Nelson Mandela: What Made Him a Hero?

Nelson Mandela was a hero for US President Barack Obama and millions of people around the world. But what are heroes? Why do we need them? And will there be another Mandela, or is he the last of a breed? Delving into these questions means starting with the word itself. "Hero" is charged with mythology: it is rooted in the ancient Greek term for demi-gods like Achilles. In more modern times, the term came to describe mere mortals ...