Defending Our Children: The Pitfalls and Rewards of the Hero’s Journey

By Mike Fairclough

I was the only serving headteacher or school principal, out of 43,500 in the United Kingdom (U.K.), to publicly question the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to children. However, I was not alone in my concerns.

Many of my headteacher colleagues privately told me they agreed with my stance, but said they would worry about their careers if they voiced their opinions — this despite every education professional having a legal duty, as well as a moral obligation, to safeguard children against harm.

This prompted me to explore ways to empower others to speak out about controversial and politically sensitive topics. This is particularly urgent now that the U.K. government is once again cracking down on what it regards as the spread of “misinformation” online.

Just as we witnessed throughout the pandemic, people are self-censoring out of fear of reprisals from others. Unfortunately, this can only end badly in the long run.

My search for a solution led me to the archetype of the hero and the mythological quest. Having incurred some rather brutal personal losses — including my career — I am unable to pretend that speaking out is easy.

This is why people self-censor. It is definitely safer to stay silent in the short term. But what are the long-term consequences of our silence? Could, for example, the horrors of Nazi Germany and the persecution of the Jews be repeated if people are silent en masse about antisemitism?

Of course, you know the chilling answer to that question. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”

As a society, we urgently require symbols and role models that inspire our empowerment. Archetypes that enable us to deal with change, to face the unknown, to take risks, and to become resilient — powerful examples that encourage us to have the confidence to speak our truth — particularly in the face of opposition and within climates of growing censorship.

Ancient mythology and the concept of the hero’s quest can provide us with a primordial story structure that has been used in numerous films and books and which everyone will recognize on a closer look: the image of the freedom fighter, the truth seeker and the courageous warrior.

Stop the federal cell tower takeover

Within ancient mythology, the hero, or central character, often begins the tale living in relatively settled or normal surroundings. They are then called to embark on a quest, which in most cases the character at first resists.

Change and transformation in the direction of adventure, and likely danger, are not welcomed. They say things along the lines of “Why choose me?” and “I’m not a hero.” Preferring to carry on their lives within the safety and certainty of what they already know, the reluctant hero is strongly resistant to the quest and to what it might bring.

Eventually, the call to adventure is answered with positive action and the first stage of their journey begins. Often, this is because the alternative — doing nothing — is worse than the potential perils of the quest.

Entering into unmapped territory and the unknown, the hero then embarks on their adventure. Here on in, they encounter various trials and challenges. Each one a test of the character’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual attributes.

Forced out of their comfort zone and honing new or latent skills as required, the hero moves toward their goal.

Self-doubt, feelings of despair, and making mistakes are typical aspects of the hero’s journey. So too are moments when the character realizes that they are stronger than they had previously realized. More willing to make sacrifices for others, to stand up to opponents, and to triumph over a range of adversities.

Toward the end of the story, the hero attains their goal. They also acquire and recognize new, often magical, inner gifts. Revelations that would have remained undiscovered had it not been for the quest and its hard challenges.

Finally, in most of these stories, the hero returns home. Wiser, stronger, and in full knowledge of their new powers. The cycle is then complete. The main character, who to start with was resistant to the challenge of the quest, has transformed into a hero.

As a lone voice within my profession on government COVID-19 policy, I gained a deeper awareness of my core values and beliefs. I feel I have become more resilient and know that I have done the right thing by defending the health of the nation’s children. The costs have been extremely high but worth it.

The prospect of your own free speech quest might feel insurmountable or even futile at first. But until you embark on it, you will never know. You might find yourself defending the underdog. Perhaps you will speak up against groupthink.

Your free speech quest might enter you into the global struggle for rationalism, freedom and the pursuit of inalienable rights. Or perhaps it will be the next public emergency and government overreach that will be your call to the quest.

The archetypes of the mythological hero and the heroic quest are potent antidotes to an age of creeping tyranny and offer powerful rebuttals to self-censorship and cultural disempowerment.

This is where we can find inspiration for our empowered voice and for standing up for what we believe in — a gift not only to ourselves but to our children and to the generations of humanity to follow.

Mike Fairclough is a nationally acclaimed educator in the U.K. He is credited with popularizing outdoor learning and character education within the British school system. He is the author of four books, which are dedicated to the empowerment of children and adults alike.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense.

Do you have a story you’d like to share with the CHD Community? Click here for details.