Apr 14 2009
Pirates and Captain Ricahrd
Capt. Richard Phillips is a household name by now, he is the American who was held hostage for 5 days on the Indian Ocean. Let me first start off saying God Bless the US Navy for saving him, and to Capt. Richard, Welcome Home. Well he’s not home yet, but will be soon.
The idea of pirates in the modern day is one that kind of makes me say, hey, pirates like Captain Hook and Yellow Beard, you know the type. They talk funny and sing silly songs when they drink rum. In some way they have a quaintness about them, well at least the way they look in movies. Look at Captain Jack from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, or Hook from Peter Pan. They all are loveable characters that in some way we feel sorry for, but I have a feeling that is not how our Captain Richard felt about his pirates.
The modern day pirates don’t have wooden legs or a bird on their shoulders, but they do have automatic guns and shoulder rocket launchers, not the same quaintness as a bird or an eye patch. I am sure Capt. Richard was not thinking about Capt. Jas Hook, but I bet he was praying.
Capt. Richard offered his life for the sake of his friends, offered to be the hostage for the pirates so his crew could be free. He laid his life on the line for the sake of others. What an amazing man, he has a wife at home waiting for him, his family all back home, yet his concern was for him crew.
When you’re a captain of a ship, the crew is your responsibility, you are to protect them and guide them. Capt. Richard must have taken that command to heart. Sure many of us would say we would lay down our life for our friends, but Capt. Richard did, he was put to the test and passed with flying colors. What an amazing person.
When he was free, and was being asked all those insane questions from reporters, he responded as only a true hero could, he said he was just a by line, that the Navy Seals are the true heroes. Who among us would not have taken the opportunity to live in the light, even if it was just for a few seconds, but Capt. Richard chose not to, he chose to give others the credit, Once again what an amazing man.
Now before I turn Capt. Richard in to a saint, I must state that I do not know that man, never talked to him or his family, but am basing it on the reports I have seen and read. By the accounts of other reporters Captain Richard Phillips is one amazing person.
As Catholics we are called to be servants to others, to offer our life for our faith and to trust in God. It is not often that we see this in action. Capt. Richard is a Catholic who used his life to live out his faith. He was willing to offer himself for the sake of others, though he had done nothing wrong. He had faith in his crew and the country he loves that he would be saved and he humbly pushed the credit to others that he felt were more deserving than him. Captain Richard Phillips is a living example of self sacrifice and one that all Catholics need to follow.
Paul Sposite
