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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

International The Heroes of Mumbai

Posted by Eli Sanders on Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 9:53 AM

This is a wonderful story. And it answers the question of whether cross-class heroism gets more moving as a country's disparities of wealth increase.

The answer is yes.

Comments (7) RSS

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I'd be even more moved by cross-class stories of the rich making personal sacrifices to save the poor, instead of the other way around as usual. I guess that is for another day.

Posted by tomasyalba on December 2, 2008 at 10:34 AM

If you played more D&D, you'd see examples of cross-class heroism. Our fighter is always busting his ass to keep our wizard safe, and our cleric frequently puts herself in danger to heal the fighter. (The rogue is never heroic.)

Posted by breklor on December 2, 2008 at 11:11 AM

So wait. If everybody used to be piss-poor in India, and now there are still piss-poor people, but also the largest middle class on the planet, that gets chalked up to an increase in the "disparity of wealth?"

Instead of, oh I dunno, "progress?"

You make India sound like Brazil- a country with a dangerous economic trajectory- which it most certainly is not.

Posted by Big Sven on December 2, 2008 at 11:25 AM

@3, it's about storytelling, not economics I think. When an Indian mouse removes a thorn from the Indian lion's paw it is better copy than if they're both Swiss, say.

Posted by tomasyalba on December 2, 2008 at 12:25 PM

I thought this story would be uplifting, it was horrifying! Rich, elitist bastards making hotel staff wait on them, feed them, hold up sheets for them while their lives are all in danger! The staff being the last ones out of every evacuation! What a sick reminder of class discrimination! There was only *one* mention in the entire article of guests helping a staff member (the doctors).

Posted by Sara J on December 2, 2008 at 1:53 PM

There really are many heroes in the world who are never recognized.

Posted by Vince on December 2, 2008 at 2:25 PM

A friend of mine used to be from one of the "super elite" families in India. He went to and was a Professor of English Literature at Oxford University. Hid zmom was personal friends with Yves Saint Laurent.

Now he manages a Denny's in Edmonds. No matter what his position would held had he been in Mumbai, his home town, I know he would have helped. Without exception, every Indian I have met, every Hindi I have met, has been a selfless human being and would stay calm during a crisis.

Posted by elswinger on December 2, 2008 at 10:42 PM