Mark Steyn, who has written for the National Post in Canada, as well as, for various other international magazines and newspapers, wrote a book published in 2012 called After America. The following facts may sicken you, as they do me, but they should be known.
Much to my dismay, he says that recently, in several countries, particularly England and Scotland, Children drowned while Emergency Services stood by on several occasions, prevented by procedures from saving them. I fact, in one case a Glasgow University Student, unrestricted by job procedures, dove into the water to save a drowning child.
Mark talks about how differently Men behaved in the brief time the Titanic was sinking (with few exceptions incidentally), compared with how men acted when a ferry boat sank in Estonia in 1994.
What sort of (hu)man tells reporters that he passed by young children clinging to the ship rails and weeping (while he was obviously saving himself). Steyn also tells us about a woman with two broken legs unsuccessfully begging for a Life Jacket.
He also tells us, of a 96 year old man in London with two canes, standing in a subway car (since no one offered him a seat). This man was severely beaten by a 44 year old man because he was unable to move out of the younger man's way quickly enough.
What Mark has written detailing such as the above tragedies in his book (After American in Chapter Four - Decline p. 127-187), you and I risk becoming disillusioned and disappointed by some of today's Men.
This is a great pity when some of us have spent our entire lives seeing the good qualities and character of the fine Men around us.*
Beyond this however, if you are like me, you will read these Real Life Horror
Stories in dismay and weep in despair for the people among us incapable of understanding courage, heroism and decency.
After some reflection however, you might, like me find some consolation when you consider that, as always in life, some horrible events occur, but thankfully still rarely enough to viscerally horrify and appall us.
When hearing the worst of what we are capable as human beings, there is a great danger in condemning all mankind, instead of reminding ourselves of the many acts of courage and selfless sacrifice and assistance we give each other, throughout the world every day.
*originally written March 2012...as A LIVING NIGHTMARE - revised and republished twice, May 15 and June 27, 2013
I had not read this for a year. When I reread this recently, I sat there with my eyes full of tears despairing at what we have descended to. i again, asked myself: IS THIS WHAT WE'VE BECOME?
Upon reflection, however, I realized that actually, such awful things are rare enough to horrify me. I realized that actually these acts, remain exceptions as they always have , in the midst of much good that is done naturally and generously around the world every day.
Much to my dismay, he says that recently, in several countries, particularly England and Scotland, Children drowned while Emergency Services stood by on several occasions, prevented by procedures from saving them. I fact, in one case a Glasgow University Student, unrestricted by job procedures, dove into the water to save a drowning child.
Mark talks about how differently Men behaved in the brief time the Titanic was sinking (with few exceptions incidentally), compared with how men acted when a ferry boat sank in Estonia in 1994.
What sort of (hu)man tells reporters that he passed by young children clinging to the ship rails and weeping (while he was obviously saving himself). Steyn also tells us about a woman with two broken legs unsuccessfully begging for a Life Jacket.
He also tells us, of a 96 year old man in London with two canes, standing in a subway car (since no one offered him a seat). This man was severely beaten by a 44 year old man because he was unable to move out of the younger man's way quickly enough.
What Mark has written detailing such as the above tragedies in his book (After American in Chapter Four - Decline p. 127-187), you and I risk becoming disillusioned and disappointed by some of today's Men.
This is a great pity when some of us have spent our entire lives seeing the good qualities and character of the fine Men around us.*
Beyond this however, if you are like me, you will read these Real Life Horror
Stories in dismay and weep in despair for the people among us incapable of understanding courage, heroism and decency.
After some reflection however, you might, like me find some consolation when you consider that, as always in life, some horrible events occur, but thankfully still rarely enough to viscerally horrify and appall us.
When hearing the worst of what we are capable as human beings, there is a great danger in condemning all mankind, instead of reminding ourselves of the many acts of courage and selfless sacrifice and assistance we give each other, throughout the world every day.
*originally written March 2012...as A LIVING NIGHTMARE - revised and republished twice, May 15 and June 27, 2013
I had not read this for a year. When I reread this recently, I sat there with my eyes full of tears despairing at what we have descended to. i again, asked myself: IS THIS WHAT WE'VE BECOME?
Upon reflection, however, I realized that actually, such awful things are rare enough to horrify me. I realized that actually these acts, remain exceptions as they always have , in the midst of much good that is done naturally and generously around the world every day.
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