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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 Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Brian:
And if you took the time to read any of their books or their words of wisdom, you will discover that they joined for the "love of the job" and not because they wanted to make a "heroic effort".
If you have to define what you do by Webster's, it is you who should be the Wal-Mart greeter.
What we do is NOBLE.
What we should feel is PRIDE and HONOR.
We ACT out of BRAVERY and COURAGE.
We don't do it because we are heroes.
Let the others view our deeds as heroic.
You missed the point completely.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Chris on
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+1!!! For me it is a job, period. Its a great job, and I love helping people, making a difference but it is a job. Over here as far as persons involved fires and the like go, WE are number 1, police, parammedics and the general public are number 2, and the trapped, injured or for all we know dead persons are number 3. No heroics and none of our brothers (or sisters) will be put in danger without cause.......... Next time you enter a building, instead of thinking about being a "HERO" think of your bud wearing beside you.........
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Mark:
No question that what we do is important and we should never minimize or trivialize what we do.
Many of us have sacrificed a great deal to be a part of the nation's fire service. But really; is giving up a TV night such a sacrifice? Or did the ones that have their names on the NFFF memorial make the sacrifice?
Do the ones who stand before the city council fighting against budget cuts make sacrifices?
It all depends on people's perceptions. We can only control to a small degree people's perceptions.
I didn't join for the heroism. I joined for the brotherhood.
You're right; it should be enough that we can call ourselves firefighters.
And that was the point of my discussion.
Thanks.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Dennis Brown on
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Art i agree with you 100% about this
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Permalink Reply by scott stribling on
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You sir are stereotyping all firefighters in this statement. Im not going to quit eating apples just because there are bad ones in the barrel. Every walk of life has a "bad apple" in it. When people are in need of help and we are the ones to provide that, than it is how they view us and the opinion they hold. This article and idiot you refer to does not represent the whole of our service. I could step to the level of your statement and say "It figures, another volunteer trying to act like a career, professional firefighter." So lets not blanket the entire service.
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Permalink Reply by Mick Shelley on
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I have to agree with you Art, the only heroes I know have died in the line of duty. Whether they were serving in the public service as a firemen, or police officer, and not to leave out our service men that are fighting for our country. Those are our true heroes. I joined the fire department to help save lives, and property in the community I live in, not to be a Hero. Even though I put my life on the line each, and ever time a call comes in, I
don't see myself as a hero, and no one else should eather. So let's stop the crap, and give the real heroes the credit
they deserve, for they made the ultimate sacrafice, and may they rest in peace.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Allard on
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I agree about the hero stuff, but it doesn't have to do with the volunteers, look at the two FDNY firefighters that started their door on fire at the firehouse, or how about the tv show last week on one of those tv channels like discovery or info channels about the fire investigator, its all about the fire services. Enough of this crap is right.
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Permalink Reply by John on
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Most of us in the FF service don't want to be told we are heros we are just normal people woh try to help. I think the law should come down hard on those espeacially in the service who start fires just so they can look like a hero. me personlly if the media is around I try to avoid getting on the news, and only look to see if our Dept got any good press and save it then.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on
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I would like to follow up on the issue you raised about making the "sacrifice" . First those that are on teh NFFF memorial did make the ultimate sacrifice and as much as we would like to say "due to their heroic act" we know that unfortunately this is not always true. Sadly some of these men and women died for no reason other than their willingness to help others.
Perhaps it is because of 20 years as a volunteer but I know of countless firefighters that missed a whole lot more than "TV night" due to this volunteer job. Missing your child's birthday party or softball game. Not being there when they needed help with their school work or when their boyfriend dumped them . These are the things we miss out on. The divorce rate among firefighters is traditionally higher than the average, so I know these are important things in life to others as well, that is what this job can take away from you.
Standing in front of the commission asking for money may not be a sacrifice, unless of course you had to take off work -unpaid and drive your POV 60 miles to do it. But this may not be a lot different than many other volunteers, nonetheless it is no less important. What is different about us is: 1) we can't control when we need to respond and what we will miss out on, and 2) when we do we are often in harms way.
These may be considered "sacrifices" to the firefighter and also may be considered "sacrifices" that their family had to make. Personally I wouldn't call them a sacrifice but it is a important aspect of life and something that we all too often have to give up due to the job that many others will never understand.
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Permalink Reply by Moose on
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The ones you need to worry about are the young firefighters making all of the "Tribute" videos on "You Tube" or circulating them on the internet, with the glory gutsy music playing in the back ground and shots of firefighters fighting the fire...Than the grand finale of the text at the end, telling people about their "Heroes" that train numerous hours and give their lives for strangers...
THATS the members that send up flares and should receive a psychiatric evaluation prior to doing any interior firefighter training. Im so sick of seeing these videos everywhere you go, and getting invites to see them or getting them e-mailed to me...enough is enough people, if you need a self esteem boost join a 12 step program. Cut it out with the videos and glory seeking.
Art, I respect you more and more with every blog and forum post you have, again; right on the money with my feelings too. Do what we do to help people because we are the only ones crazy enough to do it, and stop seeking the glory and front page pictures. I would personally take the hug and thank you from the person I helped over any glorious award ceremony or media shots ANY DAY. Its these hugs, thank you cards, offers of coffee on a cold night, or pats on the back that I appreciate better than any flimsy piece of &%$# award you would receive.
Art, the brotherhood issue...for me its a whole other blog!! Might be coming out soon when I get a chance to write it up, so stay tuned, I appreciate your input into my blogs.
Stay Safe and out of the papers
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scott stribling:
You, sir, missed my points completely.
Nowhere in my statements did I "stereotype" anybody.
Nowhere did I make a blanket statement.
What; you have a problem being called "firefighter" or "hero"?
Here's the deal: the New York Daily News stereotyped the fire service with their headline; not me.
Second; I don't believe that Caleb Lacey is representative of the fire service and I didn't say that, so no blanket statement.
Third; here's what you should feel if someone calls you a "hero". You should feel UNCOMFORTABLE, but PROUD.
If someone calls you a hero and your reply is "yes, I am", then buddy, you've got a problem.
And don't call me "sir" unless you are saying it out of respect.
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Moose:
I will anxiously await your blog on brotherhood.
By the way, there is a similar discussion going on here: http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/another-black-eye-for...
TCSS.
Art
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