The Potential for Heroism

The potential for heroism lies within us all. On January 13th 1982 it was an exceptionally cold day in Washington DC. And Air florida flight90 failed to gain altitude during takeoff and then struck the 14th street bridge where it struck several vehicles, killed 4 motorists and then plunged into the icy potomac river. Of the 79 occupants, all but 6 died on impact or were trapped inside the plane as it sunk. Those six escaped the plane and were trapped in the freezing river.

20 minutes after the plane plunged into the river a rescue helicopter arrived with a rope ladder that could accommodate one survivor at a time. The rescue pilot noticed that on there first pass a man grabbed the ladder and then handed it to another passenger. Every time the pilot came back this man grabbed it and handed it off to another passenger. He had safety, life, and rescue in his own hands, but each time handed it off to perfect strangers. Each time he had the opportunity to be free from the struggle, to be freed from the mortal peril of waiting on top of the planes tail section for rescue, and each time he said "not yet."

Soon he was the last one left and as the helicopter approached the plane dislodged and sunk further into the river. This brave soul was pulled under where the fatigue and extreme cold finally overcame him and he drowned. His name was Arland D Williams and the bridge has been renamed to commemorate his heroism. There are great souls buried across the world at all times, in all places, like seeds waiting for the rain. We need only to see an example of the nobility of humankind in order to potentially rise to full flower.

Man was meant to bestride the world as a colossus leaving their mark wherever they came. We are not meant to be meek. We are not meant to hold our hand out looking for help. We are meant to be strong and unflinching in the face of those forces that would oppose us. And when given the opportunity to let our own noble spirit shine through we should take it and shine forth as an inspiration to others like Arland Williams did on that cold afternoon. There is a hero inside of all of us. We are not victims and were never meant to be such. We were meant to be heroes.