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There was a man during the great depression, his name was John Griffith. He was drawbridge operator on the Mississippi River. His wife and him had only one son, he was the light of Johns life. One day Johns son went to work with him. At lunch time they went down to the bank of the river to eat. John lost track of time, he heard the wistle of the aproaching train, looked at his watch and knew that train was a passenger train with hundreds of people on it. John told his son to stay there, and he ran as fast as he could and climed the ladder to the shack where the controls to raise and lower the bridge are. He looked to the left, all was clear. He looked to the right, and saw his son had followed him and he fell onto the gears. Time was almost up. John had to raise the bridge now or hundreds of people would die. He covered his eyes and pulled the lever.
John gave his sons life so others could live.
Sound familiar?

This is a true story-google John Griffith

2007-04-01 13:30:48 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Sorry I meant John had to lower the bridge or hundreds would die.

I do not know what I would have done. John Griffeth was a truly selfless man that day.

2007-04-01 13:40:40 · update #1

U98; You can call whatever you want. This is very well documented, It was during the depression and the gears were not covered then. I could tear you apart on this one. I know the story first hand John Griffeth is my Great Uncle.

2007-04-01 13:52:47 · update #2

17 answers

cannot imagine that kind of nightmare--it's easy to say i would do the right hting, but in reality, I'd probably freeze

2007-04-01 13:36:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3 2

So the real moral of this story can be easily overlooked...
That is that John Griffith was an idiot..
Lets say I worked in a factory should I take my little son down so he can play on the punch press??? Nope I'm smarter than that. Ive seen first hand that they will take your fingers off.
Next If John Griffith indeed worked on a draw bridge then he
knew for a fact...Trains run on what is known as a schedule!!!
Threes a 12:15 train everyday at 12:15....There aren't rouge trains that just run when they feel like it.....John Griffith should have known this in the scenario you present

So did he do a noble thing that we should all take heed of....
Nope He did a very very stupid thing that no one should emulate...
So for all of you Alaskan king crap fishermen thinking about taking the little two year old boy fishing with you.......Don't be a John Griffith!!!!!!!!!

2007-04-01 21:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1 3

The Quiet Hour Evangelism broadcast
http://www.thequiethour.org/cgi-bin/pastsrmns/sermons02.cgi?date=6/2/2002
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2002/12/22/fea23.html
There are no historical references to this and I must point out that the Bridge that this happened at is not Identified In either version of the sermon. It sounds like a Church Generated urban legend to me.
Give us an accident report. The police would have been all over a man who ground his son up in a machine. Also the gears are covered, you can not just fall into them.

Sorry that I have to call bullshit on this one, it is a real tear jerker.

Unfortunately it is just another example of Christians lying to promote their religion.

Amazing, every body except Tom just got punked.
Idiots.

Yah, yah. give me a thuimbs down. Fools, April fools.
Sad that you are fools the other 364 days too.

2007-04-01 20:45:59 · answer #3 · answered by U-98 6 · 0 2

I would love to say yes, no question about it....but I'm human and I don't know if the time came it I'd be able to do more than cry out to God for help.

Have heard that story many times in my life...didn't know he was your great uncle.

2007-04-02 09:34:24 · answer #4 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1 0

I hear a similar story in the Spanish Civil War. The knife of the general was used to kill his own son. Tragic.

2007-04-01 20:39:24 · answer #5 · answered by Lost. at. Sea. 7 · 1 1

Yes, because if my future son was in the same place, through my love and values I hold I think he would understand I would want him to pull the lever. I don't want my children to become me, but I hope to pass on a lot of my values I have gathered throughout the years through my struggles unto them, it would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do.

2007-04-01 20:38:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

sincerely, i know i wouldn't raise the bridge. my initial reaction wouldn't even be choice, it would almost be instinctive. I would have surely ran for my son, no contemplation involved. Remember Abraham had time to contemplate his action, and God is a forgiving God.

2007-04-01 20:35:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

I love the answer with the caring animals. Just another proof that God exists. Even His animals are full of love for each other. The love that a dog can give has always shown God to me. God has shown us who He is in so many different ways and that is why He says we are without excuse when it comes to believing in Him. In other words there is no excuse for not believing in God. THINK ABOUT THAT

2007-04-01 20:39:52 · answer #8 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 1 2

the story is wrong . You are supposed to be the conductor of the train and you could do nothing to stop it, Because you don" control the bridge

2007-04-01 20:38:07 · answer #9 · answered by Snooter McPrickles 5 · 1 2

Besides being symbolic of Jesus, it could also be a symbol of unbelievers, who did not follow God's command, and are going to be punished eternally, even though God loves them.

2007-04-01 21:58:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

Truly selfless.

2007-04-01 20:46:45 · answer #11 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 2 2

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