With the now regular reminders that a major catastrophe could be upon us at any second, it’s apparent that local friends and neighbors are more likely to answer a call for help than the federal powers that be.
The American Red Cross tipped its hat to a group of quick thinking individuals who stepped up when duty — and circumstance — called.
Among the honored was Eureka City Councilman Larry Glass, for his heroic efforts that saved a woman from the frigid waters of Humboldt Bay in December 2008.
Full story in the Humboldt Beacon.
Has anyone checked to see how much the Arkleys have donated to the American Red Cross?
Larry is quite possibly the best City Council member Eureka has ever had.
Did Larry have a choice in the matter? If he didn’t help out, his political career would be gone and his business would be run out of town.
We need a better definition of ‘hero’ than a person’s luck at being in the right place at the right time and merely acting as we expect all human beings to act.
At least you didn’t stoop to accusing Glass of setting it all up as a publicity stunt, 7:44. By your definition, there are no heros; just those “lucky” enough to be nearby when an unfortunate event occurs or those paid to respond.
Johnny on the spot or not – a person either does or does not do something humane.
Larry Glass was “a man and stepped-up”.
So, kinda heartless to even go in a negative direction.
It is one thing to lamblast the psychoanalysis of the “depressed” jumper, but Larry was just a human being fortunate enough to assist in the situtation, Go figure?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Not everyone would jump in the water to help someone. Not everyone can do that physically, has the skills for it, or chooses to. The circumstances could never be called “lucky” IMO for the person who risks their own safety.
I disagree, a little. Especially in our modern, virtual world, it’s a rare blessing when events create a chance to be useful spontaneously.
Larry rose to the occasion, as many others do, and some don’t. At the end of that day, wet and useful Larry had every reason to be pleased with his afternoon well spent. I’d call that kinda lucky, anyway.
Just because someone is in the “Right spot at the right time.” Doesn’t mean that they would act courageously. Considering what the Red Cross deals with around the world, I would consider their definition of “Hero” to be pretty damn valid.
We should feel humbled by selfless acts.
Good words folks,
sorry – I mispelled lambast(e).
JL
I always worry when I see cars driving poorly on 299 or 199 that they will end up in the river, and I hope that I could help them if that ever happened. Most people help because they care about others enough to do it. I guess my point is, it is secondary to the possible good PR they’ll get from being an accidental hero. I would hope most people would do it just because it is the right thing to do. I believe that is the case, and I am sure that was the case with Larry.
“Did Larry have a choice in the matter?”
Let me just take a moment to send a heartfelt “fuck you” to Anonymous.
Unbelievably convoluted way of looking at what Glass did to show your hatred of the man and what he stands for 7:44.
Anon 7:44 Google
“erinn phelan”
then tell me that she acted “as we expect a person to act”.
Mr. Glass did the right thing. You can turn on the news every damn day and see people ignoring others in pain or peril. Mr. Mielke, while I agree with your sentiment, vulgarity degrades the level of contempt the anonymous poster deserves. Such a stupid, sanctimonious, dishonest, attempt to devalue a heroic act marks the sender as the kind of pathetic and worthless self-hater whose soul is so empty that it fears to recognize a generous act.
Well said, Joel.
FYI, I am not the “Anonymous” recently blasted by Joel Mielke and RedHummer.
Generations of Humboldters have been raised with the fundamental belief that when we see people in trouble, we must take action to help them.
This is part, I believe, of the pioneer spirit, which still lives in us.
We do what needs to be done without expecting an award, a dinner, a luncheon, or a notice in the newspaper. Most of us would be embarrassed if someone were to put us in front of a camera and call us “a hero.”
Heroism is far more common among our people than this article or the event it describes indicates.
Not to take anything from the people who were honored as heroes for their good deeds, let’s just not forget the vastly larger number of heroes of whom we have never heard.
“…I am not the “Anonymous” recently blasted by Joel Mielke and RedHummer.”
Do you anonymous people schedule your time so efficiently that you cannot type in a blogonym when you post?
