Stan Geiger

Hero Fatigue

I reread my last post and felt a little elaboration was in order. That piece, well, came out a bit more mean-spirited than intended. Maybe I was a bit cranky when I wrote it. I probably need to work on resisting the urge to write at the wrong times.

I think Sully is more than deserving of accolades. He made the right decision; he made it quickly; he executed beautifully.

But does what Sully did rate being deemed "heroic?"

He was dealt a bad hand. He had no choice but to play it. I mean he found himself holding the stick of a dead plane. The plane was going to land---one way or another.

Sully called on his training and experience and things worked out as well as could be expected. And that's great. But he wasn't acting heroically; he simply did what he had to do in the moment.

I don't know, I guess I just get a tad frustrated when something like the Hudson landing happens and a whole slew of people---from media types to smiling politicians---jump in to grab the coattails of a guy or gal, that in most instances doesn't even want to be called a hero, looking to wring some kind of gain out of the ordeal.

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