Man in the Water Would you ever risk your life for strangers you don’t know? Would you save them over yourself, even when you know you wouldn’t survive? Well, that’s what one man on flight 90 did in the year 1982. Roger Rosenblatt wrote an article for Time Magazine explaining the actions this man took. Disasters can be strange, bring out the best in people, and show the connection between nature and man. This disaster was most definitely one of the strangest to occur. There were many details to this crash that made it so strange. One example was that the crash occurred at the site of a bridge. Not only did it occur at the site, but the plane also clipped the bridge. This wouldn’t be so unusual, other than the fact that the plane hit the bridge at the moment of high traffic. In the passage, Rosenblatt said, “hitting seven vehicles, killing four motorists and 74 passengers.” Another reason as to why this crash was strange, was it occurred in Washington, a place of form and regulation. Everything went as planned in this city, and this crash was not a part of the plan. …show more content…
In this story, the unidentified man known as, The Man in the Water, had the best brought out in him. Once the plane had crashed, he started helping others to the best of his ability. In the passage, it explained that every time a lifeline and floatation device was lowered to him he would pass it on to another passenger. This was a very heroic act, and it surprised and humbled many people. For example, Windsor, who was part of the helicopter team, explained how he felt about the hero’s actions. In the passage, Windsor said, “In a mass casualty you will find people like him, but I’ve never seen one with that commitment.” This just goes to show that he was very dedicated to helping people before helping
On September eleventh, two thousand one, the entire world was stunned when two Airline jets hit the world trade center killing thousands and injuring more. This was the largest terrorist attack the world has ever seen. This attack caused extreme terror and panic but it also caused something even more, it caused people to come together. No matter their race, religion or social standings people from all walks of life came together that day to help. In the documentary Boatlift, the film shows this phenomenon, and talks of and about people from every walk of life that came together to help their fellow human beings and Americans.
“We all have heard about ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations. They act courageously or responsibly, and their efforts are described as if they opted to act that way on the spur of the moment... I believe many people in those situations actually have made decisions years before.” (Chesley B. Sullenberger, Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters) Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III; Husband, Father, Captain and Hero. Sully Sullenberger is an author, safety advocate and a hero. Sully is known for the “Miracle on the Hudson” that saved many lives one day in January 2003 when he successfully landed a plane on the Hudson River.
At 9:03 United Airlines Flight 175 crashes in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the western façade of the Pentagon. While United Airlines Flight 93’ some believed it was destined for the White House, U.S. Capitol building, or other landmarks, crashes into a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. At the end of this horrific terrorist attack, approximately 2,977 died. Many families lost fathers, mothers, daughters, brothers.
They searched through the rubbish and raced in time to check the buildings before and after the buildings collapsed. There were clouds of smoke, dust, and debris flying through the streets blinding the bystanders. Hundreds of servicemen died that day, including military personnel in the Pentagon who were also hit by the hijackers. I had a cousin named Johnnie Doctor Jr. who was in the Navy. He was killed in the Pentagon.
Specifically, Hillenbrand exposes some clutch decisions made by Louis during the plane ride at the war of Nauru. As the Zeros shot down the breaks of the airplane, Louis strapped himself and the injured crewmen with a parachute cord to reduce the impacts of the harsh landing. That event sent a message to me that some actions made at key moments could save the person and the people around him or her. Furthermore, Hillenbrand conveys to the readers that even an average human being could make a drastic change to disastrous events. Consequently, the willingness to make a gusty choice exposes the person’s toughness and desire to survive through any
In the article it talks about how it was a extremely ordinary day for the main character and he had no indications that today would be his last day on earth. With that in mind, this man chose to be courageous not knowing the consequences of his actions. "Every time they lowered a lifeline and flotation ring to him, he passed it on to another of the passengers". When the water was to take this mans life, it was unbeknownst to him, but he still had the courage to pass the rope to save another. Courage is not a attitude that one might claim in just a day. It is a characteristic that is made, created, and molded as you use it. With unfathomable courage, this heroic man passed the rope one last time, knowing he would never lay a hand on it again. Imagine the character he would have had to possess in order to utilize his agency, without hesitation, by passing on his chance of life to someone he didn't even
The official story of 9/11 is a conspiracy theory in that the government claims 19 hijackers conspired together to hijack four planes and create terror in the world. Four American airplanes were hijacked; two were driven into the World Trade Centers and the third airplane into the Pentagon. The fourth airplane suspected target was the White House, but it was diverted by the brave men and women aboard that hijacked airplane, and crashed the airline jet before it could reach its target. It was like time stood still as America watched through television broadcast these unbelievable and horrifying events taking place. The reports told of the smell the jet fuel, burning flesh, and people jumping out windows to their death to escape the flames. When the two bravura structures tumbling down, rescuers, (police officers, firefighters, and ambulance drivers and techs) were caught in the mast and lost their lives doing their job trying to save lives.
