I understand his feelings, but this young man (and his friend Isaac Tupou) acted when hundreds of others were standing around watching. He did what he could - but there are limits to what you can do in such a situation.
I want to make sure he gets acknowledged for standing up and moving in.
I’m surprised the Australian police don’t have this young man up on charges for a disturbing display of masculinity and public responsibility.
Really, how uncouth.
[s\]
I beg to differ,young man!
A good man.
I always wonder if I’d have the presence of mind to do something like this in a similar situation. Brave kid.
Billions for defense but all that stands between western civilization and ISIS is a 17 year old with a bat.
Is that him?
He doesn’t look seventeen.
Young *Man*, You stepped into the breach when needed with what was available to you. It may not been much, but you tried! You’re already 99.9% percent ahead of most people.
Nah Kid you was a hero regardless of the outcome- Heroes run TOWARDS danger, not away- everyone else just stood around- you did not- Accept it the appreciation and recognition on behalf of all of us who didn’t have the guts to do what you did-
Bet that one plays Ruggers.
A concealed handgun might have come in handy.
L
Swing away Merrill. Merrill... swing away.
Manly action there.
In full appreciation of his heroic actions, I still wonder—frivolously—just how many baseball bats there are in Australia, that he had such ready access to one. Cricket bats, of course... I’m aware there have been a couple of Aussie big leaguers, but still.
Too many men are being encouraged not to do one of the things we do best: Take action.
I preface this to say I have no idea how I will react in a crisis. But I think I know what I hope I will do.
I saw a training film recently on “Code Silver” which in a hospital, is an armed person either committing or threatening to commit assault with a weapon, usually a gun. The training basically tells you to only fight back if you are cornered, can’t escape.
On its face that sounds obvious. But the other part of the training is that if you hear there is an active shooter in some portion of the facility, you evacuate, even if you see the person with the weapon walk by you.
I thought about that, and thought “Could I just run in the opposite direction, and leave my friends and coworkers to their fate? Just to follow the rules and escape?”
Honestly, the thought of it was as foreign to me as a bug flying in my mouth. I was on an Air Force base a while back...a US Military base, where a sign on the bathroom said that was your “Shelter in Place”. I couldn’t get my head around that, on a military base.
I think we would be better off living in a society where the people would fight back against attacking predators of all kind, be they two-legged or four-legged.
There are a lot of people to whom that surely sounds neanderthal and base.
To me, what those people did on Flight 93 was more to my sentiments. I don’t know if I would have the courage or strength that they had, but I would hope if that time comes for me, I can do what I think is the right thing.
Like this young man with the baseball bat. He feels terrible because he didn’t save those people, but in a way, he is fortunate-he knows what kind of guy he is. Some people can go their whole life and never know.
He sounds like a young man who’s parents should be very proud.