Faith, hope, and true grit. These are the virtues which used to define us as a people–as a nation.
Once upon a time 14,000 thousand men survived a brutal winter and small-pox in hastily built huts in Valley Forge, PA in order to give birth to our nation. How could any of us ever complain about our inconveniences within ear-shot of such men?
We are now a nation of complainers, even the most minor inconvenience is likely to set us off. I travel frequently and I spend a lot of time in airports. Like the cramped quarters at Valley Forge were breeding grounds for small-pox, cramped airports are breeding grounds for complaints.
Complaints vary. When thunderstorms in New York cause delays in Denver the complaints run from mild groans to hissy fits. A few hours stuck on the tarmac with only peanuts, diet coke, and satellite television results in campaigns in Washington, a city eponymous with that general at Valley Forge, for a ‘travelers bill of rights.’ Pathetic.
But there is hope. A new generation is emerging with the same true grit as our ancestors, but perhaps with fuller bellies.
Meet 9-year-old Kieren Kershaw. Kieran experienced an airport hardship that most of us will never face. See, 9-year-old Kieren Kershaw was traveling alone on Delta Airlines from Spokane to Boston. Only problem, Delta put Kieran on a plane to Cleveland.
Now if there were ever an occasion for a hissy fit, weeping, and gnashing of teeth at the airport, this was it. But Kieran would have none of it.
Kieran, accepted his situation with grace, equanimity, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Kieren said employees apologized to him when he was in Cleveland.
“‘Sorry for leaving you here when you’re really supposed to be in Boston,'” the boy quoted employees telling him. “It was kind of nice. They gave me some free food and some Dunkin’ Donuts.”
Words to live by. They gave me some free food and some Dunkin’ Donuts. It was kind of nice.
How would you respond if the airline accidentally sent you, not your luggage, but you to the wrong city? I think very few would exhibit the grace of young Kieran. We could all learn a lot from this young man. As they say “out of the mouth of babes” or in this case “into the mouth of babes.”
9-year-old Kieren Kershaw, American hero.
June 11, 2010 at 7:13 am
I like donuts and all, but the only thing that would stop me from throwing a hissy fit in this situation would be getting booked for free in a hotel. A very nice hotel, I should add.
June 11, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I am really glad that Kieren handled it well. However, if he were my son, I'd own Delta. Or they'd be giving me enough money where I could buy a few Dunkin Donuts franchises. Reason # 795 not to fly Delta.
June 11, 2010 at 12:59 pm
They'd have to accidently send me somewhere other than Cleveland, that's for sure!
June 11, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Hilarious. Alone on a plane with donuts and Coke probably sounds like a dream vacation to my nine-year-old.
June 11, 2010 at 3:37 pm
At Valley Forge, those brave men were trading their hardships for the hope of freedom for them and their children. Those of us who fly are trading large amounts of money (which we've gotten through the hardship of our labor) to be provided with transportation. You can bet if the men at Valley Forge were told "sorry, after you put in your hard work and suffering we are giving you something other than freedom" they would have complained – in fact, they would have done more.
I will leave the historical analogies as an exercise to the reader.
June 11, 2010 at 4:21 pm
The comments below are exactly what the author is talking about. Saying things like "I'd own delta" and "getting booked for a free hotel" demonstrates perfectly the message that Archibald is trying to get across. Congratulations, you've just put the finishing touches on the point he was trying to make. I agree, we can all learn a lesson about accepting life's lumps from a 9 year old. I wish more people were like him.
June 11, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Ditto (but I think he/she means above, not below)
June 11, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I hope the little girl involved in this story was equally cared for, and that she was okay. Yet another reason children should never travel anywhere alone. You just don't trust strangers to look after your kids!
Kudos to Kiernen and that little girl.
June 11, 2010 at 6:00 pm
I think Mike makes a valid point. Also, I think the parents would be more likely to be angry about the mix-up than a kid who's content with a sincere apology with free food, Coke and donuts. How many grown-ups would be so easily appeased–especially if they thought the safety of one of their children had been compromised? Should they be expected to simply shrug their shoulders and say, "Well, that's okay. You're giving our son an adventure he'll never forget. Just try not to accidentally send him to Iraq or Siberia, and all's forgiven." I don't know that I'd sue the pants off them, but I wouldn't be inclined to ever fly with them again.
Btw, what was a nine-year-old kid doing alone on a plane? Maybe I'm just overprotective by today's standards, but I'd never put my eight-year-old on a plane alone to any destination. Besides, he doesn't like donuts. The Cleveland airport would have had to have a steady supply of croutons for this kid.
I would agree, though, that it has a lot to do with what you expect to get in exchange for what you put into something. In some cases, people's expectations are unrealistic and self-centered; but in some cases, they're just trying to get what they paid for: a flight from point A to point B on the scheduled flight date, and preferably on time, and with luggage arriving at the same time and destination as its owners. The Sci-Fi channel and unlimited free drinks, while not expected, would be greatly appreciated.
June 11, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I think there is a happy medium somewhere between throwing a hissy fit and being happy with some donut holes…and it's called holding people accountable for their behavior and handling things with grace. Although I have to admit that donuts would help.
June 11, 2010 at 7:05 pm
I think Sarah's right on here. I probably WOULD sue Delta though, and not because I am a whiner, but ONLY in order to make it irksome enough to them that they take steps to ensure it doesn't happen again. That's just the only way to influence the behavior of large organizations sometimes.
However, I also wholeheartedly agree with the Patrick's premise which I think is:
1. In general we've become a spoiled society with high expectations and a low tolerance for a lack of the standard comforts that were considered luxuries a short time ago and
2. Too many of us are also slow to forgive.
3. Mmmmmmm…. Dooooonuts….
As for the Valley Forge analogy. I think Patrick is just pointing out how tough Americans were in history, not directly drawing a comparison between that and the boy on the plane.
We still are, BTW. That spirit of toughness is alive and very well in today's military. Could today's soldier do the same thing today. Yep. Could and would. Same is true for a lot of Catholic families just struggling though with smiles and praise to God.
But, do we whine too much when the barista slightly messes up our Double Decaf Half Caf Latte with 1 Equal and Room For Half and Half? Maybe so.
June 11, 2010 at 10:35 pm
I'm kind of astonished at those who say they would sue. The kid is OK. Me, I would say, please put him on a plane to Boston ASAP, and let us know when he will be here. And, can I talk to him, please?
Mistakes happen, you know? I'd just be glad it wasn't an airline mechanic who made a mistake, you know?
I believe it isn't uncommon for people to send kids on airplanes (from the mother and stepfather to the father and stepmother for instance) alone, and that the airplanes accept this. I expect they must get in writing who is receiving the child and a flight attendant escorts the child off the plane to the receiving party. At least, I hope they do that.
I get in a panic when I know my ADULT children are going to fly so I probably wouldn't do this, but not for a really rational reason.
When I got that call that my kid was safe in Cleveland I would be so overjoyed that his plane hadn't crashed that I wouldn't have room to be angry. Just worried that the plane to Boston would go down…
Susan Peterson
June 14, 2010 at 4:16 am
Hey, Meg!
Learn how to spell "accidentally," and watch the cracks about Cleveland: there are definitely worse places he could be sent.