As she was pulled out of the water by the two guards that witnessed her slip underneath the water's surface, I realized it was my turn. I aggressively unzipped my fanny pack where my CPR mask was stored and began checking vitals. She had a pulse but was not breathing. My heart immediately dropped. I wanted to perform the rescue by myself. I trusted the hours of training I had gone through, I knew would perform it right and to the best of my abilities. Even though I knew everyone was just as
The main element of the man in the water's behavior is selflessness because in a situation where his life was on the line, he thought of others before himself. Rosenblatt puts into words how indescribably meaningful this event was. He states that in this situation, this man's human nature rose to the occasion. In the article, Rosenblatt asked other officials involved and they said they were very thankful for what this man did for others. "Its something I thought I would never do" said one man. The author is astounded by the fact that this hero lost his own life after saving so many others. He describes this as being "admirable". Doing something along the lines of what this man did would take great effort, strength, stamina, selflessness, charity, and courage. The list goes on and on. The willingness to save another's life instead of his own propel's this man into the sky. He must have had a heart of
Imagine a group of friends or children were responsible for a man's life who desperately sought for help, but the children mocked or even ignored him instead. This example was the same concept used to develop the plot for the story "The Man in the Well" by Ira Sher. An interesting theme of this story is that groups of people tend to act based on their groups impulse and not their own. Though the negative effect of peer pressure might be the cause of why groups, cliques, and gangs do what they do, their behavior alone tends to be much different than when they are alone. It's as if each character themselves goes through a sudden and temporary transformation. However, it's through important concepts of personality, action, and decisions that help
In the article, “The Man in the Water” the author, Roger Rosenblatt, shows humans potential selflessness. After a plane crashes into the ocean, one man, the hero of the story, saves the lives of many before saving himself. As the rescuers were handing down the floaties to bring people to safety, every time one was given to this man he risked his life and handed it to someone else. Every time that he decides to save someone else he is one step closer to dying, and he knows that too, but instead he helps those in need around him. Although in the end he did not survive, what he did had effects on those watching. It showed people that any person could be a hero. The man in the water was a man with courage, and no fear, he sacrificed his life for the life of many who may not have survived if it wasn't for him or what he had done. While nature was against him and the people he fought against it to let those people live the rest of their life. In the article, the author, Roger Rosenblatt demonstrates the potential heroism and
After reading the first chapter of Mark Ferguson’s short story, “A Drowning” I already knew that I would not like the story. It is an example of a lifeguard’s nightmare, finding a drowning victim without a way to save them. The fact that the narrator is painfully reliving the story makes me tense, especially when thinking about dangerous situations that could happen while I am working as a lifeguard and the effects it could have on me. To conclude, the story made me more and more uncomfortable each time the the victim was put in further danger and especially uncomfortable when he never came back up which made the story difficult for me to read.
The irony in the need for survival by a suicidal diver in Robert Hayden’s “the diver”.
There were several conspiracies about the planes that attacked the Twin Towers. One of the planes left Boston's Logan Airport at 7:59 a.m. The hijackers zoomed the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. The other plane left Logan Airport at 8:14 a.m. The hijackers flew the plane into the South Tower of the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m. America had stated that 10 planes were suppose to be hijacked on that day. “Providing new details on the planning of the plot, the commission staff said that al-Qaida planner Khalid Shaihk Mohammed initially proposed a Sept. 11 attack involving 10 planes that would be used to attack CIA and FBI headquarters, unidentified nuclear plants and tall buildings in California and Washington state,” (Brunker). Both planes that flew into the Twin Towers were Boeing 767. The plane was 159 feet long. Another thing that seemed odd was that 9,700 gallons when it should usually have nothing less than 14,000 gallons. The engine was found on Murray Street when it should have been right around the Tower. Things were said about the plane being like a missile since the engine was dropped so far from the Towers. According to German TV footage, the planes front nozzle was caught on fire before going through the building. Conspiracy theories state that there were three things attached to the plan that were likely to explode. After the plane went into the building the plan some how exploded making it look like a missile went into the building or some how it was some sort of bomb. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, drew out the plane and the way the plane was flown into the Towers and it did not seem right. The plane propellers of the Boeing 757 were smaller than the hole it actuall...
Yet, how does a person show concern for someone they just met or have only known for a little while? A perfect example of compassion in “The Open Boat” is found in chapter three: “It would be difficult to describe the subtle brotherhood of men that was here established on the seas. No one said that it was so. No one mentioned it.” (Crane, 205). The brotherhood Crane mentions consist of a cook, oiler (aka Billie), the captain of the Commodore, and a reporter in a ten foot boat. In his news article Crane wrote on the actual sinking of the Commodore, he said Billie asked the captain at the last second for permission to join them in the boat (Crane: fact). The ten foot dinghy or any kind of vessel on the ocean can only contain a specific amount of weight. Right there the oiler shows some concern for the others. The captain “feels that it is his duty to guide the men to safety” (Open Boat). Yes, he lost his ship and indubitably the rest of his crew. Nevertheless, he still is concern for all of them in the boat. The captain again expresses concern for Billie and the Reporter wishing for a sail in order for them to have “a chance to rest” (Crane, 205) from rowing. Wherever compassion is present readers should easily locate hope. Hope is the next clue to the mysterious