[Opinion] Heroic Criteria

73 great men and women of France are lying at rest in the Pantheon in Paris. Most of them are literary figures, philosophers and scientists, including Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Marie Curie and Sadi Carnot, who is the only president here. Another French hero buried here is L. Braille, the inventor of braille.

When Braille entered a school for the blind, there were few books with embossed alphabet letters for the blind. He invented a new way of reading letters for the blind in three years, although it was quite an ordeal. He was only 14 years old when he made it. In a monument for him in his hometown, it says, “He opened a door of intelligence for all who cannot see.” A biography of Louis Braille might be unfamiliar with the old generation, but it took the top ranking in the field of biography among children’s books in Korea.

American M. Cattel wrote “Who’s who” in the 19th century and selected 10 “great men,” including Napoleon, Shakespeare, Voltaire, Bacon and Aristotle. Time Magazine chose Einstein as the greatest man of the 20th Century in 1999. It reflected the fact that 20th Century was a century of science. When it comes to the 21st Century, the criteria for heroes have changed much from the past, compared with when people used to have a standardized framework to judge whether someone could be considered a hero. New standards have become commonplace, and people show more admiration for celebrities today.

Some say that we are facing pressures from our insincere and sensuous pop culture and media. However, a common standard for society is reflected among these heroes. Perhaps people want to have new hope for future through building up their own great men. Insight and honesty still are virtues of great men. Karl Popper said in pessimism, “The great leader we are waiting for will never come.” However we cannot give up yet.

Hong Chan-sik, Editorial Writer, chansik@donga.com