Women Who Survived Theater Shooting Grieve for Hero Boyfriends – ABC News
“Of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting, four of them were men who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their girlfriends. Now, each of these women are struggling to come to terms with both their grief and their gratitude.”
I appreciate ABC News running this story. But I wish they had resisted the urge to drag in “experts” to try to “explain” what is in reality the best that’s in us. In my opinion, all they succeeded in doing with these experts was to devalue these heroes and their sacrifice.
I think the reason why thirty percent of the people who died in Denver were men who gave their lives to protect their women is both simple and obvious: It is how God made them.
If I had to find one story that capsulizes why I think God made men strong, this would be it.
Heroism is not limited to people with Y chromosomes. This story also details women who endangered their lives to protect another person. It is a fool’s errand to come between a womanly woman and her child.
But this willingness of men to die protecting women and children is, in my opinion, God-given. Without it, the human race could never have survived, will not survive now. God made men strong, wired them to respond to physical danger quickly, for a reason. Women are the life-givers. Men are the life-protectors.
All my life I knew that either one of my parents would die or kill to save me. It was a given, like the sun coming up in the morning. I felt the same “I will die for you” strength welling up in me when I was pregnant with my first baby. It has never left me.
But there is a substantive difference with fathers. I knew my mother would kill or die to save me, but it was my Daddy, with his big shoulders and loud voice, who made me feel safe. It is my husband who makes me feel safe now.
Men have a degree of competence in times of physical danger that is innate to their being. Aberrated men use this competence and the physical strength that accompanies it to terrify and destroy. Manly men use it to protect their women and children. They create an line of safety around their families that allows home to become a refuge which nourishes and sustains the people within it.
Amanda Lindgren, whose boyfriend, Alexander Teves, gave his life to protect her, describes it well in the account below.
I’ve blocked the name of the individual who committed this crime. It shouldn’t be in the same story with the name of a manly man.
“Of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting, four of them were men who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their girlfriends. Now, each of these women are struggling to come to terms with both their grief and their gratitude.
“Alexander Teves, 24, attended the midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” with his girlfriend Amanda Lindgren , 24, and another friend.
“When ???? opened fire in the sold out theater, Teves immediately lunged to block Lindgren from the gunfire.
“I was really, really confused at first about what was going on, so confused,” Lindgren told ABC News. “But, it’s like Alex didn’t even hesitate. Because I sat there for a minute, not knowing what was going on, and he held me down and he covered my head and he said, ‘Shh. Stay down. It’s ok. Shh just stay down.’ So I did.”
Teves blocked the bullets from Lindgren but he was shot and killed. She was not hit.”
Public Catholic 
I agree, Rebecca. My husband is a soldier, and I love the fact that he makes me feel really safe when he’s home and here with me. I don;t care what any feminist says, it is natural for women to like to feel protected, just as it is for men to wish to feel protective.
Thanks friend Jessica. Odd as this may sound, I am a feminist. I’m a pro-life, Jesus-loving, husband-Daddy-and-son-loving feminist. Manly men are one of God’s two most beautiful creations. The other of God’s most beautiful creations is womanly women.
I’m with you Rebecca. I am a feminist, and I am with you in all those things you mention. My husband’s strong arms are a great gift from God to me.
I agree, and I especially agree on how the media ruins the story with their so-called experts.
Those men are heroes in anybody book, and yet what they did was plainly their duty, straight from God.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
And that says it all.
Agreed.
It’s funny how the “experts” always dismiss natural law, the basis for all of our laws and the U.S. society that was built upon this firm foundation. They continually try to turn our society upside down by taking God out of all equations that ordinary people see as a “no brainer”.
Absolutely true.
Thanks for sharing this.
You are welcome.
I appreciate my husband’s desire to protect our family. If we, women, can keep this in mind it may help us to understand why men can seem a little “bossy” at times. They take their protective role seriously. I love it! ~ Wendy
Thanks Wendy.
Amen. One challenge for you though. You are the third or fourth person who refuses to use his name. Let me ask you this, does he not need our prayers as much as the victims? Murderer or not, he’s still made in the image of God. Thoughts?
Yes, he needs prayer. Yes, he is a human being made in the image of God. But he does not need or deserve celebrity.
This part of the story didn’t come across in Canadian news media that I saw or heard. So I thank you for dealing with it. “The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends (John 15:13 God’s Word).
Thank you for your comment. I think it’s important to focus as much as possible on the heroic way that good people behave when they are challenged. Good happens, even in the worst of circumstances.
I really enjoy the way you approach things from God’s prospective. And your reply to Nateaddington was “spot on.” Thank you for taking time to communicate with those of us who are non-Oklahomians.
Thank you.
from http://8kidsandabusiness.wordpress.com I think that in recent years, men have been unfairly emasculated and portrayed as bungling buffoons, especially in television shows that are about family life. I don’t understand why that is. I would like to think that if the situation arises, men will be men.
I think the example of these young men answers that hope in the affirmative.
Reblogged this on faithfulnibbles.
Thanks for the re-blog!
I couldn’t agree more –my husband, my dad when he was living and now my 35 yr old son make mefeel safe! Like God’s arms reaching dowm to me.
Mine too, for me.
Reblogged this on The Peanut Gallery.
Art, thanks for the re-blog!
It is in our nature to protect the ones we love. It’s a gift from God. Great post. Thanks for sharing. God blesses.
Thank you Noel.
Dear Public Catholic,
I did’t know men were like that!!! my husband is the worst ever, my father was great, a funny thing: my husband is a lousy husband but a wonderful father!!!
Luv,
Tazein
Thanks Tazein. I hope things improve with your husband.
Reblogged this on Milenanik3's Blog and commented:
Amazing article about the ultimate sacrifice man can do to protect their love ones.Read and be blessed!
Thank you for the re-blog Milena!
Dear Rebecca,
You made my days with Your article.I feel so proud because of this amazing man.I believe that God is smiling each time when we love someone like His beloved Son loved us.
Be blessed and thank You for sharing this news with us.
love and respect,milena
Thank you Milena!
I’ve had this discussion in the past with my son and my wife. I asked my son (20 yrs old) if he was in the same terrible situation, would he be ok knowing that he ran away to leave a child to face off with a crazed killer. He replied that he intends to do what is right. I told him that if he gets caught in a strange situation like this, I would experience both the grief of his death, but also the joy knowing that he behaved as a man even in the face of terrible evil.
Also, my wife is aware that if the same thing happens to me, I don’t have much of a choice – I’m going to do my level best to either stop the guy or die trying.
I appreciate the post. You speak the truth.
Thank you!
You also made my day with your article. I am no hero but i always think of my wife and my two daughters first in everything….is it a manly thing…. some may say so, but i think its a love thing just like the Lord giving His life on a cross. It has always been a given for me to protect them from harm and whatever happens to me i can handle the pain, my instinct is always geared to their survival first .and if need be let it be me to take the next step! Those were some very courageous young men who will be sorely missed but always lovingly remembered for their snap judgement and sacrifice! God bless!
Wendell, I think it is a manly thing, and it sounds like you are real man!