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A Real Hero.

by Claude Whitacre
21 replies
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Guys; I heard the recording of this lady on the 911 call on the news.

We talk about courage. We have had threads about it.

This woman has courage. Words can't express how impressed I was when I heard her risk her life to talk down a young man with a gun, in a school.


I hope some day to discover that I have that same kind of courage.
This is strength. Try not to be moved by this.

  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Not sure how much courage it took - she was kind of caught in a situation that she had to safely get out of -- but she had some royally genuine compassion, and that seemed to be all the kid needed. Courage I can do - I don't think I could have even faked that kind of compassion.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    COURAGE is doing something you DON'T have to do that can pose a known risk to you!

    If you HAVE to do it, it is NOT courage! You have NO choice!
    If you don't have to do it, and there is no KNOWN risk, that is just desire!
    If you DON'T have to do it, and it is a risk that is NOT known, that is dumb luck or STUPID!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      COURAGE is doing something you DON'T have to do that can pose a known risk to you!

      If you HAVE to do it, it is NOT courage! You have NO choice!
      If you don't have to do it, and there is no KNOWN risk, that is just desire!
      If you DON'T have to do it, and it is a risk that is NOT known, that is dumb luck or STUPID!

      Steve
      Steve; What if there is a risk, but the person isn't aware of it...until they are engaged in the activity...... but it isn't risk to themselves, but only a risk to people they have just met at a party? And what if they PROMISED to do it, BUT didn't have intentions of following through, until someone told them that, if they didn't follow through, there WOULD be MORE risk?

      I think we are just getting to the nub of this matter.


      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Not sure how much courage it took - she was kind of caught in a situation that she had to safely get out of -- but she had some royally genuine compassion, and that seemed to be all the kid needed. Courage I can do - I don't think I could have even faked that kind of compassion.
      Sal; I'm the opposite. I can fake concern all day long. Being shallow has it's advantages.
      But I don't know if I have real courage.

      The first sentence was a joke. The second one was sincere. (Legal disclosure)
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        Steve; What if there is a risk, but the person isn't aware of it...
        Then it isn't courage!

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Kay King
          What struck me in her comments to the person was a statement that her husband of 33 years had left her....

          My immediate thought was "that man was a fool".
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          Then it isn't courage!

          Steve
          Steve; I was playing with you. It wasn't a serious question.

          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          WRONG! ***YOU*** don't get to make up your OWN definitions of words. Courage is the ability to overcome fear. Google is your friend.

          She DIDN'T HAVE TO DO what she did. She could have tried to run. Or, she could have cowered in a corner, begging for her life. She made great choices while being under intense fear that benefited her and many other people, including kids, and even the perp. To me, that's a HERO.
          Kurt; Although I wouldn't have said it as strongly as you did....you said it better than I could.

          You're right, she did have a choice. And she chose to save lives.


          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          What struck me in her comments to the person was a statement that her husband of 33 years had left her....

          My immediate thought was "that man was a fool".
          Kay; We don't know why he left her. He could have been mean,evil, cheating, bored, we just don't know. And this lady is obviously brave and strong. But I don't know if she's fun to live with.
          Those are different qualities.

          But I'll bet she's a phenomenal mother. She wasn't talking this guy down to save herself. But to save others. I would love to read an in depth interview with her.
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        • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          Then it isn't courage!

          Steve
          Easy for an outsider to say after the fact, hard to do when actually confronted with a similar situation. She had an option to make a run for it, but didn't. Many people freeze when scared. Some even sh*t and p*ss their pants. She did indeed display remarkable composure and courage in the face of extreme danger.
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            You can't dissect it - it's a situation where the only thing you have is your own character. This woman has a steel core in my opinion and I applaud her for it. She had an ability to think and feel outside the fear and it's amazing she could do that.

            You will never know how you would react in a crisis - until you face a crisis.
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          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

            Easy for an outsider to say after the fact, hard to do when actually confronted with a similar situation. She had an option to make a run for it, but didn't. Many people freeze when scared. Some even sh*t and p*ss their pants. She did indeed display remarkable composure and courage in the face of extreme danger.
            Well, doing ANYTHING could be dangerous in such a case. Different people taking you hostage might react in different ways. So it would be hard to determine WHAT to do. Although I have thought about it a lot, I have no idea. I wouldn't cry or cower, etc..., but it is a tossup if I would just stand there, try to make the best of it, look for an opportunity to extricate myself in some way, or YEP, talk to the guy. I imagine I would likely do some combination. Of course, it depends on too many variables. If I feel I have a superior enough position, I might even just try to capture the guy. If it is weak enough, and he hates talking, I may shutup and just look for an opening.

            Steve
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            • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
              Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

              Although I have thought about it a lot, I have no idea. I wouldn't cry or cower, etc..., but it is a tossup if I would just stand there, try to make the best of it, look for an opportunity to extricate myself in some way, or YEP, talk to the guy.
              Steve
              I don't know what I would do either. Maybe freeze. Maybe be brave. Maybe try to talk to him. I just don't know.

              I would like to think that I wouldn't run. Not with other lives at stake. But if I did run and hide...how would I live with that?

              But before I die, I'd like to know what I'm really made of, deep down.

