In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with theLong Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move."We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams." "It`s foolish to chase wild visions."Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=2731
Hahaha, EC is so great, we all learn new things everyday here, not only english, but so many interesting other facts. In a way, we all are teachers to others :))
We all didn't achieved such big and famous things, but i believe we all achieve challenges in our everyday life. Thanks for your interest to this blog.
Dear Martin, as you wrote, our fears often stop us to go farther and to achieve our dreams. But we have to overcome them and then, we are so proud of the result ! Today, I overcome my fears to go for a 5 hours bicycle ride alone in a place i didn't know at all. Traffic was heavy and i hadn't ridden a bike for a few years. But i decided to do it anyway, i wanted to prove myself i could do that again and i did it ! I am so proud now :))
Whenever I will look at the magnificient construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the future,it will remind me the absolutely positive attitude of John and Washington Roebling and having faith in oneself!
Dear Manuela, your blog made me smile but not for the reason you may think. But, because I was exactly thinking about Brooklyn Bridge story and today, I saw you wrote about it. This story is very interesting and really astonishing. It's not so easy that half the world is against you and you still want to follow your dream.
Comments
Dear Nafis,
Didn't you say months ago that we were twins ? Though our posts, we can both notice this so often now :))
Dear Charie,
Hahaha, EC is so great, we all learn new things everyday here, not only english, but so many interesting other facts. In a way, we all are teachers to others :))
Dear Monika,
We all didn't achieved such big and famous things, but i believe we all achieve challenges in our everyday life. Thanks for your interest to this blog.
Hello Irina, keep your motto, it will help you to go ahead :)) Thanks for your nice comment.
Very inspiring story suggesting to never give up!
Whenever I will look at the magnificient construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in the future,it will remind me the absolutely positive attitude of John and Washington Roebling and having faith in oneself!
Thank you for sharing,dear Manuela!
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