What… [his mother] didn’t know was that about halfway through the run, there had been a problem with.. [Ben Baltz’] leg; It hooks together with screws and one of them had come loose, so the leg literally broke in half. This isn’t the first time it’s happened, either. This active boy has managed to break 10, supposedly “indestructible” prosthetic legs (made of carbon fiber, mind you!).
Now, here’s where you need to get out your hanky, because it was this moment that had the spectators in tears:
“All of a sudden the announcer just said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to turn around and look at what’s happening on the course’ … Everybody was crying,” she says. A young Marine had lifted the boy and carried him across the finish line.
What an inspiring story!
I’m not so sure. My heart warms to the story too, but I can see why the boy in question was not overally thrilled by the act. He’s trying to not be defined by this turn in his life, and modern medicine enables its effects to be ameliorated sufficiently that he can run in a triathlon.
Is that desire to be treated as a functioning person, not a victim, being honored if he is picked up and carried over the finish line when he has a malfunction with his prosthetic? Would we do that for some other boy who hurt their leg? If we did would we see that as an inspiring act? Isn’t the fact we see this as inspiring partly sending the message to him that he’ll always stand in need of being carried, even if he successfully competes? He won’t be allowed to try and fail because we find it inspiring if success is handed to him by a kindly stranger (and it was kind, no criticism of the marine is intended).
I’m not saying the answer goes the other way either, this one requires some more reflection. I’m not sure I trust my immediate response to the story.
The Marines leave no man behind. I am glad they treated Baltz like a man dealing with adversity, rather than a boy competing in a game.
I am also impressed that the Marine in question did not leave his name, calling card or go in for an interview afterwards. That impresses me more than the act of kindness, showed during the race.