              I'm not a humble person by nature, but people like this woman make me feel humble. She inspires me.
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            • Profile picture of the author HeySal
              Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

              Well, doing ANYTHING could be dangerous in such a case. Different people taking you hostage might react in different ways. So it would be hard to determine WHAT to do. Although I have thought about it a lot, I have no idea. I wouldn't cry or cower, etc..., but it is a tossup if I would just stand there, try to make the best of it, look for an opportunity to extricate myself in some way, or YEP, talk to the guy. I imagine I would likely do some combination. Of course, it depends on too many variables. If I feel I have a superior enough position, I might even just try to capture the guy. If it is weak enough, and he hates talking, I may shutup and just look for an opening.

              Steve
              Steve.........here's some helpful instruction for you. If in a like situation as this one......... DO NOT open your mouth.........do anything else you feel right or necessary, but for God's sakes don't start talking. :rolleyes:

              Kurt's definition of courage is exactly why I wasn't sure how much courage she had. She doesn't sound the least bit scared. Not overcoming fear......doesn't sound like she HAD any. So I would have liked to been a fly on the wall to see if there was anything going on - a look, an action, what have you - that tipped her off that all he needed was a little reassurance. Perhaps she'd had experience with troubled youth before and just knew what she was doing.

              She's still awesome - don't get me wrong about that. She's completely awesome. I just wonder if she was just thinking well while afraid, or if she just knew what she was looking at wasn't as scary as it seemed on the surface. She's still dead out compassionate.
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              • Profile picture of the author Kurt
                Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

                Steve.........here's some helpful instruction for you. If in a like situation as this one......... DO NOT open your mouth.........do anything else you feel right or necessary, but for God's sakes don't start talking. :rolleyes:

                Kurt's definition of courage is exactly why I wasn't sure how much courage she had. She doesn't sound the least bit scared. Not overcoming fear......doesn't sound like she HAD any. So I would have liked to been a fly on the wall to see if there was anything going on - a look, an action, what have you - that tipped her off that all he needed was a little reassurance. Perhaps she'd had experience with troubled youth before and just knew what she was doing.

                She's still awesome - don't get me wrong about that. She's completely awesome. I just wonder if she was just thinking well while afraid, or if she just knew what she was looking at wasn't as scary as it seemed on the surface. She's still dead out compassionate.
                If you heard the full recording you'd know how she fell apart as soon as the police got the guy. She was totally terrified.
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                • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
                  G^d Dammit! It sure would be nice to have a thread down here in the OT without a pissing contest or a political war.

                  Joe (Probably Banned... but I have had enough!!!!) Mobley
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                  • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                    Originally Posted by Joe Mobley View Post

                    G^d Dammit! It sure would be nice to have a thread down here in the OT without a pissing contest or a political war.

                    Joe (Probably Banned... but I have had enough!!!!) Mobley
                    I never ever enter any p*ssing contests because they mainly are between men and I'm a woman and well, you know, I sort of have an anatomical disadvantage. They always win! :p

                    Did I help you feel better?

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                    • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
                      I know a guy who lost a $5 bet to a girl who peed over the hood of a car.
                      ...
                      ...
                      I instantly wanted to meet her. :rolleyes:
                      ...
                      ...

                      Joe Mobley


                      Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                      I never ever enter any p*ssing contests because they mainly are between men and I'm a woman and well, you know, I sort of have an anatomical disadvantage. They always win! :p

                      Did I help you feel better?

                      Terra
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                      • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
                        Originally Posted by Joe Mobley View Post

                        I know a guy who lost a $5 bet to a girl who peed over the hood of a car.
                        ...
                        ...
                        I instantly wanted to meet her. :rolleyes:
                        ...
                        ...

                        Joe Mobley
                        Haha!

                        Funny thing is...I don't. :p

                        Ewww!

                        Terra
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                        • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
                          Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

                          Haha!

                          Funny thing is...I don't. :p

                          Ewww!

                          Terra
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                          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
                            The clip I listened to didn't go that long -
                            If you had, you would have heard her voice breaking as she tells the 911 operator how terrified she was....and as she credits her faith for getting her through the crisis.

                            This one was right person in the right place at the right time. I think she saved lives and I hope her life is better for the experience.
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                • Profile picture of the author HeySal
                  Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

                  If you heard the full recording you'd know how she fell apart as soon as the police got the guy. She was totally terrified.
                  The clip I listened to didn't go that long - I didn't run this one in the thread because I'd heard most of it (um.....I thought I heard the whole thing).

                  Well, then. I guess I can safely assume that this woman is as courageous as she is compassionate. I'm sticking with compassionate, though, too. I could hear that in her voice. This chick actually cared that HE was going to be okay, too.
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                  Sal
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      COURAGE is doing something you DON'T have to do that can pose a known risk to you!

      If you HAVE to do it, it is NOT courage! You have NO choice!
      If you don't have to do it, and there is no KNOWN risk, that is just desire!
      If you DON'T have to do it, and it is a risk that is NOT known, that is dumb luck or STUPID!

      Steve
      WRONG! ***YOU*** don't get to make up your OWN definitions of words. Courage is the ability to overcome fear. Google is your friend.

      She DIDN'T HAVE TO DO what she did. She could have tried to run. Or, she could have cowered in a corner, begging for her life. She made great choices while being under intense fear that benefited her and many other people, including kids, and even the perp. To me, that's a HERO.

      And, you don't build yourself up by trying to diminish the accomplishments of others, no matter how much you seem to try.
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  • Profile picture of the author JulieB
    Wow! Thank you for sharing this with us. The world is so screwed up today, isn't it? It was an inspiring video and I was absolutely moved by it.
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