Of burning cars

Alot of people have refused to read the news because they say it’s almost always about something awful in an already confusing world. It’s usually either about the government, politicians and crime. Sometimes, the headline can involve all three. Rarely, is it ever good news. And the latter is usually courtesy of Manny Pacquiao. But other than that, people can pretty much expect a calamity of some sort to greet them at the start of every day. But every so often, there will come out an interesting little tidbit, usually at the bottom of the local news of someone who did something heroic like a taxi driver returning money or a neighbor turning in a wanted man.

Earlier today, I read about a man in the US (this was from an internet news site), who got into a burning car to save a three-year-old girl and her father. The little girl lived. Her father, however, didn’t. This man, this complete stranger who was on his way to work, came across a car heading straight towards more cars that were stopping at an intersection. Within seconds, the car burst into flames. And while everyone around him was staring in shock, he got out of his car and headed into the flames. THE FLAMES! I wonder how many people would have done that? I wonder, if I had been faced with the same situation, would I have done it?

Probably not. I mean, I’d like to think I would but based on my track record, I most likely wouldn’t. Most people have a flight or fight response. I sort of just… well, freeze. Granted, however, I’ve never actually been in any position to run into a burning car or a burning building. The most I’ve been through are a few strong typhoons (but I’ve always been indoors when that happened, thank God), some minor earthquakes and a few fainting spells. And while I am not looking forward to those things happening to me (in fact, I pray for them not to happen), I cannot help but wonder how much help I would be to the people around me.

When I was a lot younger, reading or hearing about people doing heroic things challenged me to want to be like the heroes. These days, I feel rather selfish because my first reaction is pity (for the victim), followed by gratitude (that it wasn’t me or anyone I knew) and finally relief (that I wasn’t the one who had to do the saving because I’m not sure if I would have). And yet, when I read about stories like these, I am reminded of my dreams of heroism when I was a kid. And I want to challenge myself again that I could be that person who decides to run into a burning car to save someone.

Until that happens, however, I am content to know that there are others out there who are real life heroes…who live their lives making other people’s lives better.