A young survivor of the Brussels attacks is teaching humanity to re-think what it means to be Superman, one viewer at a time.
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“I just hope that the families of those that were injured. and those who were injured [themselves], can feel the prayers of others and how much we feel for them. I feel very lucky to have made it out with the injuries that I had, being so close [to the blasts.”]
19-year-old Mason Wells, a survivor of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium in late March, describes what it was like to witness such violence firsthand in the video above. Numerous versions of the video have been circulating on social media since the attacks–leaving many wondering what’s next. The bombings have left Wells with burns on his face and hands in addition to severe wounds. As he conveys his thoughts and gives this message of hope to other survivors. however, there’s a reminder of what happens when Superman loses his cape.
It’s not a wave of anger, clenched fists or pity. Instead, it’s a beautifully genuine display of calmness–almost tranquility–and a concern for the 30 others who were injured during the attack. Of the 31 individuals hospitalized, six are American–including Wells. If anything, he reminds everyone who takes the time to watch his video testimonial that true strength con not be found within the found within the fabric of Clark Kent’s iconic red and blue suit, regardless of who tries to wear it.
In a March 23 interview with NBC News, Mason’s parents–Chad and Kimberly Wells–there were clear signs of hope and gratitude that their son was alive:
“He’s in as good spirits as can be expected, having gone through the attack,” Chad said. “[Mason] said he was very close to the bomb when it exploded. It’s a miracle that he made it through as easily as he did.”
Kimberly commented on the Mason’s overall safety:
“[He] was in France up until five weeks ago when he got to Brussels, so we’ve dealt with this, we’ve worried [and] we’ve heard about something in the news. I was just really anxious to hear news–details of injuries and things like that.”
Mason’s story has been reported by major media outlets including ABC News and CNN.com, all which praise this young man’s faith and positivity. However, this isn’t his first brush with death, as he survived the bombing during the Boston Marathon in 2013 as well as the terrorist attacks in Paris last year.
We often place our faith in things or figures that we believe are “super” or miraculous. It’s almost second nature, but it can lead to a synthetic image that superheroes are supposed to be invincible, wear spandex suits and have the invincible attitude to match. That’s not the real world–and luckily, there are plenty of real-life heroes like Mason who keep us in check.
So when it feels like we’re losing our faith in humanity, consider this: Do we want a hero who tells the world they’re invincible when they’re really falling apart underneath their suit–or do we want someone who recognizes that they’re not invincible, but still does their best with whatever they’ve got?
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Photo Credit: out of ideas/Flickr