The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
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
-
Permalink Reply by Benjiumen W. Denney on
-
Well, even though I hate to keep a worthless topic going, I feel that I must say a few things before I read a few of the other topics.
I think there are some of you that need to take a real look behind the reason that most of these people wear the shirts they wear. The things that has made this career most appealing in the first place. They are showing they have pride in what they do and it does not stop with that word in our vocabulary. Look at the history of our service and tell me that there is no such thing as pride and honor, bravery, family just to mention a few "words."
I agree with scott and Captain Busy, most of us have humility and modesty. I for one do think the word is thrown around a bit too much, but will it affect how I feel about my job or the way I go about my daily activities, "No."
I read so much in the previous blogs that I could not respond to all of the things I was seeing. I read those that made many comments about how the only ones who are a true hero are those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I think that is a travisty for any of our members in the service, past or present. I really think 9-11 changed public perception a great deal, but that does not mean that the firefighters that died prior to that date were any less. Do you really believe that the firefighter who spent 20 years saving lives was not a hero prior to the night that a floor gave way and he fell as he searched for a child in a bedroom. I will never believe that the only hero is a dead one !!!
We are in this profession for a few different reasons. Some because of family, some because of the thrill, some because of the brotherhood. There are a few with other reasons. I am not one to justify the reason you entered the fire service is for the wrong reason. I would have an opinion as to the way my personnel view the job as a whole. This is my job as thier commanding officer and friend to guide them and help mold the proper attitudes.
I have always encouraged pride and individuality in companies. I don't believe that I am alone in that. If you look around you will see numerous company patch designs, custom paint on apparatus, custom jackets on crews and motorcycle groups that instill that pride.
Art, as for the word hero. These men and women do become a hero in my book when they wear that uniform. They take that responsibility knowing that they could lose thier life doing thier job. Sure the word is thrown around a little too much, but like you said yourself, it is others perception of the word as to how they relate it and for that you cannot do anything about.
There are needless deaths in the service and then there are the deaths that have been due to the risks of the job. Does that really make one or the other less of a hero? Think of what you all are saying ! You are all making complaints because a few of our members try to make gains by using the word. Most of us know that is it the wrong thing to do, but no matter what you complain about on here it is not going to change that issue at all. The fire service has its issues in the hiring process like any other profession and with all of the human factors that can go wrong, there is truly no way to make it perfect. A person can be sound for many reasons and life can deal them a different set of cards that may take them to a dark place. No one doctor is going to find them all at the beginning of thier career. Sure some will be sent away, but it will still happen.
I know most of you get that great feeling deep inside when someone calls you a hero, but you also have that urge to say I am not a hero! That is where the grace is coming out. You can argue the point with someone or you can say,"thank you very much, we appreciate your support."
I am proud of the history of all members in our past that got us to where we are today and I have a great respect for those young people that still come into our ranks in great numbers, for what ever reasons.
I have never had a greater feeling in my heart as when I read a letter that my daughter wrote for a school project when she was 16 years old. She wrote about her her grand father and I. Her hero is her grand father and I. She went on to say it was because we helped people in need and saved lives. She went on to say the same things about her brother who just tested for the service. This is her percesption of the word and she is 16. She feels that her brother will be just that, a "hero" for taking on the responsibility that many others have taken.
To all the men and women in our armed forces, police, fire and medical services, "Thank You." It does take a different personality to take on those responsibilities and for that you are special in our eyes and my family thanks you for the services that you do and continue to do in our future.
Stay safe and have a great summer.
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
I also have MY heroes.
However; I am not one of them. My dad was most definitely one of my heroes.
When a child calls a parent a hero, you have every right to be proud. You have earned that right as a parent, mentor and friend to your children.
But as firefighters, there are those heroes, living and dead, who have taken extraordinary measures to effect a positive outcome to a crisis. But were that one of my firefighters, I would tell them privately that they were a hero, put them up for the medal of valor and I would describe their actions on that day without EVER using the term "hero", but I would leave no doubt in the public's mind that they were!
I have a problem with self-adulation, self-congratulatory, self-serving and self-gratification.
I agree. Bring on humility.
The young ones that you speak of should be attracted to our honorable profession that have been marked by many heroic acts. And they should do it to emulate the pride, honor, bravery, humility and compassion that is exhibited; not because they want to be a hero.
WE need to make sure people are doing this for the RIGHT reasons. And believe it or not, we CAN control that end of it. In companies, it's called "quality control".
