Remember that whole "hero of the '90s" phenomenon? We called anyone a hero who suffered for some reason. Kid in the wheelchair? Hero. Retarded guy working at McDonald's? Hero. Victim of a rapist? Hero.
This willful perversion of the notion of heroism then extended to other words that traditionally indicated martial valor, like "brave". "Brave" now means any time someone takes a position despite opposition, so long as society has decided that it agrees with the decision. You testify before Congress to support some silly push for free contraception (when it's already inexpensive and optional) and they call you "brave". You sit in a park in New York for a month getting filthy and smelly because you're upset you didn't get rich and they call you "brave". You speak out to defend your poor judgment in leaving nude photos of yourself in "the Cloud" despite the fact that as a celebrity you know hackers are going to steal them at the first opportunity, and they call you "brave".
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
