OK. Time has passed- not enough, but there’s never enough time. Two Saturdays ago, a crazed person carrying a gun shot twenty people in Tucson. He killed six and maimed many others, injuring a total of 14 more (than death). This is NOT about them or the killer.
It’s about the folks who responded to the silent call. Bill Badger, Joe Zamudio, Roger Sulzgeber, Patricia Maisch, and Daniel Hernandez. Daniel, with his (seemingly) calm demeanor and actions saved the life- and well-being of Congressman Gabby Giffords. Patricia grabbed the ammunition clip, stopping the killer from doing more damage. Bill, Joe, and Roger tackled the killer to the ground, holding him there until the police could take over.
A month earlier on the opposite coast, Bill Hussfelt and Ginger Littleton heard the call. In a school board meeting, a crazed individual planned to terminate (with extreme prejudice) the school board in Panama City. Ginger was released from the room- and returned, at great personal risk, to attack the guman with her pocketbook! Bill tried to calm the gunman down and offered himself in lieu of the others.
A woman falls in her home on Saturday morning. She’s 84; her son left to do some errands and left her alone to cook a special Sunday dinner for her family. Her hip broken, she calls- and calls- and calls- and calls- for help. But, it’s late Fall, the windows and doors are sealed shut and no one hears her. Walking down the street a father and son meander, kicking acorns and walking home. The father barely hears the call. They stop. They search for the sound. The door is locked and they can’t get in. The father uses all his strength to break down the door. The oven is turned off, a 911 call, a trip to the hospital. Her son joins her in the hospital. She recovers.
They are nobodies, they are everyones, but the real fact is these people heard a call many others heard. The difference is they answered. They reacted. They saved lives- who knows how many. Age had no effect- ranging from 20 to 74. Sex had no bearing. In my religion, their response was “Hineni”- here I am.
One could recount many other stories- all true. But the fact is- there are not enough of them. How do you teach your children such values? Not by speeches. By the little things you do. Start now.
Roy,
What a wonderful and touching tribute to the “unsung heroes” from recent tragedies. These are the men and women you don’t hear about on TV, or the radio, or the newspaper…the media tends to focus on what is WRONG in the world. I rarely tune in to the TV news, because it’s only a “doom and gloom” report. And then, every once in a while, I see or hear reports of the GOOD in the world, and it makes me smile. I like knowing that there IS good in the world, that there ARE people out there that make a difference…in my lifetime as well as my family’s.
And while I agree it is up to each of us to make a difference in the world — though our thoughts, words, and actions, I think it’s equally important that the public demand to HEAR about the good things in the world. One positive, uplifting story is all it takes. It just needs to be consistent.
Thank you for bringing a smile to my face today.
Stacy
Stacy Ryan Stacy: Thanks so much for your kind words. I agree- and always tried to show my kids (and staff) how to best serve the world. Enjoy your smile! RAAckerman