Agree 100%. The title has been 'cheapened', because it gets slung around so much and many times, it is assigned to folks for the most minute, insignificant acts / choices they make. For example...a male celebrity can come out and announce they now identify as a woman. He goes through the surgery to change his 'parts' and the media oohs and ahhs, tripping over themselves to report how courageous 'she' is and even going so far as opining, "She's a real hero for doing this." No, he ain't.
Now, this may rub folks in my circle the wrong way....you pull up in a red truck with flashing lights to a house that's burning. Everybody on scene gives 100%; absolutely everything they've got. They go inside with a hoseline, knock the fire out and pull trapped victims from the structure. That's awesome, but that does not make anyone a hero; it makes them a good employee and servant of the citizens, because they did their job.
On the other hand, let's say a fellow is out for a jog in his neighborhood. The most exposure he's had to firefighting is dousing a pile of burning yard waste in his backyard with a garden hose. He sees a house on fire and hears a voice inside, screaming for help. Without hesitation, he runs inside, grabs the victim and drags them out of the house. Yeah; in my eyes, that man's a hero.
I believe the same is true for these two folks in Texas. Neither one of them had to do what they did; at great risk to themselves, they confronted an armed murderer, got into a gunfight and chased the killer for 10+ miles at almost triple-digit speeds. They felt a sense of duty to their fellow citizens and although not obligated to do so, they chose to make it their job to end Kelley's spree.
IMO, if there ever were any heroes, these dudes are.
