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Hero Worship. Do we need it?
Is it just me or are others bothered by the term heros, I don't consider my self one and wonder why this termonology seems to be on the rise . We do a job we chose and train for and the amount of hero worship is now croping up in even some of the advertising we read, not to mention the number of general tributes to firefighters on here. May be I'm wrong but it does bother me personally.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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And, of course... when referring to our men and women in the military who are laying their lives on the line for all of us.
And there in does lie the crux of the issue at hand for the most part. While there are there token few who will toss the "hero" adage around loosly, many times the term is tossed about by those from outside the service.
When you mention about the military, and terming their service as heroic, can be viewed the same way as the fire service and even police. After all, such folks are also putting their health and lives on the line for the protection of the community, so if the "hero" term can be tossed about for military, then why not for firefighters and cops? Not to say the acts of many servicemembers are not heroic, but there are many acts by firefighters and cops which can be viewed the same. So why the difference then? If one were to talk to most servicemembers and vets, for the most part, you will find a commonality with the "hero" term for them as we see here.
To me, it is not heroism, it is preparation meeting opportunity. There are countless everyday heros out there that don't get the same type of recognition, but then the term also does fall into the eyes of the beholder.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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It goes with the media looking for a story to sell papers. There is no question that what we do every day is done because of our desire to help others an serve our communities. Thats our thanks is the good feeling we get knowing we've done well. However, if there were hero's it would be better to be our profession then high paid folks who sadly dont earn that status such as sports figures an the like who cant seem to control their personal lives. The media and the general public certainly cant understand why we do what we do so their perspective is to look at what we do as heroism. WHATEVER!
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It goes with the media looking for a story to sell papers
Media is a big contributor to the "hero" analogy, but let me ask this...Why shouldn't the fire service then grasp onto such claims as addressed?
Not that I've been in any significant ones, but when fighting a wildland fire it is nice when it rains, so in such budget times and so forth, why not let let "hero" mantra roll? If the media wants to put it out there "to sell papers" then why should the fire service stand back and not embrace and opportunity to promote the issues at hand? Budgets is a key thing out there, yet there is a good number of folks content that the fire service is a mear gnat, not even worthy of funding, despite such staffing studies and so forth. O why not take advantage of the "hero" card tossed about? If the media wants to run something as to the point, then why not follow up by addressing the struggles?
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Absolutely John. Every opportunity to enlighten the public is a opportunity lost if it isnt taken advantage of.
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Every opportunity to enlighten the public is a opportunity lost if it isnt taken advantage of.
Which would then be a contrast to the topic at hand here then, don't you think?
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AYE!
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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We may or may not need it and I doubt seriously anyone here is going to fess up whether or not they really like being given extra attention and focus by the public. It's not like this is a new thing...
And even today, with all the bad things happening everywhere, firefighters are the last honest job where people still love you and love to tell you so. People need a hero and guess what, tag your it...
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Dan Dunn on
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I like what you posted Chief Sharp, I don't do what I do because "it's a job", I'm a volunteer who gets $5.00 a call. I do it because I love it, and like you said to help others and serve the community. I understand why the general public see fire personal as heroes, but that only motivates me to be the best firefighter, and person I can to deserve their respect.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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Good point, John. I guess the reference to military folks is a habit because we always want them to know how much we support them.
And the same should be true for us. We need to know we're supported.
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Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on
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Yeah that "hero" thing is overplayed among us. However, ours are are not the opinions that matter here. If emergency responders are percieved as the ones "of distinguished valor or performance, admired for their noble qualities" so be it. If there are those among us who wave "I'm a hero flags", thats an internal problem. And Ralph, its swell to know you are "just doing a job" and that most us do not consider ourselves heroes Modesty is a great thing but anyone who compares what is expected of your garbage man, based on his training, to all that is expected of you, based on your training, would have to conclude that your job looks something like heroic.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Here's a link to a discussion from last year on this very subject.
There are 266 replies. I think only ONE thought it was OK to be called a hero.
I STILL say that "We Need to Stop the Hero Crap".
Link: http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/we-need-to-stop-the-h...
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