hegemony rules

Actually at the moment there aren't any teenagers more deserving and the future doesn't seem to offer any promising candidates

Sincerely,
The Shark

I wonder if that wrist watch is still working...the one that was on her wrist, which may still be attached to her arm...the one that is now, probably shit...

she does deserve the attention because she inspires people to not give up on their dreams
she lost her arm and as soon as she recovered she went right back into the water where the shark bit her and continued surfing

quit your whinning!

Methinks u b missin' the obvious -- she ain't a hero just cuz Mr. Shark bit her! She's a hero cuz of her REACTION to the tragedy. Have u not read the news stories? From the get-go she was strong, brave, and courageous. Then she continued to demo those traits through her hospital stay -- then thru rehab -- and then persevered (overcoming fear and certainly pain) to get back out there and surf again. Then in her first competetion she refused to be given any advantage or shown any favoritism. THAT'S a hero! Brave, unselfish, and an example of courage and perseverence that we could ALL learn from. Not 2 mention tehfact that she boldly stands up about what (i.e.: Who) she believes in! WORD!!! Aight?

hi

Apparently Bethany isn't as kind and gracious as the media are putting forward. One of my friends, who is Jewish, used to go live near her until she moved away. Apparently Bethany and her friends used to call her a Christ-killer and told her she'd burn in Hell. Now, I'm a Lutheran but I don't believe that Christ gave us permission to be bigots.

i don't mean to sound like a mean person, but your article about bethany hamilton was completely ridiculous. i'm sure that when something bad happens to almost anyone, they use that as an "excuse" to give up on their dreams. but if a shark bit off your arm most people would use that as an excuse to give up living entirely. but with bethany, she kept of striving forward and didn't give up on her dream and continued surfing, and even started up snowboarding, no matter what people like you decided to say about her or doubt her. the reason why she is an inspiration and a hero isn't because a shark bit off her arm; but rather because she did not give up on what she loves to do. so next time you want to write an article like the one above about bethany, please think about the real reason why she is a hero. and if there is going to be a book about her i'll be the first in line to buy it.

Please see http://www.thebrushback.com/Archives/teensurfer_full.htm

I am not sure if this is a true article or not but seems to support Maria's 1/26/04 post

Years past I too surfed (Florida) and worked after high school for a couple of years on an ambulance before heading to college. I saw a lot of people in some rough spots - even had a close friend get his foot chomped while surfing by a shark. But Bethany's praise - manager aside- is truly due to her drive to go on with life and the thing she apparently loves the best. Like Lance Armstrong pushing on after his cancer fight. That's Bethany's heroism, if you want to call it that.
I am sure she has her moments alone or with her folks when it all seems too much. The injury is certainly a life altering event. But that drive is the best "medicine" there is, and I for one am gald the Triathletes and others have recognized her for that. That should provide a great deal of energy for her particularly when joined with her faith.
Mahalo and you go girl!

-David

Did anyone see her on The teen choice awards she fell when she was about to get her award.. It was kinda funny but kinda sad.

Well Im from Kauai (13 years old) too, and i work with your brother (Noah) at the princeville hotel. well kind of. He tells me alot about whats goin on with you n your conditions. I think its really cool that u handle all the 'talking crap about Bethany Hamilton' stuff!

i think that it is some bull shit about melanie saying that kind of stuff. i have somthing to say about that!!!!! wat if she had fallen down in front of everyone.. she would have been embaresed.well bethany i think that u deserved that award and i hope that you keep on surfing those waves!!!!!
love ur fan,
courtney

I read Bethany's book its great you should try and read it sometimes. Bethany if you can read this I hope you are doing well goodluck with your future.

hi my name is jessie i read your book and i really liked it i can read it every day and not get tierd of it at all i have only on question after i read your book i noticed that it did not say what kind of shark bit you and i was wondering if you can wright back and answer my question. so im really happy that i got to write you hopefully you will write back.
your fan,
jessie frazer!
ps:i really hope you do good with your arm and i hope i will see you in the futuer.

