Are Human Beings Naturally Heroes? Would You Give Your Life To Save 300 People? The Halifax Explosion...

Question

...was the largest manmade explosion until nuclear weaponry. The resulting tsunami was so large as to obliterate a nearby settlement.

At 9:04 AM on December 6, 1917 a French cargo ship, loaded with 2400 tons of war-time munitions, collided with the Norwegian ship SS Imo in Halifax Harbor. Railway dispatcher Vince Coleman was fleeing for his life from the impending explosion when he realized an incoming train carrying 300 passengers would arrive in Halifax in a few moments. 

He turned back to send Morse code messages that brought incoming trains to a halt, saving the lives of all passengers. That he realized he himself would die was in his message:

"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Goodbye boys."

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Soldiers do this in wartime, maybe saving only a half dozen or even one buddy...the posthumous Congressional Medals of Honor...Joseph Campbell claims this is a natural human response, that danger to someone you do not even know can put us in a certain state of mind and you cannot even help it, you will give your life to save another.

Are we all naturally heroes? (I found these notes as I was organizing my dresser drawers today...)

Answer 1

Very hard to say... can anyone really know beforehand what they would do under such circumstances?

But I can't help thinking there are some who wouldn't have been the hero that Coleman was.

Comments

Yes could be, that by the very nature of heroism we prolly cannot know what we will actually do...

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Other Tink, different topic...I have found a YouTube channel that broadcasts in support of President Trump...you may already have something like this, but I have subscribed, just for the sake of some perspective, and here it is in case you would like to look it over also.

Answer 2

I wouldn't say I was any hero but I did receive the Silver Star and the Bronze Star during my service. I remember the events somewhat all these years later and I still my motivation was fear and comradeship. I was so scared that I just jumped up and went after three wounded men by myself. They were my friends and our enemy at the time was ruthless with prisoners and I couldn't let that happen. I do remember the intense fear at the time and only afterwards was I told that I had pulled 8 men back to safety. I think the fear inside just sparked me into action and I'll always believe it was fear. While many hunkered down, I went out and saved some lives as I knew they would do the same for me! Really hard to explain.

Comments

@ Rooster,

You exemplify that a hero is not without fear, but that the hero OVERCOMES fear, or is motivated into heroic action by it, whereas others may be paralyzed by it.

And yes, Rooster, you ARE a hero, even though you characteristically are too modest to say so yourself. Words can't express my admiration for people like you.

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Rooster that is SO wonderful...I am snuffling and tearing up a bit here...

I still remember when I came across that article about the Halifax explosion, in a greasy spoon while I was traveling a couple of years ago, and I was so moved I made notes...        I went and got my notes again just now, because I also took down this from the article...

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear."

Answer 3

It is not easy to answer this question; as we cannot predict how we will react under certain conditions, circumstances, at certain times, in certain surroundings, etc.

The hardest is to overcome one's fears, one's weaknesses, one's pains and to face the unknown. And there are many little anf great heroes who go unnoticed.

I can only say hats off to Rooster.

Comments

I love your comment Marianne, about the unnoticed heroes.

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Thank you, Virginia.