keep striving. They have no plan yet show no fear. It seems impossible yet there they are. They have experienced therefore they are strong and heroic.

    Bullfighters, soldiers, cancer patients, athletes, firefighters, the judged, the profiled, the abused: our heroes. We all look to them because they face the ultimate equalizer: death. People fear the fact that at some point in our lives a bull is bound to come along and challenge us. And for those who have  faced their own bull, already know how to defeat it. They are our examples to look to. They are our heroes because they have conquered  the invincible.  They inspire us to fight back when we are locked in the arena with a ferocious bull. They teach us to trade in retreat for a red cape, fight swiftly , confidently and get back up after the first blow to face each one to come.