We don't disagree on too much, except that I still think there is too much "hero crap" that is neither warranted or appropriate, depending on the circumstances.
TCSS.
Art
-
Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
-
So I sent it to the WC...we shall see.
TCSS and thanks on the congrats!
Wally
-
-
I don't believe that I included myself in the hero status. As for being a hero in a parental sense, not all kids think thier mother or father is thier hero and if they do it is usually later in life when they really understand what they have been through.
You said the following,
"The young ones that you speak of should be attracted to our honorable profession that have been marked by many heroic acts. And they should do it to e mulate the pride, honor, bravery, humility and compassion that is exhibited; not because they want to be a hero.
WE need to make sure people are doing this for the RIGHT reasons. And believe it or not, we CAN control that end of it. In companies, it's called "quality control".
These are the kids that 20 years ago believed that firemen are heroes. Yes, as I said they can be directed and molded after they have been hired. My comment is that you nor I are mental experts and there are things out of our control as to why people in general do the things they do. They may get hired and then 10 years later something may change in their life out of our control, causing them to have a hero complex or do criminal acts.
I believe that the people that you refer to are the minority of our profession. It is a small percent compared to the number of members in the service.
I also wanted to ask, will your department fire an employee because he feels he is a hero? Will your company officers single a person out in an attempt to correct ones personal belief that he is gods answer to all firefighters? There are those out there that feel that way, but quality control will not cover it.
No offense, I just think this is an issue that started with your blog to hammer the ones who take advantage of the word and abuse the true meaning in the sense. But, I think after reading the rest of the blogs it has blossomed into areas that are all about the true meaning of the word, "hero." That word has a definition in the dictionary along with honor, integrity, loyalty and bravery. All of the these words are strong words in the service that have a lot of meaning and value. I am sorry, but I think hero has its place as well and I think this blog has gotten side tracked and does not have the meaning that was truly entended.
The shirt that was posted and you agreed so happily with is just another way for people to take two different ways. One would be that we do not want to be called heroes just firefighters. The other would be that people would see that and believe that the word firefighter is just another name for hero, so what is the difference? Its all in the persons perception. Something that you nor I can control.
Have a safe day!
-
Permalink Reply by Capt.Alex Arnold on
-
Busy-
I like your DRUM analogy. But instead of being for heroes can it be for the everday fire fighters? Now I would like to apologize to anyone that took offense to my reply on page 7 (at least it was on that page.) I don't typically get upset but I kinda lost my cool a little. We spend so much time in doing the job and loving what we do we are sometimes quick to judge those that are, for lack of a better term, ignorant to what we do. That is part of the problem I see with this whole hero issue. I totally agree with you Art about this issue. But when it is our own brothers and sisters we need to take a moment and see why they have this view and what can we do to assist them in getting the proper messsage about what we do.
I recently saw a story about the state of Illinios. They are spending a little over $100,000 to train all liquor store workers about their service, and how they can be better at what they do. WOW a little QI/QA, go figure. Most employers,including ours (how many remember the 20 hour, there's the red stuff, here is the wet stuff training back in the day) just put someone to work with the basics and expect them to take off running. Well folks, reality check...not going to happen in the greater percentage of the time. We need to continually put tools in our toolbox to make us better.We are seeing it now in our service, the big push for QI/QA and this training and that training.
Here is one for you...how many of you have had formal training in QA (btw QA=Quality ASSURANCE!) for public education? We see it and that train is coming down the track towards us! It is our future...prevention through education. It has always been the job of that guy that has a couple of years left until retirement or that new probie that is assigned to the public outreach division until a pumper seat comes open. The future of our service is in education. There is no hero tag labeled to this. People won't come running out the door screaming you're their hero because you are coming to install smoke detectors in their home. But, if they ever have a fire in their home and the working smoke detector wakes them and everyone escapes using the exit drill that you sat there and helped them put it together, who is the humbled hero? I can gurantee your name probably won't be in the paper. And them reacting to the plan that you helped with actually saved them, but it was you that took this part of the job seriously and whole heartedly, that saved the day, because you did every aspect of the job with honor and integrity! You don't need to "run into a burning building while everyone else is running out" to be doing your job.
To expand on the Nozzlehead list of 50 probie tips...#43 Respect EMS and be very good at it. It's part of being a firefighter these days and it matters. That is the same for public outreach/education, be good at it, it's part of the service these days and it very much matters!
