When are we going to stop treating people like heroes just for doing the right thing? I mean, when is it OK to expect people to do the right thing just because it is the right thing to do? True heroes always say the same thing when recognized: "I just did what anyone else would do." And that should be the case. It should just be what anyone else would do. Unfortunately, we have created a society where not anyone would just do what should be done. So, yeah they did what anyone else SHOULD do, but not what everyone else WOULD do.
I do adore this guy from Ohio, and I really am glad he's getting free food and all for saving those girls. But seriously, what kind of a person would have just kept eating his Big Mac and made the poor woman break down the door herself? Wasn't helping her really just doing the bare minimum? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did do the bare minimum. But still, shouldn't that be what's expected, not what's special?
The first hub's very best friend in the whole world was a self-proclaimed asshole. This is not a bad thing. In fact, we got along splendidly. I had no unrealistic expectations, and he always lived up to them. Cleveland also has an Asshole Friend, and I adore him. In fact, if you don't have any Asshole Friends you really should find one. They are a great social barometer, and always good for free entertainment. The times in my life I didn't have one I remember as being very empty and confusing.
Years ago, there was this great show on TV called Rescue 911! (I do believe the exclamation point was in fact part of the title!) You remember it, right? Google it, kids, it was awesome. Captain Kirk would play us real live 911 calls, they would reenact the emergency, and talk to the people who were there. Great stuff. And being William Shatner, you know the narration was top notch!
One night's episode, while Asshole Friend happened to be visiting, involved some type of car theft with a baby strapped in the car. If I remember correctly, the thief discovered the baby, pulled over, put car seat and all by the side of the road and kept driving. An older couple happened along, saw the car seat, pulled over and found the baby. They then put the child in their car and drove to the nearest police station. This was in the days before cell phones. Of course Mom was overjoyed to get her baby back, I think thief got caught, and they all lived happily ever after. Until the TV people came along. I'm sure it's the way the scene was edited, but it appeared the couple who found the baby were very proud of the fact that they stopped and picked the baby up. Like it was something special.
This is when the friend spoke up. I will remember this quote as long as I live. He said:
"I'm a complete asshole, and even I wouldn't leave a baby by the side of the road!"
Wow. That pretty much covers it. If even an asshole would do the same thing, it must be the bare minimum. So why can't we expect everybody to do the bare minimum anymore? Are we all so self-centered we don't even notice anything else? Or do we just not care?
Watch the news. Every time there is an accident, and incident, any situation involving someone who stopped to help, they interview them and put them on, labeled "Good Samaritan." Always I am glad to see that someone stopped to help, but at the same time I'm asking myself "Well, who would just drive by and leave a baby on the side of the road anyway?" Sadly, I think the answer is more people than we care to admit. And not the assholes, either. The employee not wanting to be late for work. The Mom who doesn't want to leave her kids in the car. The bystander who pulls out their phone to video the scene. Everybody waiting for somebody else to do it.
I've been fortunate enough to not be in a position where I need a Good Samaritan very often. When I have, one always showed up. I also try to do at least the bare minimum when I see someone else in need. I'm no hero. Just a normal asshole trying to make it through the day. Just like you. My hero.
