Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
So last week two off-duty firefighters were killed in an ATV crash. Two days were spent searching for them before they were found.
On Wednesday, they threw a huge memorial for them that shut down parts of downtown and another busy street here, complete with firetrucks, helicopters...the whole shebang.
Now one resident has spoken up and asked if this sort of tribute is really appropriate given that these men, while well-respected in the community, were off-duty when they died. I'm not sure how I feel as I see both sides of it, but I think I'm leaning toward the guy who thinks it was all a little over the top. I mean, I'm sure local soldiers have been killed in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and I don't recall such a tribute to any of them. Had these guys died in the line of duty I could get behind it, but in this case, I think it was a bit too much.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
meatwad wrote:
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
um, they run into burning buildings to save people's lives. i can't wait until you need a firefighter, then you'll understand.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
corduroy_blazer wrote:
meatwad wrote:
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
um, they run into burning buildings to save people's lives. i can't wait until you need a firefighter, then you'll understand.
Lots of people have jobs that save people's lives...doctors, nurses, police, military, paramedics...it's their job. Not sure why firefighters deserve extra credit.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:01 am Posts: 19477 Location: Brooklyn NY
And let me guess. People are furious that someone is even questioning why the town wasted time and resources over two guys who died off-duty.
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LittleWing sometime in July 2007 wrote:
Unfortunately, it's so elementary, and the big time investors behind the drive in the stock market aren't so stupid. This isn't the false economy of 2000.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 3:08 am Posts: 22978 Gender: Male
Doctor's, Nurse's, etc are typically not putting themselves into Danger each time they go to save someones life...
anyways, the point of the thread...
Yeah, its kinda silly to honor the dead with parades and shutting down streets whether or not they died off duty, or on duty. Its nothing but a way to make the living feel like they have paid a proper respect. Hell, thats a funeral in general... having said that, if it makes feel people better, does being 10 minutes late to work really cause this guy so much of a problem he needs to bitch about it?
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
corduroy_blazer wrote:
meatwad wrote:
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
um, they run into burning buildings to save people's lives. i can't wait until you need a firefighter, then you'll understand.
Dude, I've known firefighters since I was in high school. A friend's older brother was a fireman and he used to let us hangout at teh fire station and play pool and drink beer.
A lot of those guys were douchebags. Some were very cool. Being a firefighter doesn't make one a hero any more than being a soldier makes one a hero. Sometimes, they're just idiots, just like the rest of us.
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:54 am Posts: 7189 Location: CA
punkdavid wrote:
corduroy_blazer wrote:
meatwad wrote:
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
um, they run into burning buildings to save people's lives. i can't wait until you need a firefighter, then you'll understand.
Dude, I've known firefighters since I was in high school. A friend's older brother was a fireman and he used to let us hangout at the fire station and play pool and drink beer.
A lot of those guys were douchebags. Some were very cool. Being a firefighter doesn't make one a hero any more than being a soldier makes one a hero. Sometimes, they're just idiots, just like the rest of us.
One generalization of firefighters that might be fair is they'd prefer to start fires than put them out. Being a pyro seems to be a prerequisite.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
I'm of the opinion that if firefighters want a tribute, don't piss them off.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
guys, i was kidding. sorry. i did a terrible job.
_________________ No matter how dark the storm gets overhead They say someone's watching from the calm at the edge What about us when we're down here in it? We gotta watch our backs
Also, while I completely respect the service of police, firefighters, paramedics, etc., there does seem to be a lot of firefighter worship in this country ever since September 11 that I don't really understand.
um, they run into burning buildings to save people's lives. i can't wait until you need a firefighter, then you'll understand.
Dude, I've known firefighters since I was in high school. A friend's older brother was a fireman and he used to let us hangout at the fire station and play pool and drink beer.
A lot of those guys were douchebags. Some were very cool. Being a firefighter doesn't make one a hero any more than being a soldier makes one a hero. Sometimes, they're just idiots, just like the rest of us.
Being a d-bag does not prevent someone from performing heroic actions.
You wanna know who gets too much love for their tragic deaths? Teenagers who die of speeding. Not every jackass who flips his Scion is James Dean.
Being a d-bag does not prevent someone from performing heroic actions.
Yeah, I saw Crash too. Movie sucked. If I want to get hit on the head with a blunt object, I'll give my kids baseball bats and lie on the floor.
I wasn't refering to that cinematic abortion, I was just pointing out that being an asshole doesn't disqualify one from deserving recognition for one's actions. That is all, no deeper meaning.
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