The best and the worst

Let’s talk about something else, shall we? This early, I’m already having my fill of the ongoing, or should I say miscues of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Cororna. I’m sure we’ll have something more substantial next week.

The best and worst of men are truly brought about by the most dire of situations. I for one just cannot imagine the horrific feeling of being on board a sinking ship! The recent disaster that befell the Costa Concordia, when it hit large rocks that created a gash in its hull ala Titanic, causing the ship to list, practically capsizing, is the stuff of nightmares for sea travelers everywhere. I can only imagine the sickening feeling that the passengers felt as their compact world started to turn on its side! It is during these times of crisis that people look for a leader they can count on, not only to bring them to safety but to assure them that everything will be alright. Panic is the worst enemy in any situation, although one cannot fault those whom succumb to it. I wasn’t there, so I cannot judge.

But we can judge those who are supposedly trained for situations like this. The crew of the ill-stricken cruise vessel should have known what to do, by the book. It is them that the passengers look towards for guidance in evacuating the ship properly, to guide them as to the location of the nearest life-saving devices such as life vests, beacons and lifeboats. So when those who are responsible for the safety of the passengers are themselves overrun with fear and panic, that is when a body count begins! Especially if the captain himself has turned into a coward.

This is what the world sees Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia who ordered to abandon ship, of which he was one of the first to leave. Maritime law, for God’s sake decency dictates that the captain is to leave a stricken ship only after all its passengers and crew have left. He is the last to leave, period. But he had to be reminded by another captain, Gregorio de Falco of the Italian Coast Guard, who ordered Schettino to go back to the ship he left, berating his cowardice and highlighting him as an embarrassment to the company and to the country. It took the actions of an un willing hero, De Falco to bring honor and pride back in an instant with the utterance of four words, the last being an expletive to show his disgust for Schettino’s actions. Here we have examples of both the best and the worst brought about by this tragedy.

The world is truly a world of balance. Upset that balance, and things go horribly wrong. I can only imagine a much higher body count if the Coast Guard did not promptly arrive when they did. It is sad that what was supposed to be a wonderful time for thousands, ended up horribly. Most especially for those who have lost loved ones. We always talk about people and their qualifications for the jobs that they hold. Bus drivers, jeepney drivers, tricycles drivers, you name it. I guess we should include ship captains. Obviously, Schettino’s incompetence and cowardice questions why he was in charge in the first place, even with his years in the service. All it takes is one stupid mistake. Just one, to be scarred for life.