Written on 4/17/2013
By Jennifer R. Gilliland
Like many of you out there, I was
glued to the television on April 15, 2013, watching the footage and news feeds
about the bombing of the Boston Marathon. If you have young children, like I
do, you were probably trying your hardest to keep them from seeing too much of
the carnage on the TV screen. But kids are smart, sometimes smarter than we
give them credit for. Sometimes honesty is best, but how honest should you be?
What positive lesson can be gained from any of this?
Then I noticed the footage of the
bombing showed the people who rushed in to help. The initial blast knocked some
people to their knees, but they rose up and rushed in to help. The horror of
the event had a silver lining. The preparedness of the staff of the event, the
fact it was at the finish line, the well trained emergency personnel – all
these things together took a terrible event and kept it from becoming
a catastrophe.
But the stories that have come out
are also phenomenal. Like the story of the man and his son who were completing
their 31st Boston Marathon. Did I mention he is 72 and his son is
wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy? Dick Hoyt has completed more than 1,000
different marathons, duathalons, and triathlons pushing his son, Richard age
51, in a specially engineered wheelchair.
Dick ran his first race with
Richard in 1977 when his son wanted to complete a five mile race in honor of a
paralyzed athlete. When the race was complete – and they came in next to last –
his son told him when they were running, he didn’t feel handicapped. They have
been competing ever since. Their story is fascinating and empowering and you
can find out more at
www.teamhoyt.com.
Or there is Patton Oswalt. A comedian and actor who simply took the time
to put his thoughts into words and has caused a viral sensation on the
internet. Better known as the voice of Remi on “Rattatouie,” he now will be
remembered as the man who said “When you spot violence, or bigotry, or
intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just
look it in the eye and think, 'The good outnumber you, and we always
will.'" Not bad for the voice of a rat.
Finally, what about the man in the
cowboy hat? The one seen jumping into the middle of the chaos and helping so
much he was covered in blood but not injured. His name is Carlos Arrendondo, a
Costa Rican implant into the United States who has lived through the worst a
parent can: the loss of two children – one to war and one to suicide.
He happened to be a spectator that
day in Boston in support of a group running in honor of fallen veterans. This
is not the first time he has gotten national media attention. In 2004, his son,
Marine
Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, was killed in Iraq. On his 44th
birthday, the military notified him of the death of his son and in his grief he
set his van on fire and severely burned himself. He survived and proceeded to
create a moving memorial to his son in the back of his pick-up truck. In 2007
he was severely beaten in an anti-war demonstration. Then in 2011, his other
son, Brian, took his own life.
Through all this horrific turmoil in his life, he
jumped in and gave lifesaving aid to those in need. He didn’t think twice, he
didn’t even hesitate. He just helped.
But he wasn’t the only one. So many people ran to
the bombing areas. They didn’t waver. They ran to the center of the action and
began giving first aid that probably saved lives.
And then my seven year old son walked in as I was
watching the news. He immediately wanted to know what was going on. I didn’t
really know how to tell him something bad had happened without worrying him too
much.
Then I was reminded of a quote from Fred Rogers of “Mr.
Roger’s Neighborhood.” He said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things,
my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people
who are helping.’”
Now I know
what to say to my son. Look for the heroes, not just the ones in uniform, but
the everyday people who didn’t questions whether they should help their fellow
man, they just did it.