Define ..Hero...

[Jbb]

I read this article...and I seem to agree...In this Country The word Hero....might be a little overused.....
Read it and comment....
Smoke and Mirrors (http://slate.msn.com/id/2090573)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/860firebomber.jpg

[73kona455]

that is a fantastic picture
.....

[phebus]

That article appears to be written by a poor geek that couldn't pass the test to get hired, and now has a hard on!! While I agree that the word hero is overused, the author doesn't address that issue, and rather uses his article merely as a forum for bashing. I feel sorry for the poor geek.

[MagicMtnDan]

There's no question that the article puts firefighters in a negative light. I don't agree with the points made by the author (firefighting isn't that dangerous since it doesn't make the 10 most dangerous jobs list - that's just stupid).
It's a waste of time to read (IMHO).

[91nordic29]

i agree that the article was just a little"off the bubble".:confused:
here are some of my heroes:
flight 93 (http://www.candysroom.freeservers.com/bronze1.jpg)

[phebus]

Originally posted by JETBOAT BRIAN
So I take it as a firefighter then that this entire article is about a geek ,who unjustifiably bashes your chosen profession....and you contend that every point in that article was just that?...Bashing....untrue bashing?
I am not looking for any trouble with firefighters here....I just want to be clear that you disagree with all points that were brought up in this article? No, I am not saying all the points are untrue, but the way they are presented, is more smoke and mirrors and are 180 degrees the other way just to sell his unhappiness.
Downtime, sure there is downtime. But when the alarm goes off, does the downtime make the job any less hazardous?
Firefighting isn't dangerous?, Does making the top 10 list define dangerous? I think not. No, it's not dangerous 24 hours a day, but you can't tell me that what Firefighters do is not at times extremely dangerous.
Firefighters are Adrenaline Junkies. I can't argue that, but is that our sole reason for doing the job. I think not.
I could go on with each point the author tries to make, but I've used enough space, and I've made it very clear that in my opinion the author goes way over the top to bash, more than to make valid points as they would apply to the term hero.

[jackpunx]

:pigfly: :pigfly: :pigfly: Sounds like BS to me.. But .. I guess This is America.. and he can have his opinion.. But I bet if you put him in one of those fire suites.. and send him out to a car accident.. or a small fire.. where he will get to see the look in someone’s eyes when you save their loved ones life.. He may change his mind

[phebus]

Here is something that was sent to me a while back, that will hopefully give you a better perspective.
I wish you could know what it is like to search a
burning bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames
rolling above your head, your palms and knees
burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your
weight as the kitchen below you burns.
I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in
the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a
pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to
bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late.
But wanting his wife and family to know everything
possible was done to try to save his life.
I wish you knew the unique smell of burning
insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the
feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear,
the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being
able to see absolutely nothing in dense
smoke-sensations that I've become too familiar with.
I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a
building fire "Is this false alarm or a working
fire? How is the building constructed? What hazards
await me? Is anyone trapped?" or to call, "What is
wrong with the patient? Is it minor or
life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress
or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?"
I wish you could be in the emergency room as a
doctor pronounces dead the beautiful five-year old
girl that I have been trying to save during the past
25 minutes. Who will never go on her first date or
say the words, "I love you Mommy" again.
I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the
cab of the engine, squad, or my personal vehicle,
the driver with his foot pressing down hard on the
pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air
horn chain, as you fail to yield the right-of-way at
an intersection or in traffic.
When you need us however, your first comment upon
our arrival will be, "It took you forever to get
here!"
I wish you could know my thoughts as I help
extricate a girl of teenage years from the remains
of her automobile. "What if this was my daughter,
sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her
parents reaction going to be when they opened the
door to find a police officer with hat in hand?"
I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the
back door and greet my parents and family, not
having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not
come back from the last call.
I wish you could know how it feels dispatching
officers, firefighters and EMT's out and when we
call for them and our heart drops because no one
answers back or to here a bone chilling 911 call of
a child or wife needing assistance.
I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally,
and sometimes physically, abuse us or belittle what
I do, or as they express their attitudes of "It will
never happen to me.
I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and
mental drain or missed meals, lost sleep and forgone
social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my
eyes have seen.
I wish you could know the brotherhood and
self-satisfaction of helping save a life or
preserving someone's property, or being able to be
there in time of crisis, or creating order from
total chaos.
I wish you could understand what it feels like to
have a little boy tugging at your arm and asking,
"Is Mommy okay?" Not even being able to look in his
eyes without tears from your own and not knowing
what to say.
Or to have to hold back a long time friend who
watches his buddy having CPR done on him as they
take him away in the Medic Unit. You know all along
he did not have his seat belt on. A sensation that I
have become too familiar with.
Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you
will never truly understand or appreciate who I am,
we are, or what our job really means to us...I wish
you could though.
* author unknown *

[HOSS]

I do my best for ya`ll.

[Havasu47]

Well put phebus

[Johnwithjm]

RD is my hero:D

[Jbb]

Originally posted by Johnwithjm
RD is my hero:D
Mine too
For the record Phebus...I did not write the article nor did I agree with many points .I had deleted my response to your comments because I didnt want to come off as a fireman basher ....My point was more about the term hero being casually used this day and age
Painful as it is to admit ...I agree with RD 100%...on his response here ....:eek:
Your chosen profession does not make you a hero...that is my opinion...feel free to bash away...thats just how I see it...And Hoss.......Keep on strokin buddy......:D

[phebus]

Originally posted by JETBOAT BRIAN
Mine too
For the record Phebus...I did not write the article nor did I agree with many points .I had deleted my response to your comments because I didnt want to come off as a fireman basher ....My point was more about the term hero being casually used this day and age
Painful as it is to admit ...I agree with RD 100%...on his response here ....:eek:
Your chosen profession does not make you a hero...that is my opinion...feel free to bash away...thats just how I see it...And Hoss.......Keep on strokin buddy......:D Thanks JBB, I couldn't agree more with you and RD. A profession has nothing to do with being a hero, and I hate any blanket statement that refers to hero's. Being a hero is an act of selflessness above and beyond a job classifaction.

[Craig]

That's cool that RD & 91Nordic29 mentioned Flight 93. Those folks that died trying to save lives in the towers should be honored. But they went to work that morning with the knowledge that their job had an inherent risk due to the nature of the job. The people on Flight 93 got on a plane with probably no other thought then what they would do when they landed.
Based on reported cell phone calls, they realized what the intention of the hijackers were. They sacrificed their lives trying to avoid repeating the towers/Pentagon tragedy. Yet for the most part all we ever heard about was the FDNY and to some extent the NYPD. I just thought the mourning and praise was not properly spread around. Let's Roll.

[Kilrtoy]

MY DAD,
he raised my dumb ass the right way , with a strong hand

[Troubles No More]

Heroic events are done on a moment’s notice, a quick decision to act in a way to help someone in need
A hero is someone who does something for the general good of others without concerning him/herself with personal interests or safety even when it is difficult or scary to do so.... my.02
What is a Villain?

[BiggusJimbus]

It's ****ing Slate for god's sake.
What the hell is anybody reading that crap for.
If it's because you like aggravation and anger, then by all means, continue.

[phebus]

I'm glad this thread is lightening up.
At any given time, my hero could be a friend with a Hot boat, Hot chicks, and Cold beer!! :D :D :D