When US Air 1549 splash landed on the Hudson River last year, the entire drama took only six minutes from initial impact with a flock of geese to touchdown on the water. All 150 passengers survived thanks to Capt. Sully Sullenberger and his crew. It was plane crash with a happy ending. In the annals of survival stories, what could be better?
Now we know the answer: A mine disaster with a happy ending.
In so many ways, the Chilean story is like US Air 1549 played out in super slow motion. Instead of six minutes, it took 69 days.
The saga of Los 33 is by far the most exceptional and unusual story that I've encountered in my research on who lives (and who dies) in extreme situations. The so-called "Miracle of San Jose" has many of the time-honored features of survival epics going back to the Shackleton Expedition of 1914-1917. But then it breaks all the rules.
To be sure, the first 17 days of the mine disaster followed the prototypical pattern: 33 isolated and desperate men battle for survival with a dwindling food supply and little chance of getting out alive. Above ground, the frantic search is going nowhere. In desperation, the government reaches out to four psychics who survey the scene and announce there is no hope.
"Forget it," they say. "They're all dead."
Underground, the men subsist on 2 bites of tuna, a cracker, and a swig of milk every 48 hours. When they are finally located, they are reportedly down to their last two tins of tuna.
In the following 52 days, after a supply line is set up, the story departs from every tradition. Yes, there is great danger - will the earth shake and the mine collapse again? - but the timeless survival saga quickly morphs into something very different: A new-fangled reality (or perhaps "surreality") TV show with life and death stakes.
A few examples:
To be clear, none of this is meant to diminish what the 33 endured in their subterranean Hell. No human beings have ever survived underground for so long. Surely, we have no idea of their horrors and hardships. And we all await every single detail.
Los 33 command our attention - and bring tears to our eyes - for so many reasons. Thirty three men rise from the dead. They're reborn into the world. They're reunited with families, friends (and mistresses). And now, they can breathe free.
It's a suspense thriller, psychological drama, love story and wish-fulfillment fantasy all at once. And now, we get to follow these men on a roller coaster ride to an unknown destination.
Does posttraumatic stress disorder lie ahead? For most, the answer is no. They will be fine. For some, there will be surely be flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, sleeplessness, and anxiety.
Does Hollywood beckon? Definitely.
Will dreams come true? Absolutely.
Consider Edison Pena, a 34-year-old Elvis Presley fanatic who reportedly led other miners in sing-alongs underground.
From the start, Pena's family seems to have grasped the possibilities, sending a note of encouragement to him underground with a photo of Elvis attached.
"Hang in there," they wrote, "because soon you're going to be more famous than Elvis."
They may not be entirely right about his fame, but they weren't wrong about the opportunities.
Presley Enterprises in Tennessee has offered Pena and his family an all-expenses-paid trip to Graceland. Says a spokesman: "When he feels up to it, we'll welcome him . . . with open arms and make him feel like a rock star."
Follow Ben Sherwood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/survivorsclub
How many of 'us' can say we would have done any better than they did if placed into that situation.
Libs want to use it as a metaphor for every big budget social program ever divised.
Well, two can play at that game. If it weren't for the Koch Brothers, there wouldn't be any mining.
And then there wouldn't be any miners.
No cave...no superstar croning and Globalist Do-Gooding.
How about that anthracite?
Once in a while the Gods intervene to put Progressivism in it's proper perspective. Amen.
It's a metaphor played out literally. And ultimately a good omen IMO. As well as being, perhaps, a catalyst for better working and living conditions.
So are you're saying that Massey and its hideous CEO, Dan Blankenship, cannot be blamed for the death or injury of those who are making them so very wealthy, since, well ... they are mining coal, not something easy like copper and gold.
Are you aware that the Upper Branch mine had been cited more than 50 times (FIFTY) for safety violations just on the month before the 25 miners were killed? Did you know that that the miners there had lost more work time due to accidents than any other miners in the country? Are you aware that Massey foremen had been cited for faking safety inspections and forcing miners to work in dangerous conditions?
The biggest danger the unfortunate Upper Big Branch miners were facing was their employers: Massey Energy and Dan Blankenship.
... and one will become a multi-millionaire ruthless OWNER of a mining company that is fined for horrifying safety violations.
