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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Mon May 28, 2018, 08:24 AM May 2018

'Spiderman' granted French citizenship after rescuing child from Paris balcony

Source: CNN



By Saskya Vandoorne, Samantha Beech and Ben Westcott, CNN

Updated 5:51 AM ET, Mon May 28, 2018

Paris (CNN)A young Malian migrant who rescued a child dangling from a balcony will be made a French citizen and has been offered a job by the Paris fire brigade, the office of the French presidency said.

Video of the rescue showed 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama climbing up four floors of the apartment building in just seconds to rescue the child, to cheers from onlookers. By the time Parisian emergency services arrived at the building, he had already pulled the child to safety.

President Emmanuel Macron invited Gassama to the Elysee Palace on Monday, where he was given a certificate and a gold medal for performing an act of courage and dedication.

Gassama told Macron: "I didn't think about it, I climbed up and God helped me."

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/28/asia/paris-baby-spiderman-rescue-intl/index.html

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'Spiderman' granted French citizenship after rescuing child from Paris balcony (Original Post) DonViejo May 2018 OP
What a great response from the French government! CaliforniaPeggy May 2018 #1
If only every undocumented immigrant could save the life of a small child oberliner May 2018 #9
undocumented? Larrybanal May 2018 #18
Yes oberliner May 2018 #19
Beg pardon? trumpy would be "illegal alien", to which I and most... brush May 2018 #22
No comment on the heroism? Focus on the immigration statutus, sarcastically, and then Fred Sanders May 2018 #33
Have you ever watched The Simpsons? oberliner May 2018 #37
No need for a long winded response, even one only tangentially relevant to my point. Fred Sanders May 2018 #41
Humanity! All around. Bravo Guilded Lilly May 2018 #2
Compare it to what happens here: What Would cheetolini Do? marble falls May 2018 #3
say maybe a word or two heaven05 May 2018 #6
And then ICE would grab him up and repatriate him. marble falls May 2018 #8
so very true heaven05 May 2018 #12
Unfortunately, you're likely spot on DFW May 2018 #36
We've already seen what trump would do. He ignored the Waffle House... brush May 2018 #23
Silence from Trump, if hero not white. We already know. America has been debased. New normal? Fred Sanders May 2018 #34
Politically savvy President Macron knew that Cheeto would see this FakeNoose May 2018 #4
Indeed! Citizenship and a job, too! calimary May 2018 #5
In the meantime pazzyanne May 2018 #7
Trump would deport him! And Jail his kids! Grandstander Go Home! bucolic_frolic May 2018 #10
Wow. Well done. Princess Turandot May 2018 #11
4 years old heaven05 May 2018 #13
wow!!!! samnsara May 2018 #14
The Trumpsters are already calling this "fake news" Puzzler May 2018 #15
You're kidding !!! pangaia May 2018 #16
Nope ... Puzzler May 2018 #21
amazing that ppl so foolish& stupid can figure out computers irisblue May 2018 #27
Millions of smart people are stupid. pangaia May 2018 #29
Jeeze, you're right. pangaia May 2018 #28
It's obvious. The guy took a kid, hung him over the balcony, ... JustABozoOnThisBus May 2018 #25
And he got a job as a fireman too Botany May 2018 #17
That is the perfect job for him TexasBushwhacker May 2018 #39
This is in French, but it is nice to see. Equinox Moon May 2018 #20
"Bravo." "Merci." pangaia May 2018 #30
It wouldn't be seen on the news here. It doesn't fit the narrative. We'd never know of his bravery. rainin May 2018 #24
In the United States tazkcmo May 2018 #26
there are some days when I wake up and have no faith in humanity arithia May 2018 #31
Had to watch it again. What he did so quickly still seems miraculous. Judi Lynn May 2018 #32
If that had been Britain.... T_i_B May 2018 #35
Wow what strength and bravery this man has! workinclasszero May 2018 #38
Father of boy dangling from Paris balcony was out playing Pokmon Go, prosecutor Judi Lynn May 2018 #40
'Spiderman' balcony rescue hero granted French citizenship Judi Lynn May 2018 #42
 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
19. Yes
Mon May 28, 2018, 10:10 AM
May 2018
France hails Malian hero who saved toddler from Paris balcony