Bethany Hamilton is very deserving. The fact that she was able to swim back to shore with one arm and a bleeding stump is amazing. The fact that she started surfing one month after she was attacked by a shark was amazing. It's not like she asked to be famous. Maybe we can't say she's a "hero", but she is an amazing girl.

hmmmm. adrienne you say the real tragedy isnt a 13 year old athlete losing a limb, but that young Bethany Hamilton "risks ridicule" for being called a hero.
look, a, after being attacked by a 15 foot shark, losing an enormous amount of blood and being on the brink of shock, this girl who wanted nothing out of life but to surf swam a very long way back to shore all alone with one arm, refusing to give up even when anything she had ever imagined living for seemed it must be a thing of the past. and, astonishingly, she hasnot only shaken off any fears of sharks but has even gone on to win some surfing titles while setting up a few charities and cheering up disabled people all over the planet.
she's, what, around 14 now?
maybe the real tragedy is how little power most of us have to affect the tiniest positive change even in ourselves, despite the wealth of limbs and brains we seem to be in charge of.
i m not religious but bethany is, and that kid could make me rethink anything.
i call her awesome. why not reconsider the meaning of "hero"? if you cant do that, you might consider giving the ol blog a rest.
you yourself say it s tragic to risk ridicule.

hmmmm. if i read you right, adrienne, you say the real tragedy isn't that a 13 year old athlete lost a limb, but that young Bethany Hamilton "risks ridicule" for being called a hero.

look, A, after being attacked by a 15 foot shark, losing an enormous amount of blood and being on the brink of shock, this girl --who had wanted nothing out of life but to surf-- swam a very long way back to shore all alone with one arm, refusing to give up even when anything she had ever imagined living for seemed a thing of the past.

astonishingly, Bethany Hamilton has not only overmastered any fear of sharks but has even gone on to win some surfing titles while setting up a few charities, writing a book, and cheering up disabled people all over the planet, in part by an awful lot of what is most people's number one fear: public speaking, predominantly free and for the public good.

damn right she's risking ridicule, adrienne.
yet i notice she s not in the least ridiculous.
and she's, what, around 14 now?

maybe the real tragedy is how little power most of us have to affect the tiniest positive change, even in ourselves, despite all these limbs and brains we seem to be in charge of.

i m not religious, but i know bethany is. i see that kid's glorious smile as she grabs her surfboard the only way she can, and i respect her so much im ready to rethink anything.

why not reconsider the meaning of "hero"?

if you cant do that, you might consider taking a wee rest from the ol blog.
after all, as you say: it s tragic to risk ridicule.

hmmmm. if i read you right, adrienne, you say the real tragedy isn't that a 13 year old athlete lost a limb, but that young Bethany Hamilton "risks ridicule" for being called a hero.

look, A, after being attacked by a 15 foot shark, losing an enormous amount of blood and being on the brink of shock, this girl --who had wanted nothing out of life but to surf-- swam a very long way back to shore all alone with one arm, refusing to give up even when anything she had ever imagined living for seemed a thing of the past.

astonishingly, Bethany Hamilton has not only overmastered any fear of sharks but has even gone on to win some surfing titles while setting up a few charities, writing a book, and cheering up disabled people all over the planet, in part by an awful lot of what is most people's number one fear: public speaking, predominantly free and for the public good.

damn right she's risking ridicule, adrienne.
yet i notice she s not in the least ridiculous.
and she's, what, around 14 now?

maybe the real tragedy is how little power most of us have to affect the tiniest positive change, even in ourselves, despite all these limbs and brains we seem to be in charge of.

i m not religious, but i know bethany is. i see that kid's glorious smile as she grabs her surfboard the only way she can, and i respect her so much im ready to rethink anything.

why not reconsider the meaning of "hero"?

if you cant do that, you might consider taking a wee rest from the ol blog.
after all, as you say: it s tragic to risk ridicule.

Bethany,I live in California and I think you are the best person ever. I did a report on the book you wrote,and I said, "You might not be the best surfer in the world, but you have the most courage to keep on going even after what happened to you."

P.S. I'm going to Hawaii this Christmas with my family,and I hope to see you there!ALOHA!
Christina November 22,2005 6:53 PM

Very good reading. Peace until next time.
WaltDe

Bethany,I live in Minden Louisiana and I think you are the best person ever. I did a report on you and I said "You might not be the best surfer in the world, but you have the most courage to keep on going even after what happened to you! i love you!!!! BETHANY HAMILTON