Let's thank the Fire Fighters

[omega minimo]

http://www.clevelandseniors.com/forever/funkiss.htm

I know the photo has been up on DU and all over the Intertubes. I looked at it again tonight and.......
...........................
you know.............................

We ALL feel like this dog when we witness fire fighters doing what they do.

They are AWESOME. And it's part of the job. And they are trained to also be very gracious to the community, they are intimate with the community.

So there's this awkward Aw Shucks like when you get to meet some band you've been a HUGE fan of, whether they saved/altered/changed/protected your life or whatever...

When Thom Hartmann educates on the radio about what "socialism" really is, what the social contract really is, what dehumanizing privilege really is, he often tells stories about the old days of firefighting. This ties directly to our current discussions of health care (or not).

If you had the home, money, influence, prestige, you could buy into a group fire protection outfit and have the designated emblem placed on your home as a shield of protection, a visual stamp that your house would be saved from fire.

If the house next door did not show the ensignia, it was allowed to burn.

Times have changed. Attitudes, not so much. (If I have mangled Thom Hartmann's imagery, please someone let me know).

The photo is timeless.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. The photo IS timeless!

I stand with you: Thank you to all the firefighters!

K&R

:patriot:

[omega minimo]

2. Hey CP what's UP!!

Yes, how beautiful in so many ways is that shot? :wow:

In the West and focused South on those Santa Anas, we have a special gratiude for Fire Fighters from all over that protect our state.

Recently I watched from the back porch as a house was saved by a few brave souls fighting an attic fire from above and an INCREDIBLE surrounding support crew, ready for trouble if the one house fire was not contained.

[givemebackmycountry]

3. Anyone ever read "Report from Engine Company 82"?

My uncle is in it.
Nick Liebrock.
Dennis Smith wrote it.
Masterful book.
Read it.

New York City Battalion Chief, Engine Comp. 82.
The book is from 72' and my uncle was still in command.
He won me a bike at a bowling match when I was like 13 years old.
In the very late 60's.
A nifty chrome bike, with a sissy bar, and a flamed white and red banana seat, and monkey handle bars.
I was bad for about six months.
Then it got stolen.

New York City.
Best years of my life.

I come from a long line of New York City Cops and Fireman.
I wish someone had pushed me in that direction.

Give it up for the people what eat smoke for a living.
Give it up for my Uncle Nick.
Give it up for Joe Reagan and Wally the Whale and other fireman I knew when I was young.

I never told you Uncle Nick that you were my hero, and I never knew that until you were gone and I read that book.
Every time I saw him, he was in a suit and tie, and he had slicked back blond hair, and he always looked at me with that look...
"Hey Champ, he would say"

I would give everything I own for a chance to have a drink with him now.
Uncle Nickie, I got one tonight for you.

[omega minimo]

5. damn beautiful post. TY givemebackmycountry

almost poetry. A fine tribute, worth the thunderous silence the OP inspired.

Thank you and here's to all of 'em and Uncle Nick :toast:

[XOKCowboy]

12. Great tribute to your uncle

Beautiful.

[greenbriar]

4. Wow

Great picture

[EndersDame]

6. That photo made my day

[omega minimo]

9. I'd like a copy to look at every day.

:pals:

[vadawg]

7. no, i for one will never like the firefighters

relax people its a cop/firefighter thing, everyone loves the fire guy and hates the cops, i could have a puppy on my lap that im rushing to the vet after rescuing it and people still give me the finger, the firefighter could have killed a puppy and then his whole family and people will still wave at his firetruck as it goes by, damn firefighters...

[omega minimo]

8. That's probably tougher too as times and policing itself have changed, the public perception of cops

and cops perception of cops (and C.O.P.S.).

Firefighting hasn't changed that much. Homeland Security may instruct them to look for political posters when they go into homes. The cops role, however, has completely transformed in the past few decades.

What do you think about that?

[vadawg]

10. i think the main problem is the media portrays every bad thing cops do

and people see a cop in LA doing something wrong ans for some reason it translates to their local deputy who works part time between rescuing puppies and washing old infirm ladies feet is also involved in murder for hire and skimming drugs from drug busts..

[omega minimo]

14. Yeah that's part of what has changed in that time

and it's changed cops perceptions of themselves -- and the public -- too.

It depends on the level, department, interaction, doesn't it? Cops have to be flexible in how they engag (or not) the public.

The mainstream media does a lot of damage with their hideous crime shows, IMHO.

Then in the news, some cops do get caught on tape doing crimes. And this TASERING thing is OUT OF CONTROL.

When I hear those stories, it seems that's where the cops perception of the public has really broken down.

[vadawg]

17. for me the taser is a tool just as my handgun is, problem is people think the taser

is a deadly force weapon, when its not. The idea behind the taser is that is stops me from having to go hands on or use my baton and mayby getting my ass kicked, which for me would and could result in my death, its a complicated argument and unfortunately people dont understand what actually happens in a confrontation. Not that im saying that sometimes tasers are used inappropriately, but for the number of times they are deployed they are one hell of a usefull tool.

[omega minimo]

20. Fair statement and if that's as far as it goes....

without more specifics, it seems there needs to be better training on HOW and WHEN to use that intermediate tool, when it reduces the chance for escalation as you point out AND is literally overkill in some situations where there is no POSSIBILITY or need to worry about that potential escalation.

Right?

[vadawg]

23. yup sometimes its used wrong, but and this is a big but

you got to remember what you see on video isnt always what you think you are seeing, frinstance i dont wait until you decide to go hands on before i go hands on, in a confrontation i am the one who escalates the level of violence, i always have to be ahead of you in a confrontation if that makes sense, kinda like if anyone is going to draw a gun and fire then its going to be me...

