This post is long over due but I hope that the intent and message will still remain true.
This young mans name is Hilal Hr Hilal.Thats him after the commonwealth games in Delhi 2010 in which he got all those medals from swimming. This lad and his swimming mates from TALLIS Tanzania have made me prouder than I can ever put into words not just of being a Tanzanian but mostly of being from the same generation as him. Considering how much ridicule and backlash we get for not striving for anything or striving for things that are of no importance and will not be relevant in our lives. This is a way of saying thank you to their remarkable achievements and interestingly enough it has nothing to do with their performance in the 2010 games but rather what happen on December 21st 2011 which coincidently happen to be his birthday.
For those who don't know there was a tragedy in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania during the festive season. There were huge rains that resulted in floods where many people died. Usually in such situations people want to preserve their own lives first before worrying about others. But on this day Hilal and his comrades put all common sense and sense of primal preservation aside as they themselves risked their own lives to save people who were stuck on the roof of houses.Hilal was at home when he read on facebook about how lifeguards were helping and actually left his house to go and help out. From the little I know it seems that they saved a family of 3 and a baby who was but a few weeks old. And as goes with our media such events were not covered. This is more than just a heroic act. These are the young people who will someday I believe will be a beacon (if they are not already) to the rest of us. Throwing all regards of self and selfishly going to help another person irregardless of race,gender,age,religion and social class.All that these lads wanted to do was to help. And that is a lesson and teaching I have taken to light. I apologize that I do not know the rest of team who were there but this article goes out to all of you for your deeds that I swear to you have been engraved into my heart and I will forever carry them with me. Pure human decency and kindness. Even if I cannot save lives as they did that day I will strive to have the resolve and heart these people had in their actions. This should be a lesson to us all. Hilal and friends I SALUTE YOU. And I hope whoever knows them or sees them will atleast shake their hand, give them a pat on the back or atleast say THANK YOU. I feel proud that I know one of you personally and even prouder that with all that you did that day you did not gloat look for popularity or anything of that sort. I give praise and thanks to your coaches and trainers for the skills they parted on to you, to your Mother and Sisters (Asmah and Leila) for raising such a fine young man and to you HILAL and FRIENDS for being who you are. I pray and hope that God/Allah will rain a thousand blessings your way.
Jah Bless
