We Need to Stop The "Hero" Crap.

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Permalink Reply by Gabe Alvarez on April 8, 2009 at 7:22pm

Wheather or not you dont want to be called or labeled a hero, society will ALWAYS refer to us as heros, you nor i have a choice in the matter. Last Year I was honored as firefighter of the year for saving some kids and two moms, people called me a hero and you know what, that was the last thing on my mind, I was so happy that I helped some kids and moms can be with their family that night. The fact of the matter is we are role models and some of us are true heros and dont hate on firefighters that are. Its true people get lost in the limelight and put on the uniform to get girls or guys and to be a stud, those people need to be gone fast! Now in my opinion it is heroic for ANYONE to sacrifice their own life for another,deal with it but let me mention these heros.

in my opinion there isn't many heros, people call movie stars heros for something stupid. The HEROS today are the teachers who work for so so wages, they teach our future of the world,The cafateria workers who feed our children in school, the crossing guards who make sure our children are safe crossing the roads, the school bus drivers who pick them up safely and bring them home. The janitors in the schools so our children can have a clean and safe classroom. last but not least..JESUS who died for the world.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Lyon on April 8, 2009 at 11:27pm

Gabe,
I believe that some of our brothers have done some very heroic things and could rightly be called heroes. My issue is with the self-proclaimed heroes.

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Permalink Reply by Gabe Alvarez on April 9, 2009 at 1:09pm

yeah your right about that, the self proclaimed heros...BLAAAHHH!!

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Permalink Reply by Blake Haun on April 9, 2009 at 12:44am

i agree art. i was once given a life saver medal for a succesfull cpr. i cant lie, i took it, but something inside just didnt feel right. im not saying that awards cerimonies are bad or anything. but i just did what im supposed to do. if someone works in construction, they would not recieve a big merit for building a house. no one person alone is a hero, the hero is the entire emergency service, from top to bottom, and we just do what we are supposed to.

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Permalink Reply by Milo on April 9, 2009 at 11:59am

Art you prove both of our opinions in your response to me.

you state please note the underlined text. I to bolded this text as well becaue that is what is relevant in this discussion. Being heroic is not OUR decision to make about ourselves.

In the opinion of others

when you say "What I do is herioc", is that not contradictory to the definition. Randy Lyons says it wonderfully with "I have a problem with self proclaimed heros".

Again I dont disagree that we feel that we are just doing our jobs. I feel the same way. But the perception of most citizens is that we ARE heros. Modesty by us doesnt change that perception, It only heightens it.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 9, 2009 at 1:29pm

Roger that, Milo.
It is a heavy burden to bear, indeed.
It is clear that we agree on it.
I have some thoughts on "brother/sisterhood" coming as I post my 100th article in the blog section.
I hope you take time to read it and comment.
I would greatly appreciate it.
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by Mike Adams on April 11, 2009 at 6:39am

Anyone know a Paramedic I believe in or near Pennsylvania who lost his job on Monday, and his girlfriend broke up with him on Sunday before monday.

37 yo firemen/paramedic.

Possibly depressed? Met someone meeting that in yahoo chat, depression support group and wondering. how to help him?

I suspect much but sadly had few details, other than his issues at this time.

Mike
Dying is easy, keeping people alive is a "bitch" but I prefer keeping them alive!

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Permalink Reply by Gabe Bukowski on April 9, 2009 at 2:28pm

A wise man said and I quote... "Most Heros are Anonymous" I have been told that my whole life. I didn't join the Volunteer orginazation to become a hero. I joined to help people that need help. Once in your career or maybe never in your career you will be assosiated with a Brother or Sister that has the opportunity to be a "hero". It all depends on how that person handles it! The only real heros that I know of are the firefighters that pay the ultimate price trying to help another human being!! Again I will quote my Father and my personal HERO! "Most HEROS are Anonymous" Thanks for reading!!!

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Permalink Reply by MRagone on April 9, 2009 at 4:01pm

Art, don't get hung up on the words. I began in the Fire Service in 1978 and for the sole reason of helping people. People will pin different titles on you with all different types of words, but just remember that most of us are here to help and not tell everyone how much we helped.

As far as Caleb Lacey goes, he will not be the last, but good screening and insuring that each member of your department is there for the right reason is all of our responsibility. I am sure you have seen the department member that thinks this is all just a big game. I look at the LODD on a regular basis and remember that any of us, at anytime can respond that one last time.

A good friend and Fire Chief explained it best, We won the public trust with September 11th, and lost a great deal of it with the response to Katrina. You see we are only as good as our last headline and the general public is always ready to leap before they learn the facts.

Hang on tight and do the best you can but most of all do not fight gravity. You can win and it only wears you out. Learn to work with it

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on April 11, 2009 at 5:26pm

The city government of New Orleans and the state government of Louisiana share in the loss of public trust following Katrina, but NOFD and NOEMS weren't part of those particular problems.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Tucker on April 9, 2009 at 5:38pm

Well said Art! I completely agree with you. I want to be a hero to my daughters because I am their father, not because I am a firefighter.

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 9, 2009 at 6:38pm

No hang ups here.
But I will agree that "hero" has become just a word. With its over usage, it has become diluted and convoluted to the extent that it no longer describes a "true act of heroism".
You think I'm hung up on the "hero" word, wait till you see my blog on "brotherhood".
I'm putting the finishing touches on it today, so that some of us will have something to talk about at FDIC.
I began in 1980. We must look an awful lot alike! I'm two inches shorter from riding the tailboard. How about you?
TCSS.
Art

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