it is boasting when you bring something up about yourself. and yes it takes certian people for different jobs. heck i loved fire fighting, one heck of a adreline rush. i have friends that are cops and are adrenalin junkies also. no one is forced into the jobs they do, it is a choice.

 

Some people dont know when to

 

Some people just should

My hats off to all those who do choose to serve and protect mine, yours, and everyone's freedom and way of life that we all take for granted.

THANK YOU!

 

so the kid that dies setting up cones is not as much of a person as a police officer? his job is for the general good of the public also.

 

seems like you just want to argue.

there's no winning this one either way. might as well call it a draw.

britt

 

T-7, it's like you said further up in the thread...anyone who is willing to put their own life on the line to save another is a special breed of person. That could be because of their chosen profession or it could be because that's just the kind of person they are. The PERFECT example of this is Jesus...who laid down his life for all. He was neither fireman, policeman, military or any of the others you mentioned.

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13

 

I heard that.

 

I agree with you, and glad you chimed in before me. We have a plaque/poem on the wall at the station that I do believe in. Basically it says: "Who is a Fireman? He is the guy next door. He is the guy you passed in the grocery store. He is just an ordinary man, with an extra-ordinary passion for life. It is this passion that makes him special." I am proud of what I do, even if most people can't comprehend why. I don't look down on any other occupation, but when asked if I am a Firefighter, I am ____ proud to say "Yes". Some people, one on this board I will not mention, appear to be the type that would say "What took you so long getting here!" , yet when asked to move over to let us by, they refuse to.

My respect goes to the fallen officers / firefighters and the rest of the Emergancy Service workers. Before I get into trouble,

 

I personally have more respect for mechanical engineers than any other profession.
I always give up my bus seat to mechanical engineers. A firefighter, soldier or paramedic is only as good as his equipment, which wouldn't exist if it weren't for the life-long dedication of the mechanical engineer. Who saves more lives, the man who carries the house or the man that designs it?
And yet I also give great respect to the civil engineers. A civilization is only as good as its architecture; what good is a firefighter or soldier without a firehouse or barracks?
And still I reserve immense gratitude for the farmers and ranchers of the world, for what good is a civilization without edible nourishment? The dedication of farmers' lives to agriculture and placing meat, fruit and grain on every person's table saