Live and let die ...
Running off a bus while your fellow passenger is stabbed to death does not make you a hero. It makes you alive; but it doesn't make you a hero.
I have tremendous sympathy for the passengers of Greyhound bus 1170. I'm sure they will be deeply traumatized by the stabbing, beheading, and cannibalization of one of their fellow passengers. But I think they will also be haunted by the question, "Why didn't I do anything to help?"
To make matters worse, RCMP and reporters have described the passengers' reactions as brave and heroic. This is a great disservice to the passengers and the public at large. They kept themselves safe. They stayed alive. That's good. But they also left a man to die on a bus. They trampled over one another as they tried to save their own lives (an elderly woman was injured as other passengers pushed her aside). Then, they locked the victim and his killer in the bus.
Garnet Caton was one of those passengers. He's young. He's strong. He's had five years of military service in the Canadian Armed Forces. He had the right idea: he turned to another passenger nearby and asked for his help. “I said, ‘Give me a hand and let's get this guy.' And the other guy took off.”
Tim McLean was left to die alone. His screams, described as a dog howling and a baby crying, eventually came to an end.
Last month, a young woman was attacked in broad daylight on Portage Avenue, one of Winnipeg's busiest streets. She suffered a dislocated shoulder, fractured ribs, and bruised kidneys. Passersby did nothing.
What has brought us to the point where we're prepared to let people die in front of us?
Have we been desensitized by TV, movies, and video games? Has the constant stream of war and terror in the news over-saturated our sensitivities?
Maybe, but I have another theory. For the past 40 years, we've adopted a "live and let live" philosophy of life. Each one to their own. "You do what you want, and I'll do what I want." I don't completely disagree with this approach, but it has created a radically disconnected society. We no longer understand how the other person thinks. Their values and priorities are unknown or foreign to us. And in a twist of irony, our spirit of tolerance has led us to indifference. We've come to believe that if a person is in trouble, it's because they got themselves there.
Live and let live has become live and let die.
posted by The Rock 'n' Roll Preacher at
8/01/2008 08:30:00 AM
9 Comments:
I agree with you that it wasn't "Let's roll" heroism, but I'm not sure it's fair to harshly judge the other passengers either.
In the "Let's roll" case, the airline passengers had TIME to ASSESS and ORGANIZE. In the greyhound case, it would have been suicide for one person alone to take on the attacker, and who does that help?
In an ambush such that took place on Wednesday, one has a practically insurmountable amount of physiology dictating actions. I sincerely hope your piece serves a good purpose to help people in general to understand and steer their own actions in life in an altruistic direction, but I also sincerely hope that you calculate the added psychological pressure to the actual passengers that did the best they could under the circumstances.
My heart foes out to Tim McLean and those close to him.
This kind of criticism, regardless of it's marginal merit, comes too soon and is beneath you as a writer and a man of God.
Marni: I agree that one person could likely not have stopped Li. It would take more than one person, and in light of the physiological factors you specify so well, it would take people who have been socialized to respond immediately to others in need. That's the only way they could have worked together quickly. I don't think such socialization is taking place in our culture ... and that's the point of my post. The passengers on that bus are not different from the rest of us. They're not defective compared to the rest of us. It seems we've all been socialized in such a way that our instincts are focused on the maxim "do what's good for you".
Anonymous: I, too, wonder if my criticism comes too soon. I think it is too soon for the passengers. I don't think it's too soon for the rest of us, who are likely to forget this incident and move on with our lives by the start of the long weekend. As for my comments being beneath me as a writer and a man of God, I don't think that accusation has enough substance for me to respond. But let me pose this question: are you familiar with the kinds of things that (commendable) writers and men of God have said and done in the past? Are my comments that unusual in comparison? Let me know what you think ... and drop the guise of anonymity while you're at it!
If you're on Facebook, CJOB's Larry Updike has started a lively discussion on this blog post:
http://www.new.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=29081323407&ref=mf
Just for clarity sake, I am the anonymous commenter who posted earlier. I will remain anonymous, as is my right. Feel free to delete the comment if you find that unacceptable.
In a medium like your blog (coupled with Facebook, your radio show, etc.) you cannot control who reads and when. So if it is too soon for the passengers and their families, then it is just too soon. Period.
