Courage. It’s a word we learn from a young age. The first time I heard the word courage, I was watching "The Wizard of Oz." In the movie, there is a character called the Cowardly Lion, who is supposed to be “king of the jungle,” but instead is afraid of everything in his wake. All he wanted was a little courage. Ever since then, I knew that being brave was a noble trait.
Courage has been thrown around a lot in the news and on social media following Caitlyn Jenner's controversial win of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs. Many people believed Caitlyn Jenner's courage was not ample enough to win the coveted award, or that she wasn't a fit contender compared to amputee veteran Noah Galloway, who starred on the twentieth season of Dancing with the Stars, or 19 year old basketball star, Lauren Hill, who passed away in April after a battle with brain cancer, who many thought would be better suited to win the prestigious award.
ESPY co-producer Maura Mandt issued a statement to Sports Illustrated explaining that Caitlyn was given the award because she is “has done something that transcends sport” and her transition in the public eye “displayed enormous courage and self-acceptance.”
For those disputing the definition of courage, I have consulted a dictionary. According to Merriam Webster, it is the "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty" and a synonym to "bravery."
Members of the Armed Forces are most definitely courageous men and women. Since the world was created, soldiers were revered for their bravery. They put their lives on the line to make sure that their families, friends and country are safe. Joining the armed forces means that you are risking your life to protect others, which is noble and brave. Going into combat knowing you may not come back alive is also noble and brave. Don't get me wrong, those who choose to put their lives on the line are brave, without a doubt.
Lauren Hill's battle with cancer did not keep her off the basketball court. She played the game she was passionate about up until her death, despite her doctor's request. Instead of letting a life-threatening disease consume her, she tried to keep her life as normal as possible. Her courage to keep going is absolutely undisputed.
All of the people I've mentioned thus far have all done things that are courageous, but also could be deemed stupid. To some, it's dumb to risk your life for people you do not know. To others, disobeying your doctors' orders is a death sentence in itself. Many people think that it was dumb for the world's greatest athlete to change her identity in attempts to still be seen as an American hero.
Bravery is so much more than that. For some, it's getting out of bed when the world is against them. I used to pretend to be sick to get my mother to pick me up from school so that I could be safe in my own home. As I got older, I knew I had to face the day head on, despite the demons that haunted me.
Anyone who has ever been bullied understands the anxiety and the pains in your stomach you get in the morning knowing that you have to get up and go to school to see the people who torment you. Getting up, dressed and ready for school every morning shows that you are brave, courageous, and strong. Being who you are when others dislike it is courageous. People die trying to be who they truly are, whether it's for their sexuality, gender, race, etc. Courage is knowing that others are against you but you still have the strength to go on and live another day.
Remember the Cowardly Lion? He had courage in him all along, just like you and me. He didn’t need the wizard’s help; he just needed to have a little faith in himself. Caitlyn was able to show us that courage extends beyond traditional feats of bravery by showing people everywhere that it is OK to be who you are and embrace it as long as you have a little bit of faith in yourself.
