Heroism Versus Hate

Source: Domenjod/Wikipedia

Soldiers, police officers, and firefighters constitute some of the most admired individuals in any society (2014 Harris poll). As you might expect, the answer to this reality is rather easy to surmise. People revere those willing to risk their lives in the service and protection of others (especially random strangers). This is why it is easier for a man to obtain the phone number of a woman if he is donning the firefighter suit. Heroes are desirable!

Scholars have examined several possible evolutionary roots of heroism and these include kin selection (e.g., jumping into the river to save three of your brothers), reciprocal altruism (e.g., jumping into the river to save a close friend expecting that he’ll reciprocate in the future should you require his assistance), and reputational benefits (e.g., jumping into a river to save a stranger knowing that this will increase your reputation in the eyes of others). See here, here, and here for relevant sources.

This leads me to a devastatingly tragic story that just occurred in France. In yet another terror attack, an ISIS supporter named Redouane Lakdim went on a killing spree resulting in the taking of hostages at a supermarket. This is where Lt-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame exhibited a level of selfless heroism that is a testament to the generosity of the human spirit. He offered himself to the terrorist in exchange for the freeing of a female hostage. He did so knowing full well that his chances of surviving were slim, and yet he was willing to do so to save the life of a complete stranger. Beltrame was eventually killed by his captor prior to himself being killed by the French forces. I suspect that the hostage in question might end up experience a great amount of survivor guilt. Contrast this unimaginable manifestation of virtue, nobleness, and honor with the genocidal and diabolical hatred of Lakdim, who was willing to take the lives of innocent strangers in the pursuit of his religious convictions. One man gave up his life to save a stranger whereas the other gave up his life to kill innocent strangers. Such is the tapestry of the human condition. It can generate behaviors that lift the human spirit and can engender genocidal hatred that stains our shared humanity.

I’ll leave you with this plea. If you wish to honor the memory of Lt-Colonel Beltrame, do not sit idly and tolerate ideologies that preach hatred and intolerance. Do not expect others to do the fighting on your behalf (see THE SAAD TRUTH_23 on this exact topic). Do not subcontract the defense of our Western secular and liberal democracies to others whilst you go about your lives unencumbered by this shared responsibility. Remember the poignant quote by President Ronald Reagan:

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”