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented migrant, would become a "naturalised French" national and join the fire service, the AFP news agency reported on Monday.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/france-hails-malian-hero-saved-toddler-paris-balcony-180528073152771.html


Macron hails Malian 'Spiderman' who rescued child from Paris balcony

At a meeting in the Elysée presidential palace Monday, Macron praised Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented migrant from Mali, for his “exceptional act” and added: “We’re going to regularise all your papers and if you wish, we will initiate a naturalisation procedure so that you can become French, if you so desire.”

http://www.france24.com/en/20180528-france-macron-hero-malian-rescue-child-french-citizenship


An undocumented immigrant saved a child dangling from a Paris balcony. Now he’s a national hero.

The video footage is striking: In a matter of seconds, a young man scales four stories of a Paris apartment building to rescue a child dangling from a balcony above the street.

The rescuer’s name is Mamoudou Gassama, an undocumented 22-year-old immigrant from Mali...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/28/an-undocumented-immigrant-saved-a-toddler-dangling-from-a-paris-balcony-now-hes-a-national-hero/?utm_term=.46c2efdf0c9a


Weird that you think "undocumented" sounds "trumpy".

brush

(53,743 posts)
22. Beg pardon? trumpy would be "illegal alien", to which I and most...
Mon May 28, 2018, 10:38 AM
May 2018

progressives say no one is illegal. "Undocumented" is the preferred term.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
33. No comment on the heroism? Focus on the immigration statutus, sarcastically, and then
Mon May 28, 2018, 12:48 PM
May 2018

follow up with a "told you so " refrain?

No one is amused, or impressed. Not I.

 

oberliner

(58,724 posts)
37. Have you ever watched The Simpsons?
Mon May 28, 2018, 05:05 PM
May 2018

Did you ever see the one where the character played by John Waters saves Homer's life and it leads to him overcoming his homophobia?

That was what I was going for with the comment.

The notion that what it will take for some people to think positively about undocumented immigrants is for them to do something like that.

If you do remember the episode, towards the end, the character says:

"Homer, I won your respect, and all I had to do was save your life. Now, if every gay man could just do the same, you'd be set."

and then Homer says: "Amen to that"

Here's the clip:


 

heaven05

(18,124 posts)
6. say maybe a word or two
Mon May 28, 2018, 09:00 AM
May 2018

but probably nothing, as would be with the MSM also. He is a racist and hates that any brown skinned person has more courage, intelligence and ability than his despicable orange presence of life.

DFW

(54,302 posts)
36. Unfortunately, you're likely spot on
Mon May 28, 2018, 01:56 PM
May 2018

They wold repeat the Republican mantra, "the law is the law." I.e. "thanks for saving the kid, but fuck you anyway, and get your ass outta here."

Macron knew how to handle this without a moment's hesitation. Republicans would have known how NOT to handle the situation--probably with equally little hesitation.

brush

(53,743 posts)
23. We've already seen what trump would do. He ignored the Waffle House...
Mon May 28, 2018, 10:42 AM
May 2018

hero who saved lives by stopping that shooter with his bare hands.

trump didn't acknowledge his heroism for weeks, and when he finally did it was because he was pressured. And he did it reluctantly.

FakeNoose

(32,596 posts)
4. Politically savvy President Macron knew that Cheeto would see this
Mon May 28, 2018, 08:38 AM
May 2018

He's making the point that France treats its immigrants way better than the USA does. That, in addition to rewarding the young man for his bravery and quick thinking.

This is awesome all the way around!

pazzyanne

(6,543 posts)
7. In the meantime
Mon May 28, 2018, 09:00 AM
May 2018

we deport undocumented immigrants who have served in our active duty military. We are no longer an honorable nation... and won't be until tRump is out of the People's House.

Princess Turandot

(4,787 posts)
11. Wow. Well done.
Mon May 28, 2018, 09:18 AM
May 2018

It looks like Mr Gassama had to climb up a good 50 feet, and did in around 20 seconds.