Judge who I am from my syntax, Joel. Get over your obsession with self-glorification. Some of us want our ideas to be appreciated, not our names, faces, or avatars. And yet, we are your fellow-citizens, equally protected by law, equally qualified to vote or even run for office. Be nice, Joel. Remember the ancient words of wisdom. “Pride goeth before a fall.” Be not proud, Joel. Be not proud.
12;26, I agree with you too. My people from the Great Plains were absolutely raised that way. My cousin when he came to the city and saw homeless men with signs on freeway ramps couldn’t quite put his country training behind him. He’d say again and again, “I was taught it was immoral to drive past a stalled car, somebody’s flat tire. Immoral not to lend a hand. What can I do now?”
So I know what you’re saying is true too, and maybe it goes back to that idea of being ‘lucky’ to be able to help, and feel good that you can. It’s true that most folks who do it don’t get recognition. That’s not why they do it.
Nice dodge, Anonymous. Just don’t be thin-skinned when you’re confused for another Anonymous. You don’t have time to post with an identifier, and I don’t have time for comparative syntactics.
Kudos to Larry and the others. Being heroic is demonstrating bravery and most of that does go unnoticed.
But gee, passing a stalled out-of-gas motorist is immoral but wordlessly stepping past and ignoring(or scowling at) a homeless beggar is a proper response. How about when that stalled car is a “hippie van” or a bunch of young black men were standing around it.
I see opportunities everyday for locals to be heroic but with no public accolades or media coverage. Scant few rise to the occasion. Most just walk past trash paper lying right near a waste container. Yep, its a small thing to pick up trash, but its a heroic act IMHO.
As to the “pioneer spirit”, I’d say Jerry Rohde’s article in the NCJ describes it pretty well. How about “gold rush mentality”? Thats the attitude of the first Europeans who domiciled in this area.
Hmm = Judge who I am from my syntax
Hmmm = Some of us want our ideas to be appreciated, not our names, faces, or avatars.
Yet, attaching names, faces, avatars gets to the truth without pussy-footing around the point – kinda like connecting the dots in order to see which local political insiders and entrusted public officals are part of the shadowy, yellow-under bellied varmint society with mentalities vermiformed to a culture of corruption. Yes, I believe people understand openness and healthy criticism too.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
moderation delay?
JL
Passing a motorist out of gas or a bunch of any sort of people standing around a car are also choices, not that easily made, especially for women. If someone is in obvious and immediate distress, it is imperative to help. A stranded motorist is not in immediate danger and when stopping to help one must realize the risks from other traffic or from the person themselves who could be setting a “trap”. Obviously, usually this is not the case. I sometimes stop and ask if a person needs me to call someone, but generally it is too risky for a woman alone to stop. So, I disagree, not immoral. Whether you chose to give something to a street person is your own choice. Some people consider those who give handouts to those on the street to be encouraging the problem. I personally end up giving people change or food sometimes.
“Did Larry have a choice in the matter? If he didn’t help out, his political career would be gone and his business would be run out of town.
We need a better definition of ‘hero’ than a person’s luck at being in the right place at the right time and merely acting as we expect all human beings to act.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
i wish to concur with a previous response to the lowlife that posted the above:
go fuck yourself.
anon.miss theres always an excuse, its called rationalization. And taking action is always “a choice”. Being heroic means making the choice to do something that might put you in peril but may help someone who is already in peril.
Just how “immediate” in your mind does a danger have to be before acting is imperative? Why isn’t a homeless beggar in “obvious and immediate distress” according to your reasoning? Or is it really about your judgement of the “moral worth” of the particular person being high enough in comparison to yours?
If someone helps another who can’t help themselves, thats heroic, whether its a alcoholic acquiring cirrhosis or a person in the water who might drown. In both cases, taking action will avert harm.
A woman driving alone may call the CHP to notify them of someone having trouble, but stopping for a stranger on the side of the road is just nuts. Having a flat tire or being out of gas is not in peril and expecting a woman to put herself in peril to stop and help them is even nuttier.
Agreed Jane.
