THANKSGIVING EDITION: The Tiny Superhero

 

POINT TO PONDER

 

"If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly."

 

                                        - Thomas Sowell

 

 

STORY LINE by Analisa Hightower

 

I often think about the content of our news outlets, of the excessive turmoil our world is in, and it can make an already stressful day feel even worse. While there is a need for awareness of the current events in our world, the news often sensationalizes negative events to obtain more viewers. Numbly, we watch these reports having been bombarded by years of similar stories, cumulatively adding to the mounting stresses and negativity of our days. That's why last week, I was especially touched by a story about a young 5 year old boy's wish coming true after recovering from a lifelong fight with leukemia. He wanted more than anything to be Batman for a day and save Gotham city from the very evils that our news reports, and from which I was already tired. 

 

His name is Miles and his deepest wish was to be Batman (he would later come to be known as Batkid) for a day. Miles' (aka "Batkid") story began at the beginning of this year as his leukemia and chemotherapy treatments were due to finish. At the end of his ordeal he had one wish - to be Batman for a day. His father, Nick Scott, would tell ABC, "chemo is all he's ever known. That's the life that he's known but this is kind of a way to celebrate the ending." The Make a Wish Foundation would step up to the plate and organize that celebration for him. On November 15th, 2013 Miles donned the batsuit and lived his dream. 

 

Ultimately, San Francisco wasn't the first choice to substitute as the fictional Gotham, but it was the first to officially say yes. I was excited and thought, "how sweet, San Francisco will be Gotham City for a day." His Gotham - the city by the bay and a city which I love and grew up - went above and beyond, enlisting the mayor, its police force, and millions of citizens to transform the city. That one day San Francisco became Gotham City for Miles, for me, and for the world and it was like nothing I'd ever seen...

 

People came out in record numbers, my facebook and twitter feeds filled with news about the Batkid from all over the world. SF Gate had Batkid on their headlines and were tracking his progress through the city through live feeds the entire day. Companies lost revenue with the halt in productivity as its employees followed Miles' live news feed (or even followed him in person on his parade route), but what those companies gained were employees that returned renewed and inspired. 

 

Standing on the street, waiting for Miles to crusade by, I looked at the faces next to me and what I saw en masse was entirely different than usual - I saw hope and joy... I was one of millions in a sea of strangers rallying around a boy we barely even knew, a boy that had beaten his cancer, and we cheered as he fought through staged crimes and even saved an actress playing a damsel in distress who fawned over Batkid's heroism. 

 

Little Miles was reminding us that maybe we can overcome pain, disease, and suffering. And as his dreams were coming true, we watched together - cheering, laughing, crying - as this tiny superhero, this miniature marvel with a heart and a will bigger than most adults, was uniting a city. 

 

It may have cost San Francisco $105,000 to stage the event and weeks have now passed, but his story was proof that people might just follow positive news after all. Miles Scott reminds us that there is a need for the positive, for the promise of something better, in our news stories. It was a taste of the good that lies within each one of us, a trip to that childlike place where we have forgotten to venture, that beautiful place where we all still dare to hope and dream. 

 

 

REFLECTION by Analisa Hightower

 

During this holiday season I'd like to be idealistic and think that if we're able to come together as a community to cheer on this little boy with a wish, that maybe we as a community can come together over other issues. Maybe, knowing how touched Miles was and seeing that bright smile on his face, that will encourage folks to go out and help put those smiles on other peoples faces regardless of their age. And maybe, the news would inevitably follow, if we chose to focus on the positive side of our world instead. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and thank you for your continued readership. You give us here at Friday Reflections much to be thankful for this holiday season. 

 

For more about Miles Scott and Batkid:

http://sfist.com/2013/11/01/heres_how_you_can_help_make_5-year-.php

 

Comments

[Park, KJ]

Happy Thanksgiving day to all in United States.
Yet another heart warming story. The author sums it up beautifully in the following text: Miles Scott reminds us that there is a need for the positive, for the promise of something better, in our news stories. It was a taste of the good that lies within each one of us, a trip to that childlike place where we have forgotten to venture, that beautiful place where we all still dare to hope and dream.

[Robin]

Week after week Friday Reflections bring stories of hope and joy. Happy Thanksgiving

[alex]

This is very touching story... I have seen it on TV (it became a news hit one day), and the story line perfectly expresses feelings of the most of us, who watched it...

[Margie]

This story and last week's are great examples of power of mass media to bring hope, joy and peace. Current focus is on Fear, sadness and conflicts.

[Nazomi]

Raising positive hopes in this negative world.

[Sandy]

Beautiful reflection to start holiday season.

[microCEO]

I found a video here to watch the details.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_ZKkumfNs

There are multiple aspects from which this story is particularly noteworthy. (Not to mention the Lamborghini batmobiles!)

It is truly impressive to see that this initiative represents much more than simply a family wishing to do something nice for their a young child. More than even just the samaritan cooperation of friends and neighbors. They got the full involvement from the "Make a Wish Foundation", an influential charity that also pulled out all stops to grant a wish on a scale much greater than anything they have done before. Even more impressive is the full, official cooperation of the city of San Francicsco. How many other city hall bureaucracies (around the world) would be willing to sponsor this event, with all of the costs, difficulties, and risks involved?
My hat goes off to this amazing ability to suspend reality on such an amazing scale.

Kids grow up with big dreams, and often those dreams are easily quashed by us adults, who believe we know better. One must appreciate the foresight of the organizers of this inititive to see how inspiring it would be to people around the world. Despite the old (obligatory?) cliche's of "saving the damsel in distress" and beating the "evil villains", it is not hard to see the underlying message that anything is possible with right attitude, hard work, and supporting friends and family.

Finally, I'll say that since this new hero BatKid is only 5years old and since he is reportely recovering from cancer, I hope that we can see many more appearances of the new, caped crusader. Will he grow into the heroic responsibilities of helping those in need and working to solve big problems around him, as we would expect of such a great hero? I certainly hope so.

Happy holidays to all the secret heroes!

[Lion]

I really enjoyed reading this story from the author’s personal perspective. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and a great party

[Joalica]

This is indeed a touching story! What a strong boy Miles is! Not many stories now have a happy ending, and it's not a fairy tale! Bad news nowadays spread fast, that's why we call for positive energy! Think positively and act positively! Trust will come back to society eventually if we altogether pass on positive energy!

[BHSC]

Oh wow, I had not heard about this. What a touching story. Wonderful.

Thank you for sharing, and I hope you too had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family.

Your friend,

p.s. I have one of my favorite Thomas Sowell’s quotes up in my office “There are no solutions… only trade-offs.”