As for what other writers and men (and women) of God have written and said: Yes. I am very aware and I still think this was inappropriate, insensitive and, frankly, a shameful grab for attention.
Don't get me wrong. I am not calling you evil or lacking any merit. I am simply calling you out on a very significant violation of your pastoral and Christian responsibilities and hope you would acknowledge that and make it right. But, given the attention this will garner, I have little doubt I can hope for much.
Prove me wrong.
Anonymous: I allow anonymous posts on this blog, so no problem if you want to stay anonymous.
I agree that using Facebook, blogs, radio, etc. does not allow me to pick and choose my audience. So yes, I regret that my comments will come too soon for the passengers. I accept that charge and whatever anger they feel towards me. On the other hand, there seems to be enormous number of people out there like yourself who aren't willing to engage the question,"Do I have a responsibility to risk my life in order to save the life of another?" My blog is a sincere attempt to get that question on our radar.
For that reason, I appreciate the people who've written provocative, insightful comments here and on Larry Updike's Facebook page. Most of them don't agree with me, but their comments have extended the limitations of my post. I'm grateful to them.
I don't feel I've committed a "very significant violation" of my pastoral and Christian responsibilities, so I won't offer a retraction here. I've simply tried to take on the thankless task of saying things no one wants to hear. (I think this is a tradition in my profession!) It has nothing to do with whatever attention my blog post is garnering. I wrote my comments with genuine passion and conviction. I fully believe live and let live is becoming live and let die in this culture.
Prove me wrong.
You acknowledge and regret your words coming too soon to the passengers, yet do not see that alone as a violation of your pastoral and Christian responsibilities? That is entirely my point. No one should have said what you did in that way. Less so a Christian. And if anyone should have had the sensitivity to know better, it should be a pastor. Thus I stand by my response and question the sincerity of your supposed regret.
Your regret gets further muddled when you take a martyrs stance about taking the thankless task of ask the questions no one is willing to answer. You are missing the point of my concern. I believe your questions could have been fully asked without the insensitivity and shock-value.
I acknowledge that there is a responsibility among Christians (& pastors) that requires the uncomfortable and often prophetic task of asking the hard questions. That does not mean, however, that you can simply be irresponsible and careless with your words, then play the "tough questions pastors ask" card.
I have intentionally avoided answering the intended question(s) of your post because I feel it might distract from this larger issue. Why is it so hard for so many people (sadly many Christians among them) to take unequivocal responsibility? Defending yourself like this not only weakens interest in and distracts attention from you original intention, but (as some Facebook comments reflect) it also does a disservice to the public name of Christians, pastors and, ultimately but inevitably, Christ.
I have said enough. I hope you reconsider.
Anonymous: I guess we can continue on ad infinitum with you attacking my intentions and me defending them. I think that's a specious pursuit. However, I did appreciate you addressing that issue of whether or not it was helpful, appropriate, or sensitive for me to post my blog. I stand by my blog post, but I think your perspective needs to be right alongside mine. Someone needs to say what I said. Someone needs to say what you said.
Although I stand by my post, I do so with a terrible amount of trepidation ... not because you malign my motives, but because I can expect no less of myself than I expect of bus passengers or bystanders on Portage Avenue. It's one thing (and the right thing) to say we/I should rise to the aid of another; it's another thing for me to do it. At times, I doubt my courage.
If you ever want to meet face to face, let me know. You are a considerable force to be reckoned with! Thank you.
I totally agree with you, Pastor Greg. Like you, I don't blame the passengers because our society has taught us not to confront evil and to look after ourselves first. The attitude that "no one could have done anything" REALLY bothers me though.
Of course, something could have been done! Whether it would have prevented a death or resulted in another death or two, we don't know. But at least there would have been no image of a killer holding a young kid's head up to taunt and haunt a nation.
I have confronted someone committing a crime and stepped in to stop a violent attack more than a couple of times in my life(and I am a woman by the way).Yes, it was dangerous to do so, but I felt I had no other choice.
All I can say is
... Christians, let's lead the way in changing this passive, helpless mindset in our country.
... Canadians, you HAVE to do something if someone is getting attacked.
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