NAN, you can’t save everyone. You try to do all you can. Putting yourself in immediate peril is reserved for those in immediate peril. A homeless person’s situation is not obvious to others unless they are obvious dire straits.
We all have our own abilities to help and our own opinions about what we can do. Do you actually take action and have interventions with every alcoholic or drug addict you meet? Can you identify those in immediate need there? It sounds completely far-fetched and irrational. Your statement was almost too “out there” for a response. I already stated I usually give persons I consider in need food or change, though philosopically I am not sure it is the right thing to do. Sometimes it just feels right.
Well if YOU don’t consider someone to be “in need”, anon.miss then they aren’t, case closed. The real reason “heros” need to be pointed out and identified by the media and others is that otherwise the anon.miss’s can’t seem to figure out who’s in distress. And even after heros are pointed out, it has the effect on them of water on a duck’s back.
And according to Jane, being a woman is a disability, that makes you less heroic. I guess Betty Chin is no lady in Jane’s book. A woman once stopped to help me by the side of the road, I’m grateful. Thank goodness she wasn’t of the unable Jane mentality. Maybe you watch too many of those English Victorian dramas and believe “proper” women are helpless fainting, swooning creatures. Either read up on some history or get some self respect. No ERA for you.
JEEZUS what a nutcase!
I’m not altruistic enough to risk getting chopped up and buried in the woods by some serial killer pretending to have a broke down car 100 miles from nowhere. Maybe you are. Good luck with that.
So,
I will make another attempt since moderation is most definately why my last comment didn’t upload (it appears).
Hmmmm = Judge who I am from my syntax
Hmmmm = Some of us want our ideas to be appreciated, not our names, faces, or avatars.
Seems to me that connecting the dots also can expose those entrusted political officials and well known political insiders too who enter the platform with intentions less than ethical. It never ceases to amaze me that people still use walls to hide behind from. Now, I am not saying that anonymouses can’t tell the truth or that they don’t manipulate so as to disguise their true identities; yet, fear from being publicly recognized plays huge as to why real names are not used. So, at least with real names, truth of the blah, blah, blah can be at least defined as, “we all know what YOU said.” Apparantly, plenty of people fear something which is why so many hide behind walls….nuff said, over and out.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
P.J. 3:21 pm,
hopefully, you don’t speak for most other women, or people for that matter. I would think most women would not be so low as to not stop and help someone; or, is that just a “man’s” job? Demented chauvinism it would seem, don’t you think? Reality is though, more people of all sexes and genders don’t stop; so, let’s just say that is how it is due to, I dunno, maybe safety concerns?
Please leave out the prickly pringles of stereotyping women as inferior and worthless, caring less for others and only themselves P.J..
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
3:30 pm,
Do you agree with the first part or last part of P.J.’s comment; or, both?
Sadly, my daughter and I were on the road all alone needing assistance because we (me being a mother) could not figure out how to change the flat tire. A man came by, abused me and my daughter, then abducted my daughter while I lay on the road waiting for help that some criminal left me for to die.
So, to be abrupt ladies, don’t assume you are in peril. Maybe the stranded driver and her daughter are in peril too on the side of the road during that deluge of a rainstorm on a dark, windy and rainy night! Cheers to civil service motorists.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
The Federalist Papers were originally published anonymously. Three authors, no less, used the pseudonym “Publius” even though none of them was really named “Publius.” Apparently, they were forgiven; their goal – ratification of the Constitution – was achieved.
I won’t bother to address your seemingly schizophrenic comments, Jeff. I will assume you and Nan just drive the highways and byways looking for hitchhikers, beggars and motorists in distress to help without concern for your own well being. It’s amazing with such good Samaritans as yourselves around there is anyone in need. Calling the CHP is the prudent thing to do if someone needs help. Women are physically weaker than most men but, apparently, some us are smarter.
Ditto and not worth further comment. Brother!
anon.miss/Jane, both wack jobs oblivious to and in denial of their hypocrisy and rationalizations. Sure, its OK for other to be heros but when it gets close to their being personally called upon, its all “no one in their sane mind would actually do that”. They’re the “do as I say not as I do” crowd.
