Alive ~
My husband and I watched the movie “Alive” the other night on TV. I had read the book about the Uruguayan Rugby Team’s plane crash by Piers Paul Read when I was a teen, but I had forgotten many of the details.
For those of you who may not know anything about this tragedy or may have forgotten, their plane crashed into the Andes Mountains while on route to a game. Many of the passengers were killed on impact. Of the people who were not killed on impact, many suffered horrible deaths due to gangrene, starvation, exposure and more as the team was stranded on the mountain for 72 days. Many of the survivors watched their own family members die and could do nothing to even ease their pain.
Eventually a couple of the survivors hike into the Andes Mountains on a 12 day trek to look for help. I think they hiked to from Argentina, over the Andes, and to Chile but I really can’t remember. 29 people died and 16 managed to stay alive. Here is an interactive map of the hikers journey from National Geographic if you would like to check it out.
One thing that is quite controversial about this incident is that the people on the plane were not prepared for this length stay in the mountains. They did not have proper clothing and fashioned blankets from the plane seats. They did not have any food except for some snack type items like chocolate. They ran out of food fast, so to stay alive, the remaining survivors made the fateful decision to eat flesh from the deceased.
The survivors came home to ridicule and judgment at the hands of people who have never had to make such decisions. The judgments came from people who were at home in their warm beds and people who had the luxury of pizza delivery. I am really appalled after reading some of the message boards and seeing what some people had to say about the choices the victims made just to stay alive.
What am I thankful for today?
I am thankful that I have never had to make decisions like the Uruguayan Rugby Team had to make. I am thankful for my warm house and I am thankful for the food in my belly. Most of all, I am thankful for my family and that I have never had to go through watching them die as many of the people in this crash had to.
I think we should save our judgments and worry about our own lives and what we need to work on. If we spent less time telling others how to live their lives, we might lead better ones ourselves.
What are YOU thankful for today?
I hate when people make judgements about situations that they know nothing about. No one can say what they would’ve done in their situation because they have never been in that position. Those people had to do what they had to to survive. I have seen bits and pieces of the movie but I remember the story. It sadden me how people judge me
I’m learning that thanfulness truly is the secret to happiness. Check out Ann Voskamp’s book – One Thousand Gifts.
Robin
Thanks for the suggestion! I am always looking for something new to read!
Dawn
This is a great yet sad story!! So glad they were able to persevere.
I want to read this book:)
Very dramatic and moving film. It is hard to watch. From the crash throughout the cold, heart wrenching idea, you are thankful for being alive and home in the warmth.