to bring up an old topic is always a little bit of a waste, but if its an old topic that has not been thoroughly exploited, then i think its alright to rehash it. heros according to dictionary.com are....
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
he·ro /ˈhɪəroʊ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[heer-oh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1.
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2.
a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3.
the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4.
Classical Mythology.
a.
a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b.
(in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c.
(in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
5.
hero sandwich.
6.
the bread or roll used in making a hero sandwich.

so why the fuck do people insist on referring to the people who died in the world trade center knocking overing as heros? because it justifies their deaths right? right. but really, cant they use a word that actually means what they are? i think the only description that comes close is number 6, and you would have to be making a sandwich out of people and building, like a human sandwhich with tower one and two as the bread. i think you could use hero like that. no, thats just the bread. maybe 4b would work, but i dont think that people are used to using hero that way. that one makes the most sense. but hero in the way that we use it on a daily basis means someone who pulled off what they were doing. i think that if someone pulled someone out of the trade center and went back in for more and the building fell/was detonated on them, then they are heros. but if youre of the group that ran in and dies helping, are you really a hero. if i jump in the water to help a drowning kid and we die, am i a hero? whatever, im almost feeling bad, its thefact that while in new york last week i was confronted first hand with the world trade center, and i was just not moved at all. maybe its the issue that im supposed to feel, that im supposed to mourn the dead, that im supposed to cry...well i do feel and i do mourn the dead....i dont cry for them though, what i do cry for is the common sense and rational of americans, their narcassistic need for everyone to be a hero, for everyones life to have meaning , for everyone to be fucking special. well, the reality is youre not, im not, the person next to you, or the next person you will see is not. but thats whats so fucking great, were all just us, we dont need to be anything but just us. so next time i run into a fiery building and die, could you please not call me a hero, maybe brave, caring, selfless, fucking awesome...but just not a hero.