During the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, passengers on United Flight 93 fought off the hijackers who had taken over the plane and stopped the terrorists from striking their intended target. The passengers on the plane, which was the last of the four planes hijacked by the terrorists, had heard of the events at the World Trade Centre and Pentagon and they decided to foil the terrorist’s plan, not minding if the plane crashed. One passenger, Todd Beamer, told a telephone operator of their plan and asked the operator to pray with him. The operator said he heard Beamer say, “Are you ready?” and later, “OK, let’s roll.” The plane eventually crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Since the plane was headed toward the Washington, D.C. area, the passengers apparently thought the hijackers were headed for the White House and could not bear the humiliation of the desecration of the symbol of their government. The phrase “Let’s roll” became a U.S. rallying cry in the war on terrorism.
Kimberly Dear was learning skydiving. On her first ever dive, things went wrong. The plane’s engine failed and the plane was falling rapidly. Kimberly’s instructor, Robert Cook took charge of the situation. He asked Kimberly to sit on his lap; hooked her harness to his and clung to her in order to bear the impact of the fall. He positioned his body to be under hers. When the aircraft hit the ground, Robert’s body absorbed the impact reducing the effect on Kimberly. Robert lost his life but Kimberly survived. He gave up his life to save a stranger.
At 54 years, Shirley Dygert decided to learn skydiving and on her first try things went wrong. When it was time for her instructor, to whom she was harnessed, to open their parachute, it opened only partially. The backup parachute got tangled with the first and they started falling. Dave Hartsock, Shirley’s instructor positioned himself to be under her and when they hit the ground, he bore most of the impact. Dave’s backbone broke and he was paralysed from the neck down while Shirley sustained injuries from which she fully recovered.
On September 19, 2009, a child molester who was running way after assaulting a young girl was stopped by Cameron Aulner. Cameron, a 22-year-old confined to a wheelchair held the fleeing man until the police arrived.
Colton Reeb was attacked by a cougar while on a trip with his family. Colton’s screams caught the attention of Marc Patterson who rushed to his aid and fought off the marauding predator. Colton recovered from the wounds he sustained from the attack.
On a fateful day in January, 2007, Cameron Hollopeter, while standing in a train station, fell down on a track between two rails. Around that time, a train was approaching and Cameron was unable to stand up but luckily Wesley Autrey was around. Seeing that Cameron helpless, Wesley jumped on him and covered him with his body, pushing him down into the gap between the rails. Though the train went over them, Cameron suffered only minor bruises while Wesley didn’t sustain any injury.
In 2010, a gunman attacked Deer Creek Middle School shooting indiscriminately into the crowd of students. Two students were hit. David Benke, a math teacher, heard the shots and decided to do something. He approached the gunman and wrestled him to the ground, where he was assisted by two other members of staff who helped him to dispossess the gunman of his gun.
What can I say about these stories? That the world would be a better place if more people would think not only about themselves but also of others. I am not implying that people die literally for others. But I am asking that we die to our comfort if there’s need. I am asking that we go the extra mile for our neighbour without thinking about what’s in it for us. I am saying that altruism should be our attitude. I am saying we should carry each other’s burden. I am saying we should not be blinded to the needs/welfare/wellbeing of others by our own interests. I am challenging myself to be as humane as I can be. I am telling myself to be willing to inconvenience myself for the good of others.
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