Headline: America Saves France. Again.
While French authorities (train personnel) ran away from the violence and locked themselves into a compartment, three American babies ran towards the threat and took the bad guy down.
It is occasion to be thankful for American stand-bys like tackle football, rugged individualism, violent video games and the American Armed Services. I can assume some or all of these influences were mixed into the crucible that shaped instincts so deep they caused these young men to run into danger without an instant of thought.
The boys are childhood friends, aged 22. One is a senior at Sacramento State University in California. One an Air Force pilot. One in the Oregon National Guard.
The French president made a statement thanking these young heroes for their "quick thinking action" that saved everyone from "a drama". One of the heroes was cut in the face, neck and hand. Two people were wounded - at least one of them shot. A drama? Sir, no one can save the French from their drama. What these brave American babies did was to save your lives.
The terrorist? A Moroccan national living in Spain who had traveled to Syria to fight with ISIS. His family and friends are in shock and disbelief that their peaceful "good guy" had this in him. Well, he did.
Until he was tackled, beaten unconscious, hog-tied, and held on the train platform until the French police arrived.
This is the face of America that rarely gets press. Three brawny, courageous, humble young kids who just did what needed to be done in the face of fear and terror. Yeah - one is black. The one in university. And ... no thug accent or ghetto affect. The two white guys? Guess what! They are neither mass shooting murderers nor pedophiles. They aren't backwoods hillbillies with mullets and bad grammar. Three handsome, strong, uber-normal young men wearing basketball t-shirts and soccer jerseys. Thinking about something besides themselves.
Sadly, this story seems as much an embarrassing reveal of French cowardice as it is a triumph of American gusto. I'm more Francophile than Francophobe. I was, once upon a time, an enthusiastic teacher of French. I try to be a humanity-phile, always looking for the best in everyone. But negative stereotypes exist.. and they come from somewhere. The French are lampooned as utterly lacking in courage. Or as sniffing snobs looking down their nose at the rest of the world. Cowardice and arrogance - a pathetic combination.
When a situation creates a searing portrayal that confirms the worst traits attributed to a culture, it's hard to resist believing it. Mes amis, I am your cheerleader. But when you act with craven cowardice, the whole world blushes. And I can't defend you. Fortunately for all, someone else did.
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