Real Men

[Mr Greene]

I don't think obligation negates heroism one bit. A firefighter can still turn around and not do his job out of fear. I firefighter still makes a choice to enter a burning building, from the moment he or she signs up. They aren't particularly obligated, and they definitely don't lose their hero status because they might be obligated. A good firefighter is one of the most heroic people on the planet. Put on those clothes and go for a walk in the park and tell me you'd still run into a burning building wearing them.

I'm not saying you can't have a heroic job. I disagree Shell, only in that "doing what you signed up to do" isn't a qualification for heroism. I signed up to be in the military. That doesn't make me heroic, because it BECOMES my status quo when it because my job to do heroic things. Where I think your statement fails is in the fact that they are particularly obligated by signing up for the job. They can still be heroes. I know some cops, firefighters and military. I consider some of them greatly heroic people, but not because they do their job. I consider them heroic for other characteristics like selflessness and honest/trustworthiness, being able to make the hard decision. Others I consider good firefighters, cops and grunts because they do their job well, but not particularly in a heroic fashion.

For Mr. Greene. You answered your own question. "Failure to be seen to be your kids hero is to fail at being a parent. Failure to be a role model" Being a role model is different than being a hero. They are different. In common vernacular we can use them interchangeably, because someone who is a hero is usually considered a good role model. Not all role models are generally heroic, especially when the job of role model is forced by biological and societal dictums. There are many good and bad role model parents. The good ones can be heroes, I just don't think they necessarily have to.

A parent is just 'any' role model, they are the first and therefore the benchmark by which all other role models will be judged.
This means that they are either hero or monster, the choice is that stark. You only have to look at the thankfully fictional character in the wholly fable to see that. 
Choosing to be a parent is to choose to take on the role, society does not force anything, indeed society has developed a range of birth control methods precisely to provide choice.