We all know that subways can be dangerous, like any other moving vehicle. But can some tragedies be avoided?
Recently in New York, a 58 year old man was pushed onto the subway tracks, right in front of an oncoming train. The man was not able to get out of the subway well in time to save his life, but a nearby journalist was able to take a few photos of the man's last moments. The New York Post published the picture on the front page with the words, "Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die."
There are many debates going on about this subject, one being whether the New York Post should have put such cruel labels on a heartbreaking front page. Obviously not. But the debate I am focusing on today is, should the photographer have been taking pictures, or taking action?
There are many ways this event could have gone. The journalist who took the pictures says that he was too far away to help the man. But in the picture, it doesn't look like it was impossible for anyone to help him. It seems to me like the journalist was close enough to at least try to help the man, even if it was no use after all.
Another thing to remember is that the photographer may not have tried to help, but neither did any of the other witnesses of the event. There had to be other people there, but none of them tried to help save this man's life. As one man said, it's easier to blame the photographer rather than blame yourself or the others standing by.
In my opinion, I think this is a horrible thing that has happened. It shocks me that not only did no one seem to try to help, but someone was taking pictures. If it were me in that situation, I don't think I'd stand there and watch. I definitely wouldn't be taking pictures. It's disrespectful to the man in trouble, to his family, and to his friends. Even if the task was impossible, or seemed so at the time, I would've at least tried to get the man out of the subway well and to safety. The simple fact that no one was in that picture but the man facing death saddens me. I don't know what happened that day at the subway, so who knows if there's anyone to blame in the first place. But it has to make you wonder if anyone would help you if you were the one in front of that train.
