I have often thought the same about our use of the word "courage". Used to be, courage was when you did something self-denying and heroic for the common good. Now, it is used to describe when you overcome something which was just your own issue, ie, nothing for the common good at stake, such as "one person's courageous fight against cancer". That is not using the word in the time honored way. This would be correct, "one person's courageous fight against City Hall" would be accurate.
As you say, this is more than semantics. It is about morality itself. The fact that we now use "sacrifice" and "courage" in utterly self-centered and self-serving ways says something about us.
Exactly. I am reminded of how Magic Johnson was touted as heroic and courageous after his HIV+ status was made public.