Comments on: Updated: Manliness (Not A Miracle) On The Hudson

By: John Danforth

John Danforth — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:28:02 +0000

Another queer reaction I’ve seen about this incident is the attempt to elevate the other crewmembers to ‘hero’ status, seemingly in a cheap collectivist attack on the entire concept of heroism as the trait of a single man.

To that, my response is; whatever else happened after the landing, until that plane came to rest, everyone else on board was just along for the ride.

Furthermore, an eyewitness stated that he and a crewmember tried to open the rear exit while water was halfway up the windows, but couldn’t because of the water pressure. That’s not heroism. If they had succeeded in opening that door, there is every likelihood that they would have sunk the plane before everyone could get off.

It riles the collectivists no end that there is such a thing as ‘the right stuff’, and that it really counts when the chips are down. They’d like to pull him down a notch.

He really is made of the right stuff. When all the praise was being sung for the official first responders, he pointed out that it was private ferry operators who showed up first and started rescuing everybody. Seems they got left out of the celebration!

Never believe anything the press ever says about any aviation accident.

By: Myron Pauli

Myron Pauli — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:59:13 +0000

Speaking of women physicists and engineers, in my place of work, very few women last long as physicist/engineers. There is enormous pressure to “promote” the women into research “management: and funding sponsor positions (those who promote them get Affirmative Action bonus points) – the women get more salary and prestige – and cranking out data in a lab year after year and having good ideas is tougher than playing Santa Claus with the taxpayers’ dollars.

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:27:19 +0000

Interesting that this article is getting so many hits. Hmmm.

Ilana, how do you respond to the comment that it is impractical to continue to cheer on manliness?

I might ask the same question to some of the posters on here…

~Alex

By: Radames

Radames — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:47:45 +0000

Great article. One problem with it. Low voices DO NOT equal manliness necessarily. I know many a low-voiced squirrel. ["They generally have deeper voices" was the phrase use.] There are many tenors around that fit your accurate description of manliness. It's about time women start admiring REAL men again--our species depends on it. Character, integrity, masculinity, courage, and a ready, fierce defense of these just behind a quiet reserve. Men like Reagan, Jimmy Stuart, George Washington, many a WWII vet, etc. Thanks for observation and the appreciation. Only a REAL woman can truly appreciate a REAL man.

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:53:52 +0000

We’re out there, we’re just too busy keeping the world going to comment. Gotta go, the steaks are burning.

By: nister

nister — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:06:52 +0000

Something to think about..if the plane had decelerated more forcefully when hitting the water, there would have been serious injuries, or deaths. Why not have all passengers face the rear, allowing the seatback to act as bulwark and shock absorber?

[Interesting; I would have thought that was the job of the flight attendants. You’ll agree that in 3 minutes, “Sully” did the max and more.–IM]

By: Sam Vigil

Sam Vigil — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:36:39 +0000

Thank you Ilana… for recognizing, and speaking so eloquently about Sully’s great actions. All of the liberal spin, and vindictive hyperbole, (including Couric), cannot dent Sully’s impeccable character and skills. The right man, the right knowledge and experience, the right determinations, at the right time.
Thank you Sully, for reminding America, what the American male should always represent to his society.
Sam Vigil

By: Jim Riegel

Jim Riegel — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:52:59 +0000

Great article Ilana.
Captain Sullenberg is definitly a “Man’s Man” made from the right stuff.
Unfortunately most women today don’t like that kind of man anymore (unless they’re in trouble).
They prefer weak men they can dominate from day one in the marriage and there are legions of them.
In short, today’s women don’t like men with any guts.

By: Kevin Luster

Kevin Luster — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:52:44 +0000

I think my remarks were misunderstood. What I am saying is that, as a whole, there has never been another generation like the generation that safely guided this country through the Great Depression and World War 2. Even as their power and influence wanes, they continue to set great examples for others to follow. Possibly I overstate when I say it is an impossible act to follow–let’s hope we don’t have to find out.
I am also suggesting that these brave men paved the way for the men who followed them, as well as countless others, to be free to make their own choices about who they are, and who they want to be. And I for one don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Would we rather that some people pretend they are something they are not, and rely on their false representations, and then find out in a crisis that they weren’t who they pretended to be–to our great detriment?

My point is–it’s all about freedom! Freedom to be the person you want to be, and freedom to live the way you want to live.

And yes, thank goodness that there are men (and women) like Sully and so many countless others that provided us with that freedom and defended those rights.

[Actually, there aren’t as many woman, as there are men, like Sully. Just as there aren’t as many women physicists, engineers, Navy Seals, Special Ops, etc. There are differences between men and women–the point of the article.–IM]

By: Scott Evans

Scott Evans — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:19:04 +0000

Dear Ilana,

I couldn’t agree more. Only superstitious people and, sadly, equally
superstitious Christians would believe this was attributed to anything but
an experienced, extremely skillful, steely-nerved, manly airline pilot. Oh,
and a buoyant aluminum tube with “outriggers,” aka, wings. Thank you for a
great article.

Scott Evans