The Eagle Has Landed

Yesterday, as I'm sure any of you who have access to any type of news medium whatsoever are well aware, a US Air passenger jet suffered engine failure (authorities are still trying to determine whether the flock of geese had any links to a terrorist organization) and crash-landed safely in the Hudson River.  Last I heard, every single person on board the plane survived.

The images that I've seen are astounding: a sinking plane surrounded by boats and, more importantly, a throng of people ankle deep in icy river water, held up presumably by the jet's floatation devices, waiting to be rescued.  The CNN anchor describing the scene last night made the comment "it appears these people are walking on water, but in *reality*..." and yes, that was the stupidest thing I've heard come out of a newscaster's mouth in recent memory.  Nonetheless, the whole thing did have the air of a miracle about it.

As a country, I think we very much like the stories that end with everybody surviving the disaster.  Now, more so than ever.  It isn't especially hard to view the plane as a metaphor for the US: powerless, locked into a seemingly fatal trajectory that's completely out of the control of all but a few of the people on board.  How enticing it is, then, to see it land safely, with no collateral damage (no city blocks leveled, no cars or playgrounds or department stores crushed beneath its hull), and to see every single passenger and crew member rescued.

At first I found myself thinking "Alright, a fucking plane landed.  Great.  On to the actual news now, eh?"  But beyond the pursuit of ratings, there's a strong argument for showing these same pictures over and over again.  Right now, people need stories of things working out, of competent people being at the helm, of everyone getting out alive.  I'm not saying that this in any way shape or form mirrors what's actually going on in any of the numerous crises occurring throughout the world, but I do think that it gives us an ephemeral glimpse of hope, of what it's like to see something play out in a way that doesn't make you want to hang your head in defeat.  It's been so long, for me at least if not for others, that I've forgotten what it feels like.