Can’t Get Enough of This Joyful Reunion
You know, as we all know, there is this terrible aspect of human nature that people seem to be drawn to disaster and tragedy. Hence, we get the unexplainable: Americans watching scenes of people falling from the Twin Towers over and over and over. That’s just the most horrific example, of course: anyone who’s ever been in a car on a highway with a car crash up ahead knows how ordinary it is for human beings to find it hard to take their eyes away from tragedy.
But it occurs to me now that the reverse is also true — and I say that because I, personally, cannot stop watching video scenes of Laura Ling and Euna Lee running down the steps of that plane into the waiting arms of their families, and crying as I watch, again and again. If you are anything like me, you may enjoy this video coverage, from NBC.
9 Responses to “Can’t Get Enough of This Joyful Reunion”
.Yes it is remarkable. Our leaders were competent and successful. I shudder to think what the previous administration would have accomplished in this scenario. Unfortunately I cannot shake my concern for the millions of North Koreans that cannot escape their fate.
These brave, beautiful, intelligent women are American heroes. They suffered abuse, terror and isolation upholding the American tradition of a free press, having the courage to seek truth in the face of danger and tell it to all who would listen. Their joy and relief, their tears and their passion at being reunited with freedom and family is worth watching again and again, and worth remembering. Most impressive though was seeing that their ordeal had not sapped them of their humanity, their love, our their courage. To them, please enjoy the warm arms of your family and the love of us all. Welcome home.
OK, I have expressed nothing but good will towards their release, but they are NOT 'American heroes'. Don't debase that term.
They are journalists who all evidence points to having purposely and illegally crossed the North Korean border in an attempt to make a documentary about conditions there. That is a noble cause, not doubt. And the charges they were brought up on were most certainly trumped up.
But none of that makes them 'American heroes'.
But to Father Time, what was the point of trying to make this partisan?
AustinRoth–
Journalists can be heroes too. Tidbit's “heroes” comment annoyed me a little bit also, but we really don't know the full story yet.
Partisan? No. Except the fact that the previous and notoriously incompetent administration was of a different political party. In this circumstance the previous administration was either not invited or refused to serve. Had that political party’s administration been one of competent reputation, as they have indeed had in the past, I would not have had to shudder in thinking of their participation.
See, you are letting your feelings about some aspects of the Bush Administration color your attitudes towards all.
The Bush Administration had many undeniable success, the biggest probably being their work with Africa. Simply saying, as you basically are, 'I didn't like Bush, so he would not have resolved this' is simple-minded.
Kathy,
If you liked it so much, you should send a letter to the script writers and tell them what a marvelous performance they put on.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08062009/news/natio…
If there were no Democrats, Nigerian scam artists would be out of business.
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AR They can't be heroes because they aren't white males…
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AR and Father Time -
To risk imprisonment and brutality in a foreign dictatorship in order to learn and share the truth with others is an act of heroism. I stand by my use of the term.
Anyone who quotes the NYP as a credible source other than for comic relief knows nothing about actual journalism and/or citing Sources. When did anyone from the Post win a Pulitzer?
NYP- Owned by Murdoch, owner of Fox, the Daily Sun….supermarket tabloids wearing “journalistic big boy pants” – Sensasionalist hot button pushers. Murdoch is the PT Barnum of the Press. But hey, for a quarter, you get what you pay for.
Remember the classic Lead Line “Headless Body in Topless Bar” yeah, that was a classic that one.
I like to see how many times the NYP uses the word “sicko” and “fiend” on a daily basis.