Recently, a heartwarming video depicting Oklahoma high school principal Kirk Moore being crowned prom king went viral. Just a few weeks ago, Moore confronted, charged and tackled a shooter at Pauls Valley High School, preventing the shooter from harming any students.

There’s no telling how many lives he saved. The students’ respect and gratitude as Moore bashfully accepted his crown was refreshing to see.

America needs more of this. In recent months, news cycles have been dominated by statistics and ominous headlines about the Iran war, instability abroad, record levels of distrust among Americans, inexplicable murders like that of Iryna Zarutska on a train in North Carolina, and so much more.

News commentators and Catholics have waxed eloquently about the plummeting marriage rates, the number of young women becoming increasingly liberal, and the polarisation of American political parties … the list goes on endlessly.

These concerns are valid, and faithful Catholics have an obligation to discern how they can address these challenges in their daily lives to positively impact the world around them. Yet it seems that many faithful Catholics today are tempted to become discouraged at the state of the world, and to consume excessive negative news content that increases this despair about the future.

I know this because I am often one of these Catholics, and I know many faithful Catholics working in politics, or who are simply close followers of national affairs, who are similarly tempted to discouragement.

Take the concerns about young men, for example. I’ve increasingly read and heard that young American men are struggling to launch in many ways – facing difficulties getting girlfriends, jobs, quitting pornography addictions or avoiding radicalisation online. There are many possible solutions to each of these crises, yet oftentimes it seems that the young men who struggle the most are the ones in desperate need of strong masculine role models. In other words, they need heroes.

Similarly, young women are becoming increasingly liberal and distrustful of marriage, motherhood and men in general. I’ve seen countless Instagram reels downplaying marriage, belittling men and promoting feminist mentalities that have ultimately made women miserable. Once again, there are many solutions and necessary steps to address these problems. But for many of these women, the problem often boils down to a need to encounter truly good, masculine men – whether a father figure or romantic interest. Ultimately, these women also need heroes.

On an even more general level, the divide between conservatives and liberals has grown increasingly stark in recent years. There is basically nothing that we can agree on – from the dignity of all life, especially in the womb, to the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, to the right of all individuals to practise their faith free from interference, and so much more. Those on the Left seem to have no respect for basic human dignity and freedoms. Yet surprisingly, even the most ardent liberals seem to respect acts of heroism – perhaps because they recognise the level of sacrifice and virtue required to truly be a ‘hero’, and they can’t deny their own amazement when an individual displays those qualities.

Principal Moore’s heroism is exactly the kind that unites Americans, and which we need more of.

Unlike the Hollywood heroes who wear capes or flex beautiful faces and muscular bodies, Principal Moore looks like an ordinary man in his 60s. Yet when Moore saw a threat to the students at his high school, he demonstrated heroism typically reserved for Hollywood films. Video footage shows Moore charging the shooter with zero hesitation and grappling with him to take the shooter’s gun. Moore took a bullet to the leg during this encounter, yet thanks to him, no students were harmed.

Videos of Moore’s heroism have gone viral on X/Twitter and Instagram. On Instagram, one video that has garnered 1.2 million likes features Moore surrounded by jubilant students cheering and singing ‘Hero’ while Moore is crowned prom king. One user commented: ‘They understand and appreciate that he literally was willing to die to protect them. He is going to be their hero for the rest of their lives.’

I hope Principal Moore is their hero for the rest of their lives, and that he inspires those students to similarly act fearlessly in whatever situations may demand such courage – whether thwarting a violent threat, standing up for someone being bullied or slandered, quitting addictions, working in politics or simply persevering despite the difficulties of life.

This is not to say that heroic feats or actions like Principal Moore’s will erase societal problems or ills.

Yet even the smallest acts of heroism can have ripple effects throughout Americans’ individual lives, offering hope, joy and fortitude to those who may need this encouragement to similarly produce something like miracles in their own daily lives.