[omega minimo]

24. that's exactly where the COPS' perception of the public has become completely

INSANE.

" i always have to be ahead of you in a confrontation if that makes sense, kinda like if anyone is going to draw a gun and fire then its going to be me..."

when grannies and naked stoners at concerts and granpas driving tractors and legless men in wheelchairs are being tased and left sitting handcuffed on the sidewalk with their PANTS PULLED DOWN EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NO FUCKING LEGS.



You made a valid point but honestly, acknowledge the OUTRAGES being perpetrated on the public. The kid who had a broken back and was laying on the ground? The people who HAVE DIED?


:evilfrown:

[vadawg]

25. no you are missing the point i was making, dont look at the isolated cases

think of how many altercations cops get into every day, i personally deal with the biggest scum on the planet daily as i said if i lose one fight then the chances are im dead, and im not the only cop who lives with this reality every day, the only reason you see these stories are because they are so out there as to not be the norm, im not defending these decisions that were made by other cops they have to defend themselves but i am explaining why to you looking in a cop would escalate the level of violence, its all very well to say he should talk them down, well the number of in car videos that are out there of cops in denial and not realising that the sittuation was escalating and then they end up dead is scarey...

[omega minimo]

26. FUCK FUCK FUCK acknowledge the OUTRAGES don't tell me I am missing the POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:evilfrown: :thumbsdown:

WHY CAN'T YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE FUCKING POINT? :evilfrown:



"it's all very well to say he should talk them down.."



I SAID THERE SHOULD BE BETTER TRAINING, AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE POINTS YOU BROUGHT UP. You NEGLECTED to acknowledge the current DEADLY FORCE AND OUT OF CONTROL IMPACTS on the public by a LACK OF ADEQUATE training and balance in application of tasers IN GENERAL all over the FUCKING country....... then tell me I'm "missing the point" PROVING my point about the change in cops perspective of the PUBLIC THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY SERVE and pardon me for saying but

:puke:

[vadawg]

27. if you are going to rant then fine but no i dont agree with you

and i think you will see me saying im not going to defend the other officers, its their place to defend the decicions they made. i have found the use of force training and use of tasers training to be excellent and i actually understand what the tasers place is and have had reason to use it frequently, i dont think you actually care to hear another opinion so ill bid you adeiu..

[omega minimo]

28. No one said "agree.' All you had to do was ACKNOWLEDGE THE OUTRAGES

Innocent people are dying and being egregiously harmed, and you want to be self righteous about it and not even acknowledge how extreme these cases have been.

You are probably better off not coming here and representing police officers.

You're right I don't "actually care to hear another opinion" that's fucking TONE DEAF on such an important public safety matter.

I acknowledged your opinions but you are the one who doesn't "actually care to hear another opinion" or acknowledge the REASONS for the public perception and acknowledge the OUTRAGE of the ASSAULTS ON THE PUBLIC VIA TASER HAPPY COPS RIGHT NOW or the need for additional training. NOTHING.

"You made a valid point but honestly, acknowledge the OUTRAGES being perpetrated on the public."

You had your chances.

[vadawg]

30. lol once again ill say i think the taser is an excellent tool

ill also say that there have been instances when cops made mistakes in their use, these mistakes are the minority of uses no matter what the press is telling you. The taser is a non lethal weapon the same as the baton is a non lethal weapon, this dosent mean that people dont die from their use, it means that the vast majority of people dont die from their use compared to say my 40 cal.

[EndersDame]

11. I think cops are pretty cool and needed in society

A teenaged boy slammed into my car the other day (I was waiting for a red light) The cops were the first ones there. They made sure we were allright and was impressed with their professionalism and efficiency of getting us taken care of and getting Traffic going again . I was also impressed how they were even calm dealing with the boy's father who insisted they don't tow his car because they have AAA and dealing with the Boy's girlfriend who was worried about her purse getting ruined in the rain (never mind that her bf's new to him car was totaled) Hell they even gave me a ride home

[omega minimo]

15. Good to know. Glad everyone is all right.

:thumbsup:

[XOKCowboy]

13. Many of my friends are firefighters. They're a special breed...

They can be some crazy son of a guns but I think that comes with the job. One is part of an elite wildfire team who goes all over the country fighting wildfires. Two are women who had to pass physical tests that I could never do. They're a fun bunch till that alarm goes off then it's all business.

I truly admire all of them.

[omega minimo]

16. there's that fascination with fire we hear about

they must be "a special breed" to face and fight such an awesome elemental force. :toast:

I watched them work one recently from the back of my home and -- it's impressive. Even the ones standing around on the sidewalk as backup, ya wanna let them know, we APPRECIATE.

[jasperilla]

18. hells yeah

My dad was a NYC firefighter as was his dad before him... I have a special place in my heart for firefighters (not to mention dogs) so this is one of my favorite photos ever. Thanks for your post.

I live near Philly...on any historical tour of the city they will point out those fire insurance emblems on the old buldings. Amazing.

[omega minimo]

21. Great post. Thanks. We don't have them in the West AFAIK. Interesting the tours point them out.

I have family history in Philly and area, need to get back there sometime..............

[DemoTex]

19. As a member of USFS Fire Battalion 31 in the Deschutes NF, I say: INDEED!

I am proud to be associated with these great firefighters!

[omega minimo]

22. And Let's HEAR IT for DU's OWM DemoTex, sitter of outlooks, observer of storms, braver of tempests

and warner of forest fires, photographer of the awesome and the mundane and chronicler of adventure.

:applause: :toast: :yourock:
:yourock: :applause: :toast:

[AspenRose]

29. I second that.

:applause: