WWCDJD?

by Carmen de Jesus

In response to Heather's query on "What Would You Do?" - Here's "What Would CDJ Do?" - in that hypothetical instance.

(And for the record, the question "What would you do?" makes me think of the song "Freedom Isn't Free" from the movie "Team America" so I'm already kind of laughing)

I usually roll my eyes at these kinds of hypothetical questions, but I'll play along and assume that such a day and such a situation were to present itself to me, today. Here's my context, in answering this question: as of today I am 28 weeks pregnant and waddling like a cross between a giant penguin and Jabba the Hutt. I have all the same values of the equality of human life as the previous respondents, I understand that the old man "said he didn't want to die" and the baby is fresh and new, etc.

I'd quickly assess the situation, meanwhile calling 911 as I took in how much time there was to save ANYONE. Because I'm not just ME, I'm me plus my own baby gestating inside, I'd have to be pretty certain that I'd have enough time to get in and out of there quickly without jeopardizing myself. If I only had 30 seconds, I'd run in, grab the baby and scream for help to save the old man. If help didn't arrive in time, and it was too dangerous to try to lift or drag the old man out, then so be it. I'd have no recrimination or regret, nor would I be haunted by not having saved the old man. I'm pregnant, dammit, so I'm all about that baby as well as my baby.

| 04/27/07 | Commentary