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We Need to Stop The "Hero" Crap.
I am tired of seeing the "self-anointed accolades". We are giving people joining the fire service a lofty target to hit.
We are giving people in our communities a reason to resent us when WE refer to the honorable and courageous things that we do. In other words, they don't like US patting ourselves on the back.
People joining want to rise to hero status; some faster than others.
I read the Sunday paper and it sickened me when I came across this AP story from the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Caleb+Lacey
Caleb Lacey, 19, a Long Island volunteer firefighter doused an apartment staircase with gasoline and set the building ablaze-killing four-in a "twisted attempt to become a hero", prosecutors charged Saturday.
This has given the term "hero" and "volunteer firefighter" connotations that any right thinking person would not want to be associated with.
Stop selling the idea that we are "heroes" and what we do is "heroic".
We do what we do to HELP others. Period.
Anyone who believes that they will make a heroic effort someday; GET OUT NOW.
There are other "Caleb Laceys" in our fire service just waiting for their chance.
You should know them. You voted them onto your fire departments.
And it has given the news media just another reason to splash FIREFIGHTER CHARGED WITH...as their headline and given the evening news their lead in for the top story of the day.
God; please make it stop.
TCSS.
Art
We are giving people in our communities a reason to resent us when WE refer to the honorable and courageous things that we do. In other words, they don't like US patting ourselves on the back.
People joining want to rise to hero status; some faster than others.
I read the Sunday paper and it sickened me when I came across this AP story from the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Caleb+Lacey
Caleb Lacey, 19, a Long Island volunteer firefighter doused an apartment staircase with gasoline and set the building ablaze-killing four-in a "twisted attempt to become a hero", prosecutors charged Saturday.
This has given the term "hero" and "volunteer firefighter" connotations that any right thinking person would not want to be associated with.
Stop selling the idea that we are "heroes" and what we do is "heroic".
We do what we do to HELP others. Period.
Anyone who believes that they will make a heroic effort someday; GET OUT NOW.
There are other "Caleb Laceys" in our fire service just waiting for their chance.
You should know them. You voted them onto your fire departments.
And it has given the news media just another reason to splash FIREFIGHTER CHARGED WITH...as their headline and given the evening news their lead in for the top story of the day.
God; please make it stop.
TCSS.
Art
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Milo on
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Art you prove both of our opinions in your response to me.
you state please note the underlined text. I to bolded this text as well becaue that is what is relevant in this discussion. Being heroic is not OUR decision to make about ourselves.
In the opinion of others
when you say "What I do is herioc", is that not contradictory to the definition. Randy Lyons says it wonderfully with "I have a problem with self proclaimed heros".
Again I dont disagree that we feel that we are just doing our jobs. I feel the same way. But the perception of most citizens is that we ARE heros. Modesty by us doesnt change that perception, It only heightens it.
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Permalink Reply by Gabe Alvarez on
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yeah your right about that, the self proclaimed heros...BLAAAHHH!!
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Roger that, Milo.
It is a heavy burden to bear, indeed.
It is clear that we agree on it.
I have some thoughts on "brother/sisterhood" coming as I post my 100th article in the blog section.
I hope you take time to read it and comment.
I would greatly appreciate it.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Gabe Bukowski on
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A wise man said and I quote... "Most Heros are Anonymous" I have been told that my whole life. I didn't join the Volunteer orginazation to become a hero. I joined to help people that need help. Once in your career or maybe never in your career you will be assosiated with a Brother or Sister that has the opportunity to be a "hero". It all depends on how that person handles it! The only real heros that I know of are the firefighters that pay the ultimate price trying to help another human being!! Again I will quote my Father and my personal HERO! "Most HEROS are Anonymous" Thanks for reading!!!
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Permalink Reply by MRagone on
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Art, don't get hung up on the words. I began in the Fire Service in 1978 and for the sole reason of helping people. People will pin different titles on you with all different types of words, but just remember that most of us are here to help and not tell everyone how much we helped.
As far as Caleb Lacey goes, he will not be the last, but good screening and insuring that each member of your department is there for the right reason is all of our responsibility. I am sure you have seen the department member that thinks this is all just a big game. I look at the LODD on a regular basis and remember that any of us, at anytime can respond that one last time.
