After the horror of Monday's hostage-taking,it is but fitting that we,Filipinos commemorate National Heroes Day today,August 30.Not only should we honor these gallant men and women who fought for our country and our freedom,but we should emulate their works and lives in these perilous times and remind ourselves that we are just as capable of greatness as they were.
My favorite quotations about heroes come from the works of this German playwright,Bertolt Brecht.
In Praise of Fighters,Brecht wrote: "Those who are weak don't fight.Those who are stronger might fight for an hour.Those who are stronger still might fight for many years.The strongest fight their whole life.They are the indispensable ones."