To wrap it up and bring this blah,blah,blah to a close be good at what WE do in this service. I teach my guys the three "L"s. Listen, no matter if you are a 6-22 (6 months on talking like you got 22yrs) or a 22-6 (22yrs in and only 2 yrs left). Learn, there is always something new to learn. Love it, love this job and be greatful that you are part of the best service in the world. Be proud to be called a fire fighter!
Be safe and learn something new today!
PS sorry if I hijacked your post Art with my little rant. Always with respect, Alex
-
Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
-
well said damnthing!!!!
-
-
Come on, Benjiumen:
Wally's shirt speaks to our humility. It's a great shirt.
And I stated earlier that we cannot control the public's perception.
However; we CAN control our firefighter's perception. What would possibly lead you to believe that we can't?
Fire them for them thinking that they are God's gift to firefighting?
Well, that would depend on several things. If SOGs, policies, standards or laws were broken while they were John Wayning it; yeah; he/she may be looking at termination.
It would depend.
And I have not strayed from the original intent of the discussion.
Are we firefighters because of how we feel or because of what we see?
You can take any jamoke and teach them to mimic your every move and they will fail, because they won't have it in their heart. You have to have the heart of a firefighter before you can be one body and soul. You might be able to run the fastest and jump the highest, but if you don't possess compassion for your fellow Man, then you need to go work on Wall Street.
We do not need to stoke our egos every day with platitudes for each other. Doing what we do and going home at the end of the shift should be enough.
When I stepped down as chief of my department, I threw a party for my guys. I threw it for THEM. To thank THEM. I didn't want nothing, but their autograph on my white helmet and it hangs on my wall and I look at it every day and think about how rewarding and fulfilling it is to be a part of this great nation's fire service. To continue to watch the new ones come along and the technological advances and to have an opportunity to discuss it with many great minds is humbling to say the least.
We don't have to conjure or contrive anything. Sooner or later, something comes along that makes all of the downtime worth it. We don't need to speed up that process.
Sorry for the rambling.
TCSS.
Art
-
-
WP:
Yeah; I know what you mean.
I think I should wrap it up and close it.
My whole point is that we know what we do. We have been involved in some pretty amazing stuff. We know how it makes us feel. We know what we say to each other when it's going good or going bad. For me; being called "brother" means so much more to me than anything else.
What do you think? Time to shut it down?
TCSS.
Art
-
Permalink Reply by Smoke Eater on
-
Damnthing, I couldn't have said it better myself. I think you hit the nail on the head with that one.
-
-
Thank you Thing:
You just summed it up in one, succinct sentence. I think this is what several have tried to say, but couldn't quite get it right; myself included.
For those who missed it, damnthing said: A firefighter CAN be a hero, but he's not a hero just because he IS a firefighter.
Kudos and coo-coos.
TCSS.
Art
-
-
Yeah; I don't either.
But, there have been so many replies and just when you think you have seen every angle, someone comes up with a new one.
I think we are starting to see some confusion over how we interact with each other when we have a successful rescue that pressed the bounds and how do we motivate and encourage our firefighters without sounding too bravado?
Over all, I have gained much perspective from this discussion.
Quite a diverse base of ideas.
Art
-
-
I agree with Frederick !!!
Art, what I was saying is that is is all in the perception of the person using the word. You said yourself that you have your heroes, one was your father I believe. So does that mean that everyone elses heroes have to be taken on a case by case basis? A single mom can be a hero in someones eyes and there is nothing we should say about that.
I was under the impression that your initial blog was against those of our members who are tooting thier own horns and abusing the word.
My other statements about our personnel was not for those who violate policy or SOG's. There are numerous cases that we have no control over that one of our own goes bad. That is what I am referring to when I say we have no control.
As for Damnthing, you say that a person who is in the profession is not a hero until a heroic act. I find this statement hard to swallow. You say just because they enter a fire it is bravery or courage, but not heroic. It you know the true definition of the these words, than they can all mingle at times with certain acts.
I am not condoning anyone who abuses the use of the word, "hero" when they are doing it for personal gain, but you cannot say that we have many heroic acts in the service, but they are not heroes until the act is accomplished. It is in thier body and soul and thier heart to do this job with the full understanding that they may get caught up in a situation that could cost them more than any of us truly want to give.
What you really see is the hero coming out !!!
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
