In the past few days, two civilian heroes emerged in the United States, one involved in a shooting incident in Idaho who defended against the attacker with a gun, and the other a female basketball star who stood up for women’s sports rights. How do heroes in the U.S. differ from heroes under the Communist rule?
In Idaho, a hero has been making headlines recently. On August 1st, a major shooting incident occurred at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, where a 24-year-old gunman Chad Williams opened fire with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle at the drive-through and inside the store. The attack resulted in the deaths of 2 customers and 1 staff member, with the gunman himself and 7 others injured, totaling 4 fatalities.
When the shooter emerged from the drive-through firing shots, causing panic among the crowd, civilian Jordan Salinas immediately drew his handgun and counterattacked the suspect.
Salinas’ actions forced the gunman to shift his focus and retreat to an empty parking lot, disrupting his attack pattern and allowing numerous customers and staff inside the store valuable time to escape and take cover.
A video of him shooting the suspect, captured by a passing driver who stopped at a stop sign, went viral online. Subsequently, people unearthed his training videos posted on social media two years ago, where he emphasized the importance of training like one’s life depends on it, because one day it might.
He trained with a Belgium-made FN Five-Seven pistol fitted with a silencer, known for its high cost and strong penetrating power. Despite having no military background, he underwent firearms training to protect his disabled brother and out of a deep sense of concern for indiscriminate shootings. Ever since experiencing a shooting incident at a shopping center in Boise five years ago, he persistently trained himself and ultimately acted effectively in a critical moment. His movements in the video were precise, resembling his training actions, akin to a Hollywood movie gunfight, while the suspect ended up shooting himself nearby.
Many viewed this incident as a victory for the Second Amendment. Supporters of gun rights in the U.S. argue that having guns in the hands of good people can prevent evil acts.
Americans do not make meaningless sacrifices; their acts of valor are often based on professionalism, built upon long-term training to establish good qualities that have become muscle memory. The saying “skill begets courage” holds true – having enthusiasm, courage, and capability are essential attributes.
Recently, a video circulated online showing a 16-year-old lifeguard in California rescuing a 10-year-old child from intimidating waves. Apart from his bravery, people also noted his high-level professional rescue skills and robust psychological resilience.
Heroes do not necessarily need to carry guns. In the U.S., a non-armed hero emerged recently – Sophie Cunningham, a female basketball star, who sparked controversy that reached a boiling point over the weekend.
Cunningham, in a recent interview with ESPN, expressed her support for “protecting women’s sports,” believing that female athletes should not compete against biological males. This stance triggered intense debates between supporters and opponents, leading to protests in cities where Cunningham’s team played.
During a recent away game of Cunningham’s team, the Indiana Fever, against the Minnesota Lynx, supporters of Cunningham and advocates for transgender rights gathered outside the venue, each holding up banners and shouting slogans. The Lynx’s head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a custom shirt with the slogan “transgender children belong here” and engaged in a direct dialogue with Cunningham at the center court. The Lynx players wore T-shirts with the message “transgender children have equal rights.” Some of the Minnesota fans booed Cunningham whenever she entered the game or touched the ball.
Apart from Minnesota, Cunningham’s team faced similar protests and boos during their consecutive away games against the Seattle Storm and Portland Fire. These cities are known for their strong leftist progressive influence.
Despite the challenges, Cunningham stood her ground and refused to back down. Supporters faced harassment and verbal abuse from the opposing side at the venues. Reportedly, one activist was attacked.
However, the data showed support for Cunningham: 17,000 fans flocked to the arena, and her signature shoes sold out within 48 hours after her stance.
High school volleyball player Payton McNabb commented that maintaining one’s stance under such immense pressure in the peak of one’s career is no easy feat. Cunningham persevered because she hopes that the next generation of girls will have the same opportunities as she does.
Comparing heroes in the U.S. with those in China reveals fundamental differences. While there have been numerous heroes under Communist rule, they are fundamentally distinct from American heroes. The former are often byproducts of political needs as identified and elevated by various levels of the Communist Party.
One category of heroes in China is those loyal to the Communist Party, exemplified by Lei Feng. When people are urged to “learn from Lei Feng,” it is primarily about emulating his loyalty to the Party, rather than his actions. His mentor Mao Zedong’s saying was “learn from Comrade Lei Feng,” without specifying what to learn, as it was delicate. Compare this with the messages from other mentors: Zhu De’s says, “Learn from Lei Feng, be a good fighter for Chairman Mao.” Lin Biao’s words about following Mao’s instructions and being a good soldier are well-known, although most may not remember that they were dedicated to Lei Feng. Zhou Enlai’s message emphasizes “hating class distinctions clearly, consistency in revolutionary spirit, communist style of selflessness, and proletarian fighting spirit.”
None of these indicate learning to do “good deeds.” Not to mention, this was during a time when cameras were extremely expensive and scarce, and yet an ordinary soldier like Lei Feng managed to leave over 300 photos.
Recently, Xi Jinping praised Jiao Yulu, another example of this category. On July 1st, the magazine “Seeking Truth” published Xi Jinping’s speech from 11 years ago at a training class for county party secretaries, where Jiao Yulu was held up as a model for county party secretaries to learn from. Jiao Yulu was an exemplar of Mao Zedong’s era, appointed as the county party secretary of Lankao in December 1962 and passed away from liver cancer in May 1964. Xi Jinping stressed everyone to learn from Jiao Yulu’s boundless loyalty to the Party. When Jiao Yulu went to Lankao, his main task was to implement the directives of the Eighth Central Committee Plenum, focusing on class and ideological struggles. Jiao Yulu’s deeds were all about intense collective battles, negating the previous principles of “three freedoms and one guarantee.”
When Jiao Yulu passed away, poverty in Lankao remained unchanged. However, in 1980, with the dissolution of people’s communes and the distribution of land to households, the issue of food security was resolved within a year without any need for heroes.
Another category comprises those who “save” national or collective assets, often resulting in pointless sacrifices. Examples include Xiang Xueling, who tried to extinguish a fire triggered by alcohol in a factory without any professional knowledge or means, resulting in severe burns leading to infection that took her life.
Shanghai-educated youth Jin Xunhua drowned while trying to save two wooden power poles from a flash flood. “Heroic Youth” Lai Ning, at the young age of 15, with no firefighting training or knowledge, repeatedly rushed into a fire without equipment and lost his life.
These individuals, who should have been evacuated as a priority when the fire broke out, cannot be blamed. Their education taught them that national assets take precedence over individual lives.
In contrast, most American civilian heroes are rescuers who prioritize life above all else. When it comes to choosing between life and property, life takes precedence.
American heroes are people’s heroes; Chinese heroes are Communist heroes, serving the interests of the Communist Party, with many becoming tragic figures exploited by the Party for its purposes.
In the movie “Heroic Sons and Daughters,” one of the prototypes, Wang Cheng who said “Shoot at me,” went into a coma after being shelled and captured. Upon repatriation after the ceasefire, due to being a former prisoner of war, and along with all other captured volunteers, he underwent scrutiny. Wang Cheng, who was praised by Xi Jinping, disappeared from public view for nearly 60 years upon his return to his hometown following the POW experience.
The vast majority of heroes under the Communist rule are celebrated posthumously, used by the Party as symbols.