A good friend and Fire Chief explained it best, We won the public trust with September 11th, and lost a great deal of it with the response to Katrina. You see we are only as good as our last headline and the general public is always ready to leap before they learn the facts.
Hang on tight and do the best you can but most of all do not fight gravity. You can win and it only wears you out. Learn to work with it
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Permalink Reply by Brian Tucker on
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Well said Art! I completely agree with you. I want to be a hero to my daughters because I am their father, not because I am a firefighter.
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No hang ups here.
But I will agree that "hero" has become just a word. With its over usage, it has become diluted and convoluted to the extent that it no longer describes a "true act of heroism".
You think I'm hung up on the "hero" word, wait till you see my blog on "brotherhood".
I'm putting the finishing touches on it today, so that some of us will have something to talk about at FDIC.
I began in 1980. We must look an awful lot alike! I'm two inches shorter from riding the tailboard. How about you?
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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I discussed the 'hero' thing today with one of my sisters. We like to talk. I once had issue with her use of the word, when she said 'what a hero' about a man who had survived the collapse of a mine - he and one other were rescued. In English, she wasn't wrong, she was using the word in the form of 'a man who is admired for any quality'. To me that man wasn't a hero, he was very fortunate, very lucky. I was happy to see the two men come out of the mine.
For me, the word 'hero' has always been allied to the word 'heroic'. Actions that went beyond what could be expected, beyond the norm. A person who runs a race in a very fast time is not, to me, a hero. That person is simply a very good runner. For me the same applies to anyone who excels in any sport. Hardly heroic. Now if a person is given an award for gallantry, something like the Victoria Cross, the George Cross, the Medal of Honor, whatever high award might be given in their country, then that person may be called a hero - though I would never use the word to his of her face.
Somebody above referred to his heroes being people such as school bus drivers, teachers and janitors. To me they are simply people doing their job; nothing heroic. Many people talk about being or wanting to be a hero to their children. I very much doubt that my sons would ever call me a 'hero'! I'm their dad, I'm the man who tried his best to teach them right from wrong, who tried to help them with whatever the were attempting, who tried to become their friend. As dt said, that's parenting. Hardly heroic.
Me? I'm a dad, not a hero. I'm a firefighter, not a hero.
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We have seen several different views of the term "hero". Most agree that it is description that they would rather not use to describe themselves. We accept that others might use it to describe us.
Well, I just posted a blog that speaks to brother/sisterhood. And I would like your thoughts on that as well.
This continues to be an excellent example of respectful discussion.
My hat is off to everyone involved.
Please check this out: http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/brothersisterhood-i...
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Cole on
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When firefighters do something in the line of duty that is with extreme risk and results in a positve outcome, or at least an effort to save human life...it should be considered as exceptional conduct in the course of duty.
However when we sign up for the job, so to speak, we should have had some idea that times would require us to take risks. Heros?
That's something the media throws on us, and it's a word used when the politicians want to stroke us. Back immediately after 9/11 every politician wanted to have a campaign photo either with a firefighter in it, shaking hands, or said politican wearing a helmet to symbolize unity with the good guys and girls.
It was all so very short lived. Now many of us are considered as a drain on the taxpayer who may actually perform some trype of fire-related duty infrequently.
Our US Soldiers are heros. Ordinary citizens who take extreme risks to save life are heros. Knocking on doors of apartments during a fire and waking people up is not heroism either. But either is some multi-million dollar sports figure when they make that winning catch. THAT is the perhaps as gross a misuse of the word as there is.
Firefighters perform a duty, a service that many don't want to, or can't for whatever reason. But personally I cannot stand the word hero when applied to our efforts.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Art,
All it takes is a large dose of "Hero Immodium".
Ben
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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This reply of yours specifically reminds me of the Budweiser ads on the radio in my area, "Real American Hero". It was a parody of guys who invented things like the t-shirt shooter at ball games, the big screen proposer at sporting events and so on. (I don't know how far reaching these ads are.) But, after 9-11, they changed the title to "Real Men of Genius" to avoid any references to "hero" because the context in which they were using the word was not a real "hero". They said they changed it because they believed the real heros were the firefighters and military men.
Sorry, a little off topic, but it just came to my mind. Great post and responses.
I'm just glad they got rid of Rescue 911 a long time ago with William Shatner.
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