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Brotherhood - Who are we kidding?
I find it fascinating as I search through the various discussion threads at the number of threads that find themselves debating passionately who is better paid or volunteer. We have always hung our hat in the fire service on the fact that we "are all brothers", "you go, we go", etc., etc. Ironically, the brotherhood term gets thrown around the most when one of us makes that ultimate sacrifice doing what we do. I say ironically, because I have unfortunately been very close to the action for three separate firefighter line of duty deaths. We always manage to stand up in public and loudly proclaim we are all brothers and that we are there to support our fallen commrade. Then when it is all over, we turn around and fight over who is better paid or volunteer.
Interestingly enough, the three line of duty deaths were two career firefighters and one volunteer, all three from different agencies, all three taken much too early, and all three left loved ones behind wondering how they were going to continue. It was no more tragic for one than the other, it was no more devastating to the agency that lost the firefighter than another, and it was no less heartwrenching for the community they served than the other.
I am not placing myself on pedestal saying I have never been caught up in the healthy debates of paid vs. volunteer. In fact, just the opposite, I am rather disappointed in myself that I have allowed myself to get sucked into those arguments, to get my temper steamed when someone says a paid firefighter has more experience or a volunteer is more dedicated.
So I ask the question (confident that I have made some folks mad), are we really a brotherhood, or do we just play one on tv?
Interestingly enough, the three line of duty deaths were two career firefighters and one volunteer, all three from different agencies, all three taken much too early, and all three left loved ones behind wondering how they were going to continue. It was no more tragic for one than the other, it was no more devastating to the agency that lost the firefighter than another, and it was no less heartwrenching for the community they served than the other.
I am not placing myself on pedestal saying I have never been caught up in the healthy debates of paid vs. volunteer. In fact, just the opposite, I am rather disappointed in myself that I have allowed myself to get sucked into those arguments, to get my temper steamed when someone says a paid firefighter has more experience or a volunteer is more dedicated.
So I ask the question (confident that I have made some folks mad), are we really a brotherhood, or do we just play one on tv?
Add a Comment
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Comment by Robert on April 3, 2009 at 10:10am
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At least someone else has done the research into this and come to the same conclusion as I have.
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Comment by Keggster on April 3, 2009 at 4:28am
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Robert, you make any excellent point at the end of your comment. Take a hard look at the history of FDNY. You'll find there was nothing but volunteers for years in New York City. The Fire Service can find it's roots in volunteers. The common denominator is we're all in it to help our community in one way or another. And as it's been said before: fire doesn't care if you're career or volunteer.
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Comment by Jason Koontz on April 3, 2009 at 3:52am
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Even brothers argue about who's the coolest kid in the house. Its funny to listen to sometimes, or to listen to myself is even worse. I think a few hit it on the head in another thread I was reading. A firefighter is a firefighter. We all have the same dangers, we can all burn the same way, or get the exact same wierd diseases from sick patients we see. Different sides of the same coin. No better, no worse, just slightly different. A brotherhood we are, though, to be sure.
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I do certainly agree that there is all to much debate about this topic. We in my opinion are a brotherhood. While people may argue the way I see it is that we all do the same job. And we all joined for the same reason right? This is a topic that is worn out. Stop beating a dead horse is what my grandfather always said about this. He was a volley in our town for 43 years. I am a volley on one dept. a paid on call on another and am trying to become fulltime at another. Just to be closer to home. Let's forget this damn debate and recognize that we are a brotherhood once more and just except it for what it is. And if you think back every dept was at some point volunteer. So if you get very technical we are all volley.
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