Friday, January 16, 2009

The Better Angels

OK gang. We've all become real jaded (occupational hazard cannot be helped). We've spent weeks reading and writing about the absolute worst & vile humanity has to offer.

So let's take today and savor for a moment the best of humanity. A pilot who, knowing he can't make the runway, "lands" the plane on the Hudson nose up wheels down (kinda). Every boat on the Hudson there in scant minutes to start picking up what they thought would be horrific injuries and happily found otherwise. Stories from the survivors saying many of their fellows helped maintain calm, made sure it was women and children out on the wings first (egads how chauvanistic can you get). I mean, they look like they're standing in line at Starbucks on those wings. A very cold and soggy Starbucks. No real panic.

So we raise a glass to the passengers and crew of Flight 1549, showing Americans how they ought be behaving. Showing those Better Angels of Our Nature.

And be us cursed if we don't lift a double shot to the hero of that flight, making the landing of his life,



Chesley Sullenberger
Update: Fox just reported Mayor Bloomberg said Sullenberger
WALKED THE PLANE TWICE
to be sure everyone was off before he exited himself.
While the plane was sinking. The man has them made out of cold blue steel.

15 comments:

andre79 said...

Excellent news and hats off to a hero. His quick thinking saved a lot of lifes.

midnight rider said...

Here here!

Anonymous said...

What could have been a scene of horror turned into a thrilling rescue that has been a joy to watch. Raise a glass to the whole crowd out there on the river, from Capt. Sullenberger to the passengers and the ferry commuters who pulled them off the wings to safety, and the NYC police and fire rescue and everybody else who took part.

What a dramatic, wonderful reminder of how we can act when the chips are really down!

midnight rider said...

Here here! A shot and a beer for Sullenberger!

Brooke said...

What a HERO!!!

My glass is raised!

Jason Pappas said...

Trained by the USAF! We got more where he came from. Today is Sullenberger’s moment. Bravo.

Anonymous said...

Sullenberger! the definition of a real man.

christian soldier said...

Sullenberger from the ranks of our Best of the Best..
the passengers and crew helping each other-not pushing, shoving or panicking...
a true snap shot of what is good in America...
and I so glad they are all safe...

Citizen Warrior said...

Thank you for that, Midnight Rider!

Anonymous said...

Bravissimo! Cold blue steel, indeed!

Just Cause said...

No question, this guy is a hero. As a prospective pilot I can appreciate the skill (with a smidgen of luck) it takes to get a bird down safely on water, especially with no engines thus little or no hydraulic power - what a guy!

Slightly back on topic, imagine the same situation with a plane full of islamists? I'm sure you'd see the men on the wings ensuring they get out safely with the woman and children obediently forming an orderly line at the back! And then they would all file lawsuits claiming the infidel hardware had failed because it wasn't built facing Mecca. Worldwide riots would follow, effigees of the US Airways CEO would be burned in the streets and lefties one after the other would scamble for airtime offering apologies and forcing plane manufacturers to orientate their assembly lines to point to Mecca, non compliance would risk further radicalisation of even the most moderate of Muslim.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Kudos to the bystanders who came to help too. I'm willing to stand corrected and excuse my ignorance if not the case but some of the emergency workers seemed to have on uniforms with Hebrew writing on them - can someone enlighten me?

Ray said...

One helluva man, we know the Kennedy's wouldn't have walked the plane twice that's for sure . A real Hero who won't and wouldn't leave anyone behind///

Maybe he should become the NEW New York senator, they could sure use a hero there instead another lowlife Kennedy do nothing like Schumer or Shrillary.

Just Cause said...

If anyone is on Facebook, a group has been started celebrating his heroism - just search by Sullenberger and you'll see it. Over 16,000 fans already!

Anonymous said...

Yea. Any bets on when the media turns on the guy. His his grade school records and IQ test results have already "leaked". WTF.

midnight rider said...

HEY JEWEL! I just stopped by your site for the first time. We're within an hour of each other! How do you like this cold?

Nice site you have there.