Status Updates From Heroes Every Child Should Know

Father Damien- He gave himself to God. He then gave himself to a colony of lepers, serving them with all his heart. Because of this, he contracted leprosy. He continued to serve, as a leper himself, and died.
Another humble, beautiful man. I need to know more. 💗

Abraham Lincoln- About the early years of Lincoln, before he got into politics. I learned things I'd never heard of, and learned more about what I did.
A better man than any of the medieval knights this book thought so much of. 💛
A good, humble, beautiful, righteous man... I wish I could have known him.

Robert E. Lee- About him, up until 1860.
A series of quotes from his letters, and from one of his sons.
He was a man who loved his wife and children deeply. He loved his country and his state. He served both in every way he could, until forced to choose just one. This he did.

I'm almost out of characters, but have so many thoughts about Mr. L...
He was a good man, a very good man. I want to learn more about him. ❤️

Robert E. Lee's children called him 'Baba', and their mother 'Mim'.

Robert E. Lee's such a beautiful husband and father... I've always heard he was a good man with faults, but I've never heard it said why he was good, or in what ways. It's inspiring and beautiful the love he has for them and acts on, playing, comforting, or pushing for them to be better.

George Washington- A good man.
This biography was mostly of Washington's life after he resigned the presidency. I learned things!

Robert Bruce- Good to know the history.
A tireless freedom fighter, who learned he was successful before his death. He died young(ish), though, and left other things he longed for undone.
Not perfect, and not particularly phenomenal outside of his war strategies and tenacity. At first I wasn't inclined to think him a hero. I'm still not sure, but he did fight for the freedom of his people from England.

To excommunicate wasn't just to exclude someone from the good promises of Christianity, but authorized anyone to kill the excommunicated, who was no longer under the protection of God as sacred life.

William Tell- A brave man, who didn't err from what he believed was right even under threat of death. A loving husband and father. A hero indeed.

Rutli Band

Revolt- Switzerland fought against the German yoke, and became free and independent in 1308.

William Tell offered kingship. He declined.

Chamois- wild goat

Sabots- wooden shoes

Alack = Alas

When the emperor realized his people were dissatisfied with this treatment, Swiss and non, he built castles and fortresses all over his country. He filled them with soldiers, and placed governors to mind them. This governor had absolute power in their own swath of land, only under the emperor.

1300s
Switzerland
Albert, Duke of Austria, recent Emperor of Germany was angered by the Swiss who voted for Count Adolph of Nassau for the latter position instead of himself. In retribution, one of his first official acts was to pronounce the Swiss slaves instead of subjects, rewrite their ancient laws, and ban their customs.

King/St. Louis- If I was a soldier, I would've wanted him for my general. He truly cared about them.

He was a great king. He was beautifully humble and good to those none cared about, serving his subjects in ways that'd make other royalty gag.

His one failing would be starting a crusade. He could have done so much good, if he'd shared the gospel with the Muslims, instead of trying to steal their home. So sad.

Richard the Lion-Hearted- A piece of history. Not particularly admirable, in any sense. But, not vile or as selfish as others. A man.
A fairly decent king, aside from abandoning his lands to go conquer for ever and anon, even after being told how his brother was misusing his temporary power. I feel if he'd been in England he might have been a decent king.

Hunting-Mass: 'When a noble will go forth hunting, the service which they call the mass is shortened to the utmost, and the priest that can say it more speedily than his brethren is esteemed.'

Hunting-Masses were also utilized by some before beginning or entering a battle.

Fenchmen- Cross-bow
Enlgishmen- Long-bow

Greek Fire- A composition of asphalt, nitre, and sulphur, which is said to burn so well it can remain aflame under water.

'...he thought that the more a man has of a good thing, the better it is for him. (So indeed many believe, and of other things besides medicine, but wholly without reason).

King Alfred- A good king, who loved his people and God. I have a historial fiction about him, 'Among the Great' by Amy Ullrich. I need to pull it out, now!

The Cid- Another man who I fail to see as admirable, let alone a hero. He was little better than a pirate and marauder, perhaps worse, for he seemed to believe he was good.
The story about what they traditionally did with his dead body was interesting...

Robin Hood- So unlike the stories I've heard. I've always seen him as a villain, certainly not a good man.
Yea, he stole. But he gave to the deserving rich and poor alike. He stole from thieves masquerading as God's servants.
As this story tells it, I believe he was a flawed good man. A man who did his best to be a hero, to serve any in need, but went about it not the best way, truly believing it was.

I see why they call Robin Hood a hero, though I don't agree with how he was able to be. <3

What do you think makes a hero?

Roland- Fool. Fearless, mule-headed, misguided, deceived fool...
Why are you a hero? You didn't listen to counsel. You bragged something any could know was ridiculous. So many died because of your mistakes...

Also. You sounded as if you took killing so lightly. As if every person you killed was a bug, not a soul about to spend eternity in Hell. Did it not grieve you? Even a bit?

Siegfried- He helped a friend deceive a woman into marriage. The consequences of this eventually cost him his life.
Again, I don’t see why I should like or think the fellow a hero. Could he run fast? Yes. Could he throw a spear? Sure. Could he hunt extraordinary amounts? Useful enough... though it was for sport.

But what of his heart? Like many of these 'heroes', the motives seem to be little more than himself.

Sir Galahad- He was given honors as the best knight, but I fail to see anything admirable about him.