Henchman, yes, I agree with all of Jane’s post of 3:21. Do you want to take a stand on that for your campaign? Did anyone here say women are worthless and weak? Did you know that more rapes and violent crimes occur by men against women than the reverse?
NAN is just a bad-tasting fruitcake. Back to my point- I thought what Larry did was commendable.
No, Anonymiss, NAN is just an asshole.
Eh… the authors of the Federalist Papers would have been killed. Not really the same thing as the local snipe-fest, is it?
I’m sorry, I can’t stand it. What is with the Fredricksen ad? Is this guy running for “Grave-digger” or what? He doesn’t look too happy.
Oh, I’m just a helpless lil’ anon/jane woman and can’t possibly help that (evil looking)man. And anyway he doesn’t look like he’s in dire straits. Those appologists for fearful cowardice won’t ever be getting the award Betty Chinn got, guess she’s a lot bigger than they are. A LOT bigger of a person.
And luckily Mr. Nice never needed to hitch a ride on the road. Or maybe he did and got one because of course he’s mr. nice, everybody driving by would know that. But now it seems, the only people he sees on the road needing help are messers not-nice.
5:06 pm,
I can understand that “type” of concern in a transitioning social atmosphere of mass proportions, sts.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Exactly, NAN. Wish we lived in a less violent world. Yep, 6:13. A big one.
P.J. @ 5:12,
Yes, P.J. @ 3:21 pm, you said “MAY” as if it was optional (how generous of you to consider the time of day, sts) – in your first sentence none the less. Also, your post was written in a manner that was direct in suggesting women are inferior. I don’t believe that. In fact, how many women are better trained in medical situations? I would think more; but, what the heck do I know or consider.
Now, you twist and shift your position into “smarter” as if IQ is now a requirement in some form or context.
How far away does someone need to be in their car to have a safe distance while not having to get out of the car, but calling the CHP or any other authority?
Who is in the running and non-broken down vehicle (not the stranded person on the side of the road, for sure).
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
I’m quite sure that NAN and Jeff tell their wives and daughters to stop and help any stranger who appears to be stranded rather than call for help. They are both full of schit up to the tops of their pointy heads.
Anony.Miss @ 5:53 pm,
What = “on that”?
If I am driving by and you happen to be a stranger to me (I am a male and you are a female), why would I not stop by if my heart is in the right place to assess the situation for possible distressfulness.
Not all men are raping pigs A.M. This is my point – sterotyping men broken down as 100% a threat or “nuts” is, well stereotyping. Kinda like stereotyping a person who is homeless, or hungry, or, or, or, just because no one human being has all the same traits; but, for some reasons, levels and classifications become abusive to the social order of doing the right thing.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
7:17 P.J.,
How so? Re-read those 2 questions I presented for you. Don’t you think they are fair options to take if a person feels unsure about their safety? Just curious.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Throw the politics out in this case. Good job Larry. You are a local hero.
No one said that, Jeff.
Exactly H,
no one ever said terotyping or sterotyping or stereotyping was said – it was the implication by expressed words that was obviously, well stereotyping on at least two fronts.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
I disagree.
Jeff, if I see you on the side of the road, I’ll help you. But then you owe me a beer.
H,
How so?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
o.p.,
I could accept that as a stipening condition / Thank You for a good gesture by yourself. However, depending on the circumstances, I may only have dollars and cents to stipen so you could get that beer yourself, AFTER driving of course!
JL
I don’t see the stereotyping.
Jeff – you are down the road from me. I can stop by later and have that beer
Jeff has serious problems with comprehension if he understood either Anony.miss or myself to have said that all men are all dangerous or nuts. If he can tell the difference between a dangerous stranger and a safe stranger, he should suspend his bid for supervisor and become a cop. Furthermore, I would rather the CHP come to help me than a stranger whose motives it is impossible to know.
If only all rapists had a horn and a tail.
