Compare and contrast: Cowardice at Parkland vs. heroism in the deep sea

americanthinker.com ^ | 2/25/2018 | Bruce Thompson

[rktman]

People talk about the fires of Hell. I would offer the example of two men who have been there, done that, and survived to tell the tale. One is Mike Williams, an electronics technician aboard the Deepwater Horizon when it exploded and caught fire. The other is Anthony Gervasio, the chief engineer of the offshore supply vessel Damon B. Bankston, which was alongside as the well began to blow out.

The boat begins to go sideways and stops. There is a painter line still attached to the rig, and people are being dumped out of the life raft. The rig's owner, TransOcean, has a "no knives" policy. The survivors cannot cut themselves free. Fortunately, the owner of the Bankston, Tidewater Inc., does not have a no knives policy. Gervasio reaches into his pocket and pulls out a knife, which he throws to those in the raft. They cut themselves free.

[rktman]

Gun free zone=death. Knife free zone=death. I didn't know that transocean had a no knives policy. That's friggin' crazy. Anybody that's spent time at sea knows you always carry a really, really, really sharp knife. At all times. Of course until one is actually in a situation like any of these, you never know how you'll react. One would like to think they will be able to respond to save the day, but.....................

[Scooter100]

I've always been impressed with the SS agent in the Reagan assassination attempt. If he hadn't spread-eagled in front of Reagan and taken a bullet in the back, Reagan might have been killed.

Part of the SS's job spec, taking one for the Prez. Really, really awe inspiring.

[trebb]

Maybe if the cops had been trapped in the school, they would have tried to do something - probably shot some students to use the bodies as a barricade.....

[LS]

Think of the 9/11 FDNY firefighters who entered WTC 1 after it had been on fire for some time.

MERELY climbing the 80 floors with fire-fighting equipment would take nearly a half an hour.

There was not water pumping on those floors that they knew of, thus they would have nothing to fight the fire with when they got there.

Yet they went in anyway, by the dozens.

None of them whined that they were “overmatched.”

[D Rider]

I always carry a one handed opening knife while sailing...always.

[rwa265]

I think of them. I wonder how many lives were saved by these brave firefighters.

[CivilWarBrewing]

I once endured a 6.6 earthquake, 30 mi from the epicenter but the house was shaking violently. My top priority was to wrestle control of our panicked dog. Afterwards I thought, “Oh cr*p.. MY WIFE”.. WHOOPS!

[Scooter100]

Yes, a one-handed folder. I always carry my Chris Reeves “Sebenza”....EVERYWHERE.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.
Winston Churchill

[CivilWarBrewing]

Every armed cop, sheriff, guard, etc. who took cover outside the school instead of heading towards the shooter should be FIRED, IMMEDIATELY.

What's the point of being paid to carry a gun if you're not prepared to put your life on the line to stop a killer and save others' lives?

Someone needs to be held to account in addition to the shooter himself. There are many in the FBI who should be looking for new jobs today. THE FBI ALLOWED THIS SHOOTING TO HAPPEN, and yes I DO think a Special Counsel should be appointed to investigate the FBI's 'stand down' on this OBVIOUS threat.

[trebb]

Amen FRiend...

[Dick Bachert]

[freeandfreezing]

Every armed cop, sheriff, guard, etc. who took cover outside the school instead of heading towards the shooter should be FIRED, IMMEDIATELY.

Firing may take a while due to union rules. Before then they should be issued pink uniforms with coward, or wimp, or some other term prominently displayed on their uniform so anyone who comes in contact with them is apprised of their true character. That way anyone who calls 911 and sees a couple of guys dressed in pink get out of the cruiser will know that help has not arrived yet.

[RightGeek]