We Don't Need Another Hero: We Need Strength from Within Ourselves; We Don't Need Validation

The fifth installment of the "Mad Max" saga, "Furiosa," roared into theaters this Memorial Day weekend. Die-hard fans cheered as the post-apocalyptic world returned to the big screen. This time, though, it felt different. It coincided with the first anniversary of Tina Turner's passing - to the day.

Turner's anthem, "We Don’t Need Another Hero," from the definitive 1985 "Mad Max" film "Beyond Thunderdome," still holds sway over the franchise, even if it isn’t heard in the sequels. Her song reminds us of strength, resilience, and quiet courage. Tina sang about a world without larger-than-life saviors. Her message was clear: true strength lies within all of us. And, it is not what we achieve but who we are and what we represent.

This Memorial Day, we remembered not just fallen soldiers but also the overlooked ones. People like Dr. Harriet Rice, a black woman from Newport, Rhode Island, who served in World War I. Dr. Rice graduated near the top of her class from Rogers High School in Newport and was the first black woman to graduate from Wellesley College. She then earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan. Despite her qualifications, discrimination prevented her from practicing medicine in America.

Undeterred, Dr. Rice turned to social work and women’s suffrage to fulfill her greater purpose of helping others, even when others would not help her.. When World War I started, she volunteered with the American Red Cross to serve as a doctor for American troops. Turned away due to her skin color, she reached out to France, which accepted her to treat the wounded and dying French troops. Her selflessness earned her the French Medal of Gratitude, even though her own country didn't recognize her contributions. Dr. Rice lived until the age of 92 and was buried in Newport's Common Burial Ground, where our HR team recently spent a morning doing community service.

Dr. Rice’s character and love for others mattered more than recognition. She didn’t seek glory. Her courage came from helping others. She didn’t need to be a hero in the traditional sense. Her actions, heart, and life's greater purpose spoke for her.

On a different frontline, Nathan Hale, the young man who accepted General George Washington’s dangerous mission to spy against the British in New York, showed quiet courage. Mind you, he was the only one to raise his hand to accept this mission. Hale was just 21 years old, a recent Yale graduate, and teaching in New London, Connecticut, when he took on the mission. His spy mission could be objectively classified as a disaster since Manhattan fell to the British within a week of his arrival, and Hale was uncovered as a spy soon thereafter. Facing a quick execution, Hale’s last words were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” His legacy has far outlived his executioners, providing comfort and hope to many servicemen who followed. Hale’s selfless act showed that courage doesn’t always roar; it endures trials with dignity, knowing honor trumps even the grandest achievements and failures.

Tina Turner’s song and these stories remind us of the essence of character. In "Mad Max," survival depends on brute strength and heroic deeds, but everyday acts of courage build a better future in film, war, and business.

As I watched "Furiosa," I felt Tina’s presence. Her voice told us that heroes aren’t always those who save the day. Sometimes, they face adversity with quiet determination. This Memorial Day, we celebrated not just achievements but the spirit of Dr. Harriet Rice and Nathan Hale. They didn’t seek to be heroes. They chose to be good.

In the end, character matters more than grand achievements, whether in film, war, or business. It’s the everyday acts of bravery, kindness, and resilience that shape our world. We don’t need another hero. We need more people who live with integrity and courage, just like Tina sang. It just might be you.