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Post by Cali on Jul 9, 2014 7:25:59 GMT 1
Wow, if a seemingly "dumb" animal can forgive and forget a species of people that he almost certainly had every reason to hate, then that is some inspiring-ass shit. Like, to the limit.
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jul 20, 2014 0:03:18 GMT 1
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Jul 20, 2014 0:19:47 GMT 1
Wow. Just... wow. That is an amazing example of pure humanity. Compassion and human kindness - I am very impressed. And reading that story brought a tear to my eye... and it proves that the Germans weren't all "bad guys" in WWII - they were just men fighting for their country - just like the Allied forces were, just like any national army. And that Lt. Franz Stigler was a Good Man with a Good Heart. I loved that story.
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jul 20, 2014 1:40:58 GMT 1
For the most part, the Wehrmacht (German regular army in WWII) were men of honor. Probably the greatest example of this is Field Marshal Erwin Rommel: he treated all POWs humanely, did not attack civilians intentionally, and even told Hitler to fuck off when ordered to execute Jews on sight. Sadly, Rommel got caught up in the assassination plot against Hitler in 1944 and was forced to commit suicide.
On the other side of the globe, you have Saburo Sakai. He was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy's top aces and had a well-deserved reputation as a fierce pilot. And yet, after the war, he met with his former enemies and forged strong friendships with them that lasted decades. For him, the war wasn't personal. He had a duty to do as did the US and Australia (the main countries he fought against). He also was extremely critical of Emperor Hirohito and how the Emperor was virtually unpunished for the war crimes Japan committed. In his words, Tojo may have been the supreme military commander, but even he had to answer to the Emperor.
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Post by jklinders on Jul 20, 2014 2:14:22 GMT 1
Please tell me that I was not the only one who thought of this
when the name of the US pilot and the time of year in the article were apparent.
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jul 21, 2014 23:36:09 GMT 1
No words...
If the vid doesn't work, look up Kacy Catanzaro/American Ninja Warrior.
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Jul 22, 2014 2:07:57 GMT 1
Wow - she's incredible! That was an amazing feat of strength she put on there... very impressive!
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jul 22, 2014 3:30:31 GMT 1
Considering parkour is a hobby of mine, she impressed the hell out of me. I know what it takes to do those kinds of things and she made it look effortless. I probably would have ended up swimming not long after reaching the rings.
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Jul 22, 2014 23:09:54 GMT 1
I just don't understand how she could have - how anyone could have - done some of the actions - like the bit where she was hanging from the bar and 'jumping' the bar up a few times to the next level, but without pushing off anything with her feet?? And the bit with the poles - climbing from pole to pole like that without falling - amazing!
Now, I am in no way considered to be in any kind of good shape - I've got weak ankles and bad knees due to being a klutzy oaf who keeps falling on the pavement and turning my ankles or smashing my knees - it's amazing I'm not completely broken - but even if I was in shape, I can't imagine doing what she did, I would never even be able to do the very first bit of jumping from the slanted pads...
She was incredible...
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Jul 23, 2014 0:26:22 GMT 1
That jumping pole is done with almost all arms and core. The idea is to do a pull-up, tuck your knees to your chest, and then shoot your arms up while kicking downwards to make that jump. Making it through a course like that one is a test of agility/body control, strength, and endurance. Especially in the hands since she has to maintain her grip while doing those violent movements to advance.
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Post by Clint Johnston on Jul 23, 2014 15:15:51 GMT 1
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Post by CAPT Issac R. Madden on Aug 17, 2014 7:32:00 GMT 1
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Aug 17, 2014 14:26:05 GMT 1
Wow, what a story! Kudos to him for saving the baby years ago, and so touching that the family stayed in contact with him and consider him so much more than just a family friend... I teared up a little when I read that the Palestinian girl's father refers to the American officer as "Her American Dad", and the tears started coming out for real when I read the description of the father's tears when he thought his little girl was dead... how terrified he must have been, and the relief he must have felt when Sgt Barca told him the little girl was alive and breathing... Such a good story! And now, the girly side of me who likes pretty shiny things feels compelled to comment on the picture of the lovely young woman the baby girl grew into - she's so pretty, and that dress she's wearing in the article picture is stunning, and sort of makes me think of a modernized version of Belle's golden ballgown in Beauty and the Beast! *ahem* *re-suppresses the girly side of me*
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Aug 26, 2014 2:02:10 GMT 1
Wow this is amazing - genetics is a complicated and wonderful thing; to think this German man would be so genetically alike to this little American girl that not only is he a perfect bone marrow match, his little quirks and mannerisms are reflected in her - and they'd never met until just recently! Also somewhat terrifying the disease that was destroying the poor child before the man donated his marrow to her...
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Post by Lily Ariel Linders on Sept 25, 2014 1:06:13 GMT 1
This is the cutest thing I ever saw, to see such love between a lioness and a human! Valentin and SirgaWatch the video linked in the article, I *squee'd* when I saw the reunion! So very very cute...
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