Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DarkBronzePlant · 05-28-2002, 11:46 AM

I just read this article on CNN.com: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/05/28/barton.cnna/index.html" target="_blank">Bridge rescuer credits 'greater power than us'</a> fully expecting to be annoyed, given the title. And I was. But not because of why you might think. Read it and let me know if you see why, and if you agree.

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: DarkBronzePlant ]</p>

IvanK · 05-28-2002, 12:05 PM

Couldn't possibly be the friggin' idiot who shot a flare gun at a semi going 70 per, hitting the windshield? Fine line indeed between heroism and sheer stupidity . . .

DarkBronzePlant · 05-28-2002, 12:36 PM

Heh heh. Actually that did occur to me. But no, I mainly found it interesting/aggrevating that the whole crediting a "greater power than us" was just a minor, minor blip in what the interviewee said, yet CNN saw fit to make it the headline.

Flynn McKerrow · 05-28-2002, 12:45 PM

So is the guy crediting this "higher power" for having a fishing tournament scheduled nearby so that there would be alot of potential rescuers? Or for making the bridge collapse in the first place?

Kvalhion · 05-28-2002, 12:49 PM

I agree, I was prepared to be disgusted about the article praising God for being able to rescue one person while a dozen others died. Focusing on that one blurb was rather pointless, however.

Still, it does promote the idea that we should be thanking our "higher power" for causing the bridge to crash, killing over a dozen people, but saving one or two here and there. God Bless America!

Hedwig · 05-28-2002, 02:12 PM

Oh, hell. That's in my area of the world. If you're local, you attribute everything to a higher power. At least the truck driver was reported to say that he owed a great deal of thanks to the fact that he wore his seat belt and the fact that two fishermen were there to pull him out.

Grumpy · 05-28-2002, 02:19 PM

Just once I'd like to see a witness at a disaster scene say, "I blame God for causing this tornado." Or, "God helped us find the survivors, but God prevented us from finding the ones who died. So it's a mixed bag."

And I'd pee myself if I ever heard a celebrity/athlete/politician say (sincerely), "I draw strength from my lack of faith."

Ensign Morituri · 05-28-2002, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Grumpy:
<strong>Just once I'd like to see a witness at a disaster scene say, "I blame God for causing this tornado." Or, "God helped us find the survivors, but God prevented us from finding the ones who died. So it's a mixed bag."
</strong>

I always wonder why those people who claim that God is punishing the wicked every time a flood hits Bangladesh (or a jet liner hits an office tower) never comment about God's wrath when tornadoes hit a trailer park in Alberta or Tennessee.

[ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: Ensign Morituri ]</p>

DarkBronzePlant · 05-28-2002, 03:08 PM

Actually, for those who weren't able to read the article

, the rescuer interviewed in the article wasn't really thanking god or anything at all. Throughout the relatively lengthy article, he made only a brief comment about a "higher power" (and for that matter, hell, he could've been talking about the force of the river's current that helped get his boat to the bridge faster.) It was CNN that jumped all over that one comment when they named the article.

Corwin · 05-28-2002, 03:27 PM

Ok... this one time the whole flare gun bit worked...

Good thing that semi wasn't carrying LOX/methane/gasoline........

05-28-2002, 11:46 AM	#1
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	et tu, CNN? I just read this article on CNN.com: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/05/28/barton.cnna/index.html" target="_blank">Bridge rescuer credits 'greater power than us'</a> fully expecting to be annoyed, given the title. And I was. But not because of why you might think. Read it and let me know if you see why, and if you agree. [ May 28, 2002: Message edited by: DarkBronzePlant ]</p>

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05-28-2002, 12:05 PM	#2
IvanK Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,016	Couldn't possibly be the friggin' idiot who shot a flare gun at a semi going 70 per, hitting the windshield? Fine line indeed between heroism and sheer stupidity . . .

05-28-2002, 12:36 PM	#3
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	Heh heh. Actually that did occur to me. But no, I mainly found it interesting/aggrevating that the whole crediting a "greater power than us" was just a minor, minor blip in what the interviewee said, yet CNN saw fit to make it the headline.

05-28-2002, 12:45 PM	#4
Flynn McKerrow Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: surrounded by fundies Posts: 768	So is the guy crediting this "higher power" for having a fishing tournament scheduled nearby so that there would be alot of potential rescuers? Or for making the bridge collapse in the first place?

05-28-2002, 12:49 PM	#5
Kvalhion Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Southern CA Posts: 441	I agree, I was prepared to be disgusted about the article praising God for being able to rescue one person while a dozen others died. Focusing on that one blurb was rather pointless, however. Still, it does promote the idea that we should be thanking our "higher power" for causing the bridge to crash, killing over a dozen people, but saving one or two here and there. God Bless America!

05-28-2002, 02:12 PM	#6
Hedwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,921	Oh, hell. That's in my area of the world. If you're local, you attribute everything to a higher power. At least the truck driver was reported to say that he owed a great deal of thanks to the fact that he wore his seat belt and the fact that two fishermen were there to pull him out.

05-28-2002, 02:19 PM	#7
Grumpy Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,535	Just once I'd like to see a witness at a disaster scene say, "I blame God for causing this tornado." Or, "God helped us find the survivors, but God prevented us from finding the ones who died. So it's a mixed bag." And I'd pee myself if I ever heard a celebrity/athlete/politician say (sincerely), "I draw strength from my lack of faith."

05-28-2002, 03:08 PM	#9
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	Actually, for those who weren't able to read the article , the rescuer interviewed in the article wasn't really thanking god or anything at all. Throughout the relatively lengthy article, he made only a brief comment about a "higher power" (and for that matter, hell, he could've been talking about the force of the river's current that helped get his boat to the bridge faster.) It was CNN that jumped all over that one comment when they named the article.

05-28-2002, 03:27 PM	#10
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	Ok... this one time the whole flare gun bit worked... Good thing that semi wasn't carrying LOX/methane/gasoline........

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