A crowded airplane often brings out the worst — but sometimes also the best — in passenger behavior. Two examples in the accompanying column.

Bringing out best in people;
wishing novice soldier well

THE WAY SOME HANDLE ADVERSITY
CAN BE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL
 
By David Maril
 
On the one-year anniversary of the Newtown school-shooting tragedy in Connecticut, we continue to question why there was no recognition of how sick and dangerous the individual was who murdered 20 first-graders and six teachers.

Perhaps if he’d received the right professional help and not had access to so many weapons, the horrible event at Sandy Hook Elementary School would not have occurred.

Some of us wonder how many other troubled and unstable people are out there struggling to get by and also having problems dealing with life in our competitive world.

The intensity of the coverage of such a horrible news event raises speculation that there are increasing numbers of people who can’t deal with today’s society.

You hear commentary about how soft and pampered we’ve become in our materialistic world. Some theorize that if we aren’t born into wealth or lucky enough to win a big lottery, we are likely to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves or go out and do something crazy out of frustration.

The truth, however, is we don’t hear about all the people who do cope with obstacles, setbacks and frustrations. The majority who are dealt a bad hand quietly go about their business and lead productive lives.

Believe it or not, you can discover a lot of reassuring evidence in airports and airplanes that most people are not becoming self-centered and dysfunctional.

The other day I observed two women confined to wheelchairs who were waiting in the pre-board area to board an airplane headed for Baltimore at Green Airport in Providence, R.I.

IT TURNED OUT THEY HAD MUCH IN COMMON

They started conversing and it turned out they had much in common. Both, in their late 50s, had been stricken with multiple sclerosis years ago.

“I’d like to be able to get around the way I used to instead of having to watch myself and save my energy,” the white-haired woman said. “But you know, looking on the bright side, I had a job I couldn’t stand at the time I was stricken.  I hated going to work and really felt trapped.”

Wearing a wide smile, she added, “Today, I get up every day and consider myself lucky in that I had the medical and disability coverage so I can do things that I want, within reason.

“Sure, I’d rather be completely healthy and I would have eventually found a different job, but on the bright side, I’ve had time to pursue other interests.”

A few of the other travelers standing in line also waiting to get on the airplane smiled at the woman’s comments about being able to escape a job she detested.

The woman in the other wheelchair nodded her head. “I kept working until last year,” she said. “I was a physical therapist and liked my job.”

FAMILY HAS BEEN A BLESSING

“My biggest problem is I go out and still try to do too much and I have to be more careful to save my strength. But my family has been wonderful. My husband and children have been a blessing. I’m really grateful for their support, and we came closer as a family.”

The two continued talking, comparing notes about treatment and how they worked around their physical limitations. It was noticeable that the positive nature of their conversation was uplifting to the other travelers standing around.

The reality is these type of solid and focused individuals are typical and not the exception to the rule.  They don’t grab the headlines but they represent the real stories.

Of course, we hear and experience a lot of reports about extreme cases of bad behavior and selfishness on airplanes. And that’s somewhat understandable when you take into consideration the high percentage of travelers who get stressed out when they fly. Many become even more irritable from standing in security lines, and restless from the confinement of an airplane seat.

Occasionally, however, there are pleasant surprises, like the one described.

On another of my recent trips, a flight attendant made what once was considered a rather unconventional announcement:

THE YOUNG MAN IN SEAT 17A

“We’d like to recognize a young man in seat 17A who is on his way to meet a flight out of Washington to serve in the military in the Middle East. Let’s welcome him and wish him well in serving his country.”

There was a mild smattering of applause. It was no big deal as the 737 was just starting to take off and most of the passengers were self-absorbed in their travel itinerary.

But an hour later, when the airplane made its landing in Baltimore, the flight attendant made another unconventional announcement.

“Please stay seated when the airplane comes to a stop so we can honor the young man making the sacrifice to serve his country by letting him off the airplane first.”

A couple of passengers near the front, in a rush to deplane, grumbled about being in a hurry and started started to head toward the aisle when the airplane came to a stop.

“Sit down!” ordered the flight attendant.

THE ROAR OF APPLAUSE WAS DEAFENING

Before they could argue, a loud roar of applause started building from the back of the airplane as the young man, who appeared to be about 20 years old, made his way to the front.

The applause was deafening by the time he reached the front rows. Even the two impatient passengers began clapping.

The soldier, about 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, looked as if he was headed off to classes at a college campus instead of on his way to face potentially perilous conditions on the battlefields of Iraq.

He seemed embarrassed at first, over being the center of attention for 140 people on the airplane. But when he turned back to thank everyone for their support, you could see how much he was moved by the experience.

In the airport many of the passengers took the time to walk up to him and wish him good luck.

It didn’t matter that some people on that flight probably don’t agree with all of America’s foreign policy positions. Yet despite the political polarization in our country, the passengers were united in their concern for the safety of a person in the prime of life headed for potentially dangerous military duty.

And for one of the few times on an airplane, people were not just thinking about themselves.
 
davidmaril@hermanmaril.com
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Southwest Airlines in particular often recognizes military personnel on their flights, publicly thanking them for their service. Plus some other airlines, that charge for baggage check, offer that service free to American military. Many have reduced fares for military personnel as well.

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