“Today, hope, compassion, and courage has won".
These were the words of Iceland’s prime minister, Katrin Jakobsdottir, who was the first world leader to welcome the news of the amazing cave rescue in Northern Thailand, through her tweet on Tuesday, 10 July.
As the world was waiting with bated breath to know the fate of the 12 boys and their football coach, stuck for 18 days in a deep, dark underground cave; and as the torrential rain and flooding waters inside the tunnels, made the rescue operation extremely dangerous, what has ultimately survived and succeeded is this: the undaunted spirit of collective human endeavour.
Today, hope, compassion, and courage has won. Warmest wishes for a speedy recovery to all of you brave boys from your friends in Iceland. #ThaiCaveRescue— Katrín Jakobsdóttir (@katrinjak) July 10, 2018
Hope. Compassion. Courage. These three words that Iceland’s Prime Minister used are not only apposite for this amazing daredevil operation, but also appropriate in ascribing to human beings the qualities they are capable of.
The seemingly pessimistic human nature is just an exterior to a strong optimistic determination that we all have deep inside, when it comes to helping others.
We possess within us this hidden potential, which somehow surfaces only when we come together, and struggle together, to lift others up, without losing hope.
This coming together of the Thai navy seals, divers, doctors, aid-workers, psychologists, counsellors and all other experts, in this hour of need to bring out the cold and hungry boys from the dark and deep subterranean tunnels -- so that they can safely return to their loved ones, and so that they can continue experiencing the joy of life -- deserves much praise and appreciation.
Our best cheers, therefore, must go to these remarkable rescue participants; to all those, from Thailand and outside, who fought against all odds to get the boys and their coach out.
More than the cheering of our favourite football teams in the World Cup - where those soccer stars are anyway earning megabucks for their participation in the ongoing sporting extravaganza in Russia - it is the cheering of these ‘rescue workers’ and their selfless determination and dedicated hard-work that, I think, really matters.
I had closely followed the news, in 2010, when a similar cave rescue operation went on – for many days - in the South American country of Chile. In an astounding daredevil operation, after 69 days inside, all 33 miners were rescued.
Trapped with no way out, food and messages were being sent inside, for many days.
And then, after what must have seemed like eternity to those 33 miners and to their families, they were brought out, one by one, using a capsule built specially for that purpose, and which can accommodate only one person at a time.
I found it nice to read this week, in the news, that those Chilean miners had sent messages of advice, encouragement and support to these boys and their families.
In a short video message, one of miners Mario Sepulveda from his twitter account @SuperMarioChile had said, “I would like to send greetings and lot of strength to the authorities and to the families of the 12 children”.
He had also added, “I have no doubt that if the government of that country puts in everything and makes all the humanly possible efforts, this rescue will be successful. May God bless you”.
Con la ayuda y fuerza del gobierno de Tailandia y el mundo entero! Oremos por esos 12 Niños que salgan lo más pronto posible! Hago un llamado a todos los que a nosotros también nos recataron no podemos dejarlos solos!! pic.twitter.com/FGcGF8qEaa— Mario Sepúlveda (@SuperMarioChile) July 4, 2018
And, today, we can say the rescue was successful. And it is because of all the humanly efforts wholeheartedly put in, by the government and by other authorities, so that joy and laughter can replace fear and desperation which had been haunting the families of those boys, for 18 days.
With hope, compassion and courage, we make this world a better place.
And we must agree that, yes, ‘people are awesome’.