Photo when he's two floors below (click): http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/45b0b1284a5a4a35494bd43b250ce7c0

There was a man on the next balcony who was holding onto the child's wrist, but there's a divider between the balconies which kept him from getting close enough to get enough leverage to pull him up. The child is a 4 year old boy, so he wasn't that small.

He was home by himself: the mother was out of town and the father had gone out.

Puzzler

(2,505 posts)
21. Nope ...
Mon May 28, 2018, 10:36 AM
May 2018

if you Google some of the videos, there are already RW trolls at it



Sorry to even have to mention this, but the idea that the French authorities would be easily duped seems highly unlikely. Also the “Spiderman” has zero history (as far as I know) that would indicate he’s remotely that venal.

BTW, I am aware that even bringing the topic up here, could be abetting the “spread the doubt” crap that the RW is infamous for. It’s a catch 22 situation

-Puzzler

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,325 posts)
25. It's obvious. The guy took a kid, hung him over the balcony, ...
Mon May 28, 2018, 10:51 AM
May 2018

then climbed down.

Play the film backward, look like a hero.

That had to be it, right?



arithia

(455 posts)
31. there are some days when I wake up and have no faith in humanity
Mon May 28, 2018, 11:55 AM
May 2018

and then a wonderful individual like this reminds me of who we can be.

Judi Lynn

(160,451 posts)
32. Had to watch it again. What he did so quickly still seems miraculous.
Mon May 28, 2018, 12:40 PM
May 2018

He didn't take any time at all to ponder what his risks were, he moved only to try to save the child.

Any conscious human being would recognize his goodness immediately.

Anyone attempting to throw insults at this man dwells somewhere far below sub-human range. He/she is dishonest and fueled by hatred, not really qualified to be heard, and will be recognized for what he/she is.

T_i_B

(14,736 posts)
35. If that had been Britain....
Mon May 28, 2018, 12:52 PM
May 2018

...the government would still have deported him regardless. Well done to Emanuel Macron for showing how government should behave.

 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
38. Wow what strength and bravery this man has!
Mon May 28, 2018, 05:28 PM
May 2018

To quickly climb four stories on the outside of a building to rescue that child! WOW!

Judi Lynn

(160,451 posts)
40. Father of boy dangling from Paris balcony was out playing Pokmon Go, prosecutor
Mon May 28, 2018, 05:55 PM
May 2018

By PAUL PRADIER BEN GITTLESON
PARIS — May 28, 2018, 4:30 PM ET

The father of a 4-year-old boy who was rescued from a Paris balcony this weekend had been out grocery shopping and playing Pokémon Go instead of watching his child, according to a French official.

Authorities charged the father with "failure to meet parental obligations" after his son was seen in videos dangling from the fourth floor of a Paris building, Paris prosecutor François Molins told the BFM television network on Monday.



A migrant from Mali was hailed as a hero after scaling the building and pulling the young boy to safety. Videos of 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama's climb went viral and French President Emmanuel Macron said he would put Gassama on a fast track to citizenship.

The boy's mother was not home either, Molins said, because she was visiting France's Réunion Island, in the Indian Ocean, with family members.

More:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/father-boy-dangling-paris-balcony-playing-pokmon-prosecutor/story?id=55491140

Judi Lynn

(160,451 posts)
42. 'Spiderman' balcony rescue hero granted French citizenship
Mon May 28, 2018, 07:26 PM
May 2018

Published: 21:44 Monday 28 May 2018

A migrant from Mali lauded as a hero for scaling an apartment building in Paris to save a young child dangling from a balcony will be rewarded for his “exceptional act” with papers to legalise his stay, French president Emmanuel Macron said.

He said 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama, who arrived in the country a few months ago, will also be given citizenship if he wants and a job as a firefighter.

The Rescue. “Bravo,” Mr Macron said to Mr Gassama during a one-on-one meeting in the presidential Elysee Palace that ended with the awarding of a medal from the prefecture for “courage and devotion”.

Mr Gassama’s feat went viral on social media, where he has been dubbed “Spiderman” for climbing up five floors, from balcony to balcony, and whisking a four-year-old boy to safety on Saturday night as a crowd screamed at the foot of the building in Paris’ northern 18th district.

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/spiderman-balcony-rescue-hero-granted-french-citizenship-1-4746188
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