Balloon Boy

October 19, 2009

The story last week of the “balloon boy” captivated the country. The media coverage of the story was widespread. We all know that whole episode was a hoax, a publicity stunt orchestrated by the father of the boy and with the active participation of the whole family.

Here are some reflections on the incident.

It was moving to see that so many shared the anxiety for one little boy we believed was trapped in the sky. It is reassuring to see instinctive reactions of empathy manifest itself spontaneously. It indicates that people care.  No efforts to rescue him were spared. Yet, in the U.S. thousands of children die of hunger, neglect and abuse everyday but we don’t witness the same overwhelming sympathy and action.

Why?

There are many possible explanations.

One of them is that it is easier to relate to the plight of one individual, particularly if it is a child, than to relate to the despair of a large number of people.

A second explanation could be that we can become discouraged of taking any action when the demand is so overwhelming.

One way to combat such lassitude is to think of people in need in terms of individuals, not in terms of numbers. If an action we undertake helps just one person, then it is worth it. We should remember the quote attributed to the Talmud that says: “He who saves one life saves the world entire.” (This quote was mentioned in the last scene of Spielberg’s Oscar winning movie “Schindler’s List.” In that scene, Oscar Schindler, who is distraught and weeping for not having saved more lives is offered a ring by the people he saved with the quoted inscribe inside the ring.)

As to the hoax there is one question that comes to my mind:

Was Mr. Heene’s wife (the only other adult in this story) a willing participant or was she coerced?  Reports indicate that Mr. Heene has been investigated, in the past for spousal abuse. If she was coerced, to what decree was she truly responsible for her actions?

We may find ourselves in our professional and private life in a situation where we are strongly influenced, if not coerced, to do something we know is not right. We need to have the moral courage and strength to overcome our fears and simply say “no.” 

As General Douglas McArthur once said:

“The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave - it’s the aged-old struggle - the roar of the crowd on one side and the voice of conscience on the other.”

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