You know H, jeffreys absolutely correct, jane wrote “stopping for a stranger by the side of the road is just nuts”, and then she goes further to write that people who say helping a stranger is the right thing to do are also “nuts”. Thats completely streotyping all people in need on the road. You can call it as you want but that whats on the thread.
You know, Betty Chinn received multiple hero awards for helping desperate people who others say should be feared and avoided. Some blog commenters call her “nuts” with the same assurance that as in this thread.
That kind of hypocrisy only gives aid and comfort to the neocons who claim selfish self interest and power grabbing is the real objective of every progressive cause. Perhaps its true of some who adopt progressive positions. And they should be “called out” on it, as the President has said.
I completely agree with you Jane. There’s a lot of male privilege messing up the brainwaves in this thread.
Feeding the homeless is not stopping on a lonely road to help a stranger when you could call to get them the help they need. I highly doubt that Betty would do it either. Attempting to conflate the two very different activities is just more NAN BS.
NAN, you left you some pertinent parts. Jane said:
That’s reasonable. If women have to ignore the high occurrence of rape and put themselves in jeopardy in order to avoid being called a neocon, well, whatever.
I don’t understand the “male privilege” sterotyping either.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Thanks Kristabel. I would like to add that I think there are women who are every bit as dangerous as men. That’s why we have prisons for them too.
Ignorance is bliss, Jeff.
H,
What ignorance do you mean?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
I hope anyone who is considering voting for Jeff reads this thread. He would need an interpreter just to listen to his constituents concerns.
Twisting logic seems to have gone viral in this thread. At least if you like playing with words, give them real world meaning. The newspaper comics are, currently, much better. You have to have a believable story line.
Fear/media.
Ouch P.J.,
Do I need a cup?
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
Now there’s a stereotype for you.
Reality, Moviedad. Do you tell your daughters (assuming you have any) to stop and help strangers on lonely roads? There have been many murders of people (men and women) in Humboldt County by total strangers (including couples) in crimes of opportunity to steal cars, rob or rape the would-be good Samaritan as well as people in need of assistance or a ride when picked up by strangers. I can never forget that teenage girl picked up by the truck driver who was repeatedly raped, shot in the head, dumped in the Russian river and left for dead. She was one of his lucky victims. Personally, I’d rather take my chances waiting for the CHP.
There was also the case of the man who picked up 2 brothers (locals) on 299 who beat him to death with a hammer and robbed him. Last I heard they were out of prison. And the case of the doctor in Trinidad who was murdered by the young couple to steal his car. Not to mention the women whose whereabouts are unknown.
I’ll let some dirty Reggae hippies in the truck, but I’m not about to pull over in the middle of the woods for some poor sob’s breakdown. I think there is a difference in risk with those things. I’ve broken down and never expected help nor wanted it.
Heraldo,
How we can stereotypically agree! I do need a “sports cup” though for these shape shifting squib kicks below the belt.
Yes P.J., those were very sad events.
Thank You for offsetting your previous assertions with less stereotypical examples, as sad as those particular situations still are. Good job nonetheless!!!
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
So, to make sure we’re all on the same page — a woman traveling alone on back roads should stop to help men with their car troubles to avoid stereotyping all men as a threat. Meanwhile, you need a sports cup to take part in these on-line discussions.
Ms Jane, it is perfectly ok not to stop and help someone you don’t know; or pick up a hitchhiker. But why does the the person have to be a serial killer? Can’t it just be that ‘you’ don’t want to? I don’t usually pick up hitchhikers, but it’s not their fault; it’s mine. I feel uncomfortable sitting that close to someone for an hour. I have issues, what can I say. I can still send good thoughts in their direction. And I will pick up someone now and then if it’s a reasonable distance.
My point is that the media puts out all these negative, fearful notions that most(if not all) people are inherently dangerous. Yet the media seems to worship the killers. They celebre-tize rapists and predators. I guess we’re supposed to be shocked at how heinous and depraved these guys are; but there is a certain admiration that seeps through the coverage.
