In what way is Giorgio Perlasca an “Authentic Italian Hero?” What does “Authentic Hero” mean to me?
Giorgio Perlasca once served for the Mussolini and the Italian Army in the thirties. After his time in the army, he returned home opposed to the fascist government Mussolini was running. In 1940, Perlasca, now working for a meat importing business, was sent to Hungary to do business for the Italian Army. This is where his life took a dramatic turn (1).
In September of 1943, Italy signed an armistice with Germany, which ordered all Italians to return home. Giorgio Perlasca refused to do this since he was against the Nazi’s and his countries fascists views. From here on out, Giorgio unknowingly began one of the greatest conquests during World War II. Time and time again, he put his life in risk to save the Jews. At one point , he began using the Spanish Embassy to house the Jews he was saving. He was able to do this by an elaborate scheme he created when he heard the embassy was going to be moved. Essentially, Giorgio Perlasca was an “Authentic Hero” by his willingness to stand up and do what was necessary no matter what the situation was. He openly opposed his own country and the Nazi’s while risking his life for people he did not know.
To me, an “Authentic Hero” could be wide variety of people depending on the situation. All that one needs to do to be an Authentic Hero is the right thing. One of the first situations that came to me was the story I saw on the news regarding a woman falling onto railroad tracks in a subway. The woman had been feeling lightheaded and simple fainted onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train. A man jumped down in front of the train and tried to lift the woman up onto the platform. He was unsuccessful, so he pulled the woman in between the 1st and 2nd tracks hoping the trains would pass over her. Thankfully, they did, but what made this guy even more of an Authentic Hero was the fact he simply walked away after he rescued the woman. Three days later, after the woman got out of the hospital, she talked to local news reporters and asked the man to come forward, which he did a couple days later. The fact that this man risked his own life for someone he never knew and simply walked off without asking for any attention or compensation is the prime example of an Authentic Hero.
On another level, I would consider my parents, grandparents, aunt, and cousin all Authentic Heroes. For six years they have taken care of Hunter, my cousin’s son, who has cerebal palsy. His mother will see him once or twice a week, but will rarely keep him overnight. This isn’t a problem though because my whole family is more than willing to help out. However, since he is six, there is a problem with being able to move him around. Only my cousin and aunt can pick him up, but often my grandparents will overexert themselves trying to take care of him when everyone else is working. While it has been hard and stressful for everyone, we never wish that it would have turned out differently. Hunter has made our family closer and forced us all to become more responsible and thankful.
All in all an Authentic Hero must be willing to make sacrifices without wanting anything in return. Their actions speak for themselves, and they do not wish to make the front headlines of the paper. It is an act of courage, will, and unselfishness. That is what makes an “Authentic Hero” to me.
1. http://www.answers.com/topic/giorgio-perlasca
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