There is seldom anything that the entire world can come together on. Planet Earth’s more than 6 billion people have different cultures and they hold different views on just about everything. History tells us that these differences very often turn to open hostility towards each other and probably always will.
Country vs. country, region vs. region, unity among members of the human race is a rare occurrence. But, every so often, something happens that brings us all together where everyone or at least most, are all pulling together for the same outcome. And so, it was last week as people from all over the world watched with held breath, the ordeal and the rescue efforts being made to save the lives of the young Thai soccer players and their coach.
It was lead story on every news channel, on radio and across social media on every continent. The story tugged at the heart strings of billions of people as their hopes and prayers were directed to not only the boys trapped in those caves but also for the rescuers who frantically did everything in their power to save them.
Every diver, every member of the military and yes, there were American military members on site to assist as well and especially to those Thai Navy Seals, who like our own Seals made it crystal clear that failure was not an option when given a mission. Without hesitation, they put their own lives on the line to get those trapped in the caves out alive. The world will long remember the name of Saman Gunan, the member of the Thai Navy Seal team who lost his own life in his effort to bring oxygen to those trapped below. Talk to any member of a Seal Team and they will tell you that they are an expendable resource in performing their duties and accomplishing their assigned goal. They will use all of their great skills to survive, but their priority is to accomplish that mission, save the lives they have sworn to protect, even if it means losing their own in the effort. These are what real heroes are.
During the days the boys and their coach were trapped in the caves, the odds did not look good. There was no guarantee they would make it out alive. But by all accounts, they hung in there and maintained an impressive discipline as they waited for their rescuers. If they weren’t a tight knit team before, they sure are now.
President John F. Kennedy’s definition of courage was ‘Grace Under Pressure’. It was apparent that the young members of the Thai soccer team and their coach and certainly the rescue teams who would not accept defeat understand that definition of courage. They all deserve very special praise. And when it was over, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief and let out one big, rare unified cheer. Prayers were answered in a huge way and the world will not soon forget.