In a real emergency or crisis, you might see through the “Prestone Antifreeze” commercial and jump right in with flashlight and crescent wrench. But that’s your choice.
Well I’m sure more afraid of being called a stereotyping, sexist, neocon than being raped, tortured and locked in a box under a bed for years and / or murdered.
That is reasonable, Moviedad. But what started this whole crazy argument was NAN saying that it was IMMORAL to pass anyone up and Jeff agreeing with him. There are instances when I will pick up a hitchhiker or stop to see if someone needs help, but each situation has to be decided individually and a judgmental azzhole on a blog isn’t going to change that.
Stopping to help a stranded motorist or giving rides to hitchhikers is a judgment call. There’s no reason to guilt a woman for not doing it, and it has shit to do with how progressive you are.
P.J. @ 3:21 pm ~~~~~~~~~ How about replacing women with “people”? This discussion has been a hearty round about back to the emphasis that Moviedad, as well as others have made, which is again to assess the situation and not to just pass it off as “why bother because I am a woman, let alone, an alone woman” (there are ways to compensate for extra security – no one said get out of your vehicle as the type of help). So many variables that occur and don’t even get reported…………
…………like this – how many hitchhikers and motorless folks actually do not create a threat. Interesting how statistics CAN be used in one mannerism; yet, in another mannerism, no statistics even exist to defend the reality that such human interaction occurs AND HAS OCCURED for longer than we have been alive, safely and respectfully. We all have brains, I think we can agree on that. More so, do we all have a fellow compassion to at minimum lift a finger? I would hope so because “MAY” is not an option for myself, I am not built that way by fear or elitisms.
Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District
How about replacing Jeffrey with a rational person capable of grasping the fact that WOMEN are more vulnerable than men, are the victims of the overwhelming number of rapes and kidnappings, and most are weaker physically than most men.
If you aren’t going to get out of your vehicle or give them a ride, what more help can you be other than to call the CHP to check on their welfare? I think you argue for the sake of arguing and rarely have anything of value to contribute.
How about all of you nuts just shut up?
The fact is that pulling someone from the water is dangerous. Every year, would-be life savers drown in an effort to pull someone to safety.
Thank you Larry Glass, and we’re glad you didn’t get hurt.
TRUE! Jane and I sometimes disagree politically but we sure found common ground here. This isn’t about stereotyping; it’s about statistics.
I was speaking to RedHummer at 6:51 when I said “TRUE”. Seeing Henchman’s Posts make me wonder if he has anything else to do but philosophize and twist words. And OMG his partner-in-over-idealistic ranting, NAN. I think we should move on…
Yeah right, what does he have to contribute, except well researched, insightful and respectful commentary. Your right, why would you want someone posting on these sites who never seems to get rude and always manages to keep the conversation on an intelligent level.
It seems pretty lame to speculate about why someone has time to post. Perhaps he does like I do, and just checks in often during the day. I can already tell you have suspicions of nefarious activities. You both sound like adolescent children who are getting themselves worked up about rapists, murderers and ghosts (oh my!). My diagnosis is you watch too much TV. Switch the channel to something less sensational. Yeah, good luck finding it.
Message received. Women who read the news (or know from personal experience) who are cautious about interacting with strangers in lonely places are acting like children and watch too much TV. We should just listen to the much smarter men and not worry about anything. Of course, women who aren’t cautious and end up dead or worse are blamed for putting themselves in that situation in the first place. Another blowhard who doesn’t have a clue of what he is talking about.
Yeah, why get all worked up about rapists? No one else does. Just look at the Jaycee Dugard case, where parole officers were too lazy and disinterested to find Dugard in the back yard of a convicted rapist/kidnapper where she was held captive for 18 years.
Then there’s the current fiasco in Fort Bragg, where a (male) rape victim finally shot and killed the asshole after police repeatedly ignored complaints by other people, including the rapist’s ex-wife.
Men who compare a woman’s fear of rape and murder to fear of ghosts can’t be taken seriously, H. Apparently there are Neanderthal traits lurking in the gene pool.
Oh Jeez…give it a rest already.