Fight, Flight, Protect

Walter Cannon theorized that animals in trouble act in one of two ways - fight or flight. This is in response to stress responses among vertebrates and other organisms that inhibits tears, dilates the pupils, and accelerates the lung and heart reaction.

People generally accept this two prong theory, but I submit there is a third. When faced with certain imminent danger a person has a third choice - protect. Protection does not necessarily include fighting, but it does risk the good of the one for the many.

Consider the Virginia Tech Massacre. Some people ran, some fought, and some hid from the assailant. All perfectly respectable and normal reactions to the threat of death and injury. All in line with Cannon's theory.

Others chose to protect. They barricaded themselves against doors to prevent the murderer from entering the classrooms. They risked their lives so that others could survive. Consider the story of Liviu Librescu, a professor of aeronautical engineering. When the shooter entered his room he put himself between the gunman and his students. He saved many lives. He was a Holocaust survivor and accomplished professional.

Virginia Tech Students that responded with 'fight or flight' are with honor. Those that responded with 'protect' are truly heroes. It takes a special person to give their lives willingly for another and, while recognition is never the goal, it should not go unnoticed.