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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 Bill Mulligan on
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We are not HEROS we are just a group of people who are doing a job that has to be done that we just happen to love. As far as the scumbag from long Island he would have probably set a fire at some point anyway. It just so happened he is a firefighter.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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With so many stating very emphatically that we are NOT heroes, why isn't there a T-shirt with "I'M NOT A HERO; I"M JUST A FIREFIGHTER!"
It would be the ANTI-I Fight What You Fear T-shirt.
Dave:
FirefighterNation on the left chest.
"I'm Not A Hero; I'm Just A Firefighter" across the back.
That would be HOT!
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Scott on
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After reading through these posts all I can say is WOW.
Some have hit the nail on the head. Some have missed it completely.
We need to address the real issue and stop bashing a word, meaning, concept. I have seen hero complex in former FF's, Police, Security and medical profession. Bashing a concept is not going to get rid of this problem. It has been around for a lot longer than any of us in this group.
What is needed is for all FD's, PD, Public Safety in general to make psychological screening mandatory. We do in our Dept but my guess is that most full time Dept's do.
It is expensive but is it something we can afford not to do?
We are here to protect the public correct? Wouldn't we be protecting them if we keep someone with "issues" from being put in a position of trust and directing them to the help they need? I worked with a guy that came on in a time when psychologicals were not done, he was busted on duty for shoplifting and there were stories about much worse going on, he was the kind of guy any reasonable person would know was just not quite right when you talked to him.
How many times in the past few years have we read about FF's setting fires around the world? Too many, way too many.
Now trying to do away with the use of a descriptive word or concept is just glossing over the real issue. Someone waring a goofy if not down right tasteless tee shirt is not going to drive someone to be a "hero". That seed has been planted and cultivated much longer before and a lot deeper that reading a tee shirt or hearing the words.
Not wanting someone to call you a hero is a natural reaction for someone that has a quality that every FF should have, humility.
Another quality that should be practiced is grace.
When the media or public calls us hero's or heroic, just nod and move on. We all know we are doing what we love to do and we would do it no matter what they call us hero or zero.
I came up under some senior guys that worked though the 60's when you couldn't give away a FD or PD position. They got rocks thrown at them for saving someone home, do you think they were called heroes? Maybe by some but very few. Guess what, they had guys with the hero syndrome just the same.
Like I said before psychological screening is key to stamping the underlying problem of mental stability.
Here in WI we had a young Sheriffs deputy go off the deep end and kill a number of people off duty but with a dept weapon. In my county just weeks ago we had a deputy draw his weapon during an argument with a fellow deputy on duty. Were they screened? In the first case no, in the second that has yet to be released.
Just my 20 cents worth of rambling.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
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So something like this Art?
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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
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Damnthing:
Trust me...we know!
LOVE that sarcastic humor of yours! Sure were not related?
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There was a female charged in some wildland fires a few years ago out west. I believe she was a USFS employee.
But they seem to be few and far betwen. I wonder what the per-capita numbers are.
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Exothermic Oxidation Suppression Technician.
It already exists, I got one at a FD fund raiser about 20 years ago.
It was a jab at the PC movement from Fireman to Firefighter as official rank names in the area.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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For those who are thinking of wearing the tee shirt, and have dreams of being the hero, perhaps if you allow me to "drum" the four Hero rules into your heads first? These are key words that you must understand fully to be able to truly be a hero.
D - Deference
R - Respectful
U - Unpretentious
M - Modesty
deference - Definition:
respect: polite respect, especially putting another person's interests first, in deference to out of respect or courtesy to somebody or something
respectful - Definition:
showing appropriate deference and respect
unpretentious - Definition:
natural and modest: not putting on a false or showy display of importance, wealth, or knowledge
modesty - Definition:
1. humility: unwillingness to draw attention to your own achievements or abilities
2. shyness: lack of confidence or assertiveness, with a tendency to embarrass easily
3. simplicity: lack of grandeur or ostentation
4. moderation: moderation in size, scale, or extent
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Here ya go sis...
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Wally:
I can't believe you haven't already contacted the shop on this.
It's a winner, baby.
Speaking of baby, congratulations, you sly devil.
Awesome shirt.
Dave: are you lurking?
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Capt.Alex Arnold on
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kinda funny...but, I understand the frustration that we sometimes get when our younger generations open their mouth and "things" spurt out. But when we ridicule and "poke fun" at them is that teaching them how to act? Is that teaching them right from wrong or what is important to this service, INTEGRITY?! I have been enjoying reading this post (all 11 pages), and this little section honestly got my blood towards the boiling level. We want the HERO crapp to stop but we don't sometimes take that extra minute or two to guide the future down the right path. We that have been in this service for awhile need to sometimes shut up and listen also. Listen and then guide! You don't want to be called a hero, then try being a role model! That is what is sometimes lacking in this service. A few more humble guys and gals that know they aren't heroes, but they can be looked up to as people that not only talk the talk but walk the walk. Sorry if I upset anyone with this little lashing. We all know the term, the ptt on the mic is push to talk not push to think. Try the same on these pages...think it before you type it. Be safe and learn something new today!
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