Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Of kindness...Christmas...and such things

I don't know the specifics of the story, flight number etc., but I do know on Sunday the 24th, a flight was going from NYC to Chicago. In the terminal in New York were two soldiers who had been delayed in their flight from Iraq, and they were desperate to get home to see their families.

Upon checking in at the United terminal, the clerk took it upon herself to upgrade the soldiers to first class, as there were a few seats open. When the plane landed, one of the flight attendants announced over the speaker system that the soldiers were on the plane, and the attendant asked if everyone could please remain seated for an extra 30 seconds to a minute so the soldiers could de-plane first and meet their families in the terminal.

The first thing that happened was the non-stop clapping and cheering as reported by several of the passengers on the flight. The second thing was - now get this, America - the passengers actually did as requested, and allowed the soldiers to debark first.

Been on a plane in say - the last 20 years? If you ever want a concrete example of "Ugly, rude, American's", take a ride on a plane and just watch as they all try to get off first, pushing and shoving old ladies and children out of the way. But not this time, evidently. Everyone either sat and cheered or stood and cheered, and no one tried to force his or her way forward. Even those with connecting flights.

Maybe...just maybe...there is hope for us yet.

Maybe.

2 comments:

leelee said...

I think so...there is alot of kindness out there, you'd be surprised when you really stop to look..and I go out of my way because...well it's Karmic...what comes around goes around....right?

JL4 said...

That's what they say...whoever "they" are...