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The world is watching as more than 1,000 emergency rescuers free a youth soccer team and their coach trapped in a remote cave in northern Thailand. However they all got into this predicament does not matter now. What matters is these young lives matter. Life is precious.
When the news broke around the world that 12 boys from 11-to-16-years old and their 25-year old coach went missing in a dark and damp underground cavern all eyes were on Thailand half-way around the globe. Several days went by and then the group was found huddled in a dry spot more than two miles from the cave entrance and a half-a-mile underground. Passage ways flooded. They were stranded, cold and starving. The unfolding rescue mission — seen on live TV news for more than two weeks — is astonishing to imagine the complex challenges facing this rescue team assembled from around the world. One rescuer – an experienced Thailand Navy Seal diver — lost his life live in the cave last week.
On Sunday morning news broke that four of the boys were miraculously out of the cave. Rains were setting in, breathable air was running out and this race against time came down to the wire. On Monday morning the news came that an 8th boy had been freed.
Whoever is directing this rescue team was forced to make the decision to go in with a plan and free these boys and their coach. None of the boys had ever SCUBA dived before and most could not even swim. If they all survive it will be a true miracle.
Following this incredible on-going rescue story that could turn tragic at any moment is hair-raising agony but it serves as a break for political junkies watching Washington, DC, President Trump and all his haters. All that political stuff gets old. The U.S. Congress still gets little done for the American people. The liberal Democrats keep on and on with their outlandish far-left socialist nonsense, open borders, abolish ICE and promote sanctuary cities. Now we hear on mainstream media that Hillary Clinton may try again to run for president in 2020. “Good grief Charlie Brown.” Doesn’t all that seem trivial and petty in comparison to saving this young soccer team from sure death, getting them out to live again on the soccer field?
There is talk in the news that suggests if all goes well these 12 boys may make an appearance at the on-going world series of soccer – The World Cup 2018 – in Russia. At this point in time, that’s a ‘big if’ but that would be a thrilling moment in sports history right up there with Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Torch at the Olympics.
Obviously Thailand values life. Witnessing this effort involving local people, the Thailand military and police using all their resources night and day, day after day to save these young lives is heartening and it warms the soul. The more we see this rescue play out, the more we are spellbound with this story that has captured the world’s attention. We all know this could go bad, but we also know the best of the very best cave rescue divers from around the world are on that mountain in Thailand. We cheer them on and pray that each life is saved.
It never hurts to pray and be thankful for life. Seeing the images of those boys on cellphone videos from inside that cave reminds the whole world that they are just like everyone’s kids and they have real families that love them. They all matter.
About the Author Britt Nelson relocated to Costa Rica in 2011 from Florida, where he served as news editor for the Palatka Daily News, a newspaper owned by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group (NYT-RNG) for 20 years.
Nelson served the NYT-RNG for 18 years in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida as a correspondent, reporter, staff writer, senior staff writer training new reporters, copy editor, page designer, editorial writer, editorial page editor and editorial board member.
