Rescuers show true courage

Rescuers show

true courage

In light of this week's tragedy,

take a minute to reflect.

It is human nature to respond

to a call for help. How many times have dozens of people turned out to

help find a young child lost in the mountains in dangerous terrain? Or

seeing a youngster break through thin ice, volunteers try to rescue them.

Even when an animal becomes trapped, people turn out to help.

It is human nature to want

to help someone else, even if it means that you might fail in the attempt

and die. Still, people try! Such are the events in New York and Washington

D.C. this week. Fireman, police officers, EMTs, and other rescue personnel

are trying to help, knowing that the building they're working in, or the

mound of rubble that used to be one of the world's tallest skyscrapers,

may come down on them at any second. Still, there is no one backing out.

They will gladly lay down their life so that a total stranger may live.

That is our nature!

Today, I watched rescuers wiggling

under concrete slabs weighing thousands of pounds, knowing that the slightest

vibration might cause it to shift or collapse, trying to see is they could

help someone or recover the body of someone's loved ones. They do it,

not because someone is forcing them or there is a large physical reward,

but because it is our human nature to want to help others. We've all seen

it on TV in other areas of the world, people wanting to help others even

at the expense of their own lives. That is what sets us apart from all

the other creatures on this planet!

We are witnessing a miracle

this week: people risking and, in some cases, giving their lives that

they might aid someone. I saw an interview on CBS the other day with a

fireman who had been pulled from the rubble of Tower One. The other five

men in his squad were all killed. He was covered with thick layers of

dust and soot. He asked the reporter to call his wife for him and tell

her he was all right and to be sure and tell her that he loved her. He

then left and went back into the wreckage to hopefully rescue someone

else! That is courage, love of duty and love of your fellow man. That

cannot be bought at any price!

Say a prayer for the victims,

and their families, of the horrible tragedy and also say a little prayer

for the safety of the rescuers.

This is, also, the giant that

the terrorists have stirred!

God bless our country and its

people.

Tom Bennett

Fayetteville