Young bridge collapse hero turned down photo op presented by Bush. Would you have turned it down?

Question

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/bridge-hero-gets-offer-paid-tuition/20070807101809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

You've all heard of the young man who put his life on the line to rescue 52 kids off of a school bus that was just yards away from falling into the Mississippi.

He has been overwhelmed with fame and good fortune which I think he deserves(he was offered a full scholarship to a college in California), but he is a quiet guy who just doesn't like a lot of attention.

EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE:
Mr. Hernandez was not available to comment on the offer; Ms. Schwartz said he left town for northern Minnesota late on Friday, overwhelmed by the attention and concerned that his co-workers were being overlooked. He spent the weekend fishing. When President Bush’s staff contacted him to request a photo opportunity, “He was just, like, ‘Nope,’ ” she said.

I am not a big Bush fan myself, but I don't think I would turn down an opportunity to meet him. But I don't knock him for his decision.

What are your thoughts on this.

Answer 1

I'd do it, but for the almighty dollar, not the fame. My photo-ops don't come for free. Even the president knows that everything comes with a price. Hah!

Anyhow, it's his choice. No need to criticize him for his principles.

Answer 2

We have to understand the situation before we can make a decision like that. Imagine you just went through a near death experience. You did what came naturally to you. ( I think most of us would have tried to save the children too). Now you have a media frenzy surrounding you. Phone calls at all hours, news crews camping on your front lawn, flash bulbs through your bathroom windows as you try to take care of business. These people all want you to relive this experience 24/7.

Once you finally escape you are offered to reenter the frenzy with a picture of yourself and the President as bait....no I think most sane people would turn that offer down, whether you like Bush or not.

Answer 3

I respect his decision. True heroes don't need or want photo ops to be heroes. Maybe he's a shy man, maybe he likes his privacy, who knows. He might actually be a person of conviction who doesn't like President Bush and decided he wouldn't be a hypocrite and smile for the cameras with the President. Either way, kudos to him for being his own man on top of being a hero.

Answer 4

I think he had probably had enough of the lime light and wanted to put it past him so to speak.
Think how hard it was for him to witness that kind of destruction and then to have people no matter how well meaning remind you of an event that was not pleasant.

I say let the guy have some space and put his ducks back in a row- i doubt he meant to insult President Bush or anyone for that matter just wanted some privacy.

Answer 5

I wouldn't. Bush is just a man and a stupid and stubborn man at that. The last thing I would want to is have to stand next to that grinning fool and have to make a fake laugh when he goes into his asinine attempts at humor. I wouldn't be in any politician's photo op even if I voted for the guy. All of them are whores and will use anyone to make themselves look good.

Good for that kid. He says that he doesn't want the attention but I saw him intterviewed on CNN and the Today Show... not saying he wants attention but he could have said no to those shows... no, it sounds like the administration wanted to use him in a way that he was not comfortable with.

Answer 6

He has been conditioned by the media and the community he grew up in not to expect good things to happen. People who take action and do what is only natural by helping others in a crisis situation often are offered fabulous things and since he was conditioned and educated not to expect anything it is natural for him to turn down this opportunity like several others in life he will be offered because he has been conditioned to want little .

Answer 7

I'm incredibly impressed by how level-headed this young man has proven to be--not in turning down Bush, necessarily, but in trying to duck away from those 15 minutes of fame. We're too fame-hungry in this country. He restores my faith.

ETA: Anyone who says this makes him a traitor *really* doesn't understand how far the world has come since the time of monarchs, do they? He doesn't have to meet with anybody he doesn't want to.

Answer 8

Very exciting. they are auditioning for the subsequent season of usa's next perfect type in Miami outstanding now :) I went the day gone by and there have been many "somewhat" ladies that have been given became down. don't experience undesirable :) lol, and definite, i've got been became down many cases.

Answer 9

There are a few Republicans that I didn't necessarily like, but given the offer to meet with them, I would have taken it.

I could go into a lot of things, but for me there is no doubt in my mind that he has authorized the use of torture against other human beings.

For that reason alone, I would absolutely turn the offer down.

Answer 10

I would not have turned it down... it is the president of the United States for goodness sakes. However that is his prerogative. Maybe he was making a political statement.