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Inflamatory Comments about 9-11/Firefighters
Tusayan Town Council makes inflammatory remarks about firefighters and the 9/11 attacks.
Tusayan, AZ is a small community located outside the entrance of the Grand Canyon. The volunteer fire
department has been under attack from members of the city council (who have
been paid ‘bonuses’ for their role in local business votes).
Tusayan 'bonuses' follow election
On 7/3/11 a fire was lit at a town parade (which was deemed illegal by the council members). The
council attempted to place blame for the fire on members of the fire
department. An investigation has ensued
and misdemeanor charges are being threatened.
In reality, the fire department did not start the fire.
On 7/21/11, approximately 50 residents of the town went to show their support at the city council meeting.
After numerous residents spoke to show their support of the fire
department, the supporters left. After
their departure, a council-member said the following:
“Ever since 911, people have this perception that firefighters are heroes. Everybody loves firefighters. Firefighters can do
no wrong. They put out fires and they save lives. They answer medical
responses. Everybody loves a firefighter. They can do no wrong. Excuse me. I’m
speaking from experience. I’m a firefighter. I’ve served six years on the
Tusayan Fire District for no money. I’d didn’t turn back or complain or tell
people how many calls or hours I put in to declare myself a hero. Heroes are
proclaimed by their peers by the deeds that they do. And they don’t need to be
declared by the people who proclaim themselves as self-entitled heroes. Make no
mistake, Firefighters are heroes by the deeds they do, not by the declarations
of things they’ve accomplished. This is absurd, that these people march in here
and say these things when they have no foundation of the information that they
gathered, other than their perception of someone who eavesdropped behind a door
at e-session. This is nothing but a bunch of people’s perceptions running awry.
That’s what happened here.” -Council
Member (Forest Service employee) Bob Blasi.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Am I misisng something? What's offensive about the comments made? The "hero" label does not sit comfortably with many people (Emergency Service Agencies)- in this instance, he just chose to say it publicly.
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Permalink Reply by Eric Gregory on
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The problem is the context I think. The fire department is under fire right now for a camp fire which was lit at a parade and his comments were made after a group of citizens and the fire chief spoke in support of the firefighters. The councilman's comments have nothing to do with any comment I see made but instead seem to be a weak attempt to knock the FD down a notch in relation to the town's investigation of a fire which was lit at a parade(at least once referred to as a camp fire). There apparently is some question about the councilman's claim that he is a firefighter as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJkUlP2xts&feature=youtu.be
The one word I never heard anyone utter in this video is "hero". The chief brings up a very interesting twist at the end of the video.
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Permalink Reply by TFD Supporter on
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Gotcha- if you see the video, I think it explains the context:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpm8vCX_QiM
This is in response to the town addressing the council:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJkUlP2xts&feature=share
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Yes - the context it said was everything:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpm8vCX_QiM
This is in response to the town addressing the council:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbJkUlP2xts&feature=share
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You're right, nobody on the FD said anything about being a hero.
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