Irony ALWAYS has the last word.
The Republican belief that each man needs to look out for only himself, watch out for your family and step on anyone else's that might be getting something you want, this is old and tired and ultimately serves no one. Under this popular GOP value system, these men would have perished.
Thank you, Chile, for reminding us that more pertinent then associating ourselves as an American, a liberal, a conservative, a New Yorker, a 'patriot' or any other labels that we seem to need to use to provide us with identity and stability, we are human beings. And when we come together as brothers and sisters of humanity, we can DO ANYTHING.
Why did he abandon his normal philosophy for this crisis?
As the world's FIRST Billionaire president, he has vast propaganda experience. He also took office during the aftermath of Chile's recent earthquake disaster. He knows the value of a good photo-op when he sees one -- but his approval rating in Chile has only risen to 57% despite the tide of pro-Chile nationalism. His Secretary of Mining has gigantic numbers, in contrast.
Why the lack of profit for Mr. Pinera?
In Chile, the PINERA family includes many prominent Pineras, including Jose Pinera, the architect of PRIVATIZING Chile's Social Security system under CIA-installed bloody right-wing dictator, Augusto PInochet. Perhaps Chileans recognize Mr. Pinera for the "Every Man For Himself" wolf-in-sheep's clothing that he really is.
or are you deliberately grinding an agenda of ignoring
the incalculable all-or-nothing political risk
of potential total or partial failure or mis-steps in execution
that Pineda assumed in the handling of this rescue operation?
It takes real cojones to take this kind of risk.
Can you point to one iota of lack of total honesty???
Can you point to one iota of lack of competence??
Can you point to one iota of evidence of lack of total candor??
Can you point to one iota of lack of absolute transparency??
Can you point to one iota of lack of humanitarian involvement??
This rescue operation was perfection in every aspect.
PINEDA ROCKS ! ! !
GOLBORNE TOTALLY ROCKS ! ! !
as to Pineda's approval rating
"only risen to 57%"(per "media polls")
Pineda has strong political opponents;
Golborne has none
.
"Hang in there," they wrote, "because soon you're going to be more famous than Elvis."
This blasphemy I say. lol
The absolutely professional way that Chile handled
this rescue project at every level
with absolute-almost brutal-honesty and total transparency
serves as a benchmark as to how a national disaster should be handled.
Perfection of execution of this order will stand as a monument for the ages.
The way Chile handled this is a far cry from
how the US handled Katrina and the BP Gulf oil spill...
it makes the US look like Keystone Cops,
totally gutless incompetent punk amateurs;
and somewhat slimy to boot, in respect to the US policy
of perennial evasion of the truth
and of total and honest transparency,
despite political risks involved. .
Kudos to President Pineda and especially to
Laurence Golborne, Chilean Minister of Mining
(who only was appointed to this office earlier this year).
Chileans will be known forever for this stellar accomplishment,
but even more, for their openness, honesty, integrity, character and humanitarianism
in how they approached and dealt this "mission impossible" task.
Perfection of execution of this order will stand as a monument for the ages.
.
Chile assessed what assistance would be needed, and actively sought the best
assistance that they could obtain; some from US, some from China, some from others.
(you fail to note another very important US contribution-Laurence Golborne received a
significant portion of his education in the US---he is one helluva brilliant dude!!!)
I don't believe that US asked for help from Chile for Katrina or BP oil spill--
US totally, and I mean TOTALLY, TOTALLY, fluffed up on Katrina, and is still persisting in this pattern.
The US response is equally to be ashamed of---allowing BP to lie about what was occurring, and to flail around helplessly until it became obvious to the meanest intelligence
that this was an enormous environmental and economic disaster, and public outcry exerted enough political pressure to force the US to get involved....and to boot, it is still a mess down there.
US unquestionably has brilliant engineering, and technology people who know everything about their respective fields of expertise, and how to apply it.....
Politically, we invariably act like a moronic asses when it comes to assessing, acknowledging, and responding to disaster.
Incidentallty you fail to mention the other great US disaster--the economy--
where again, US turned the problem over to the very persons who caused the disaster, and even more than Katrina and BP, politically US government has acted--and continues to act--like political asses---- blinded, corrupted, and rendered witless and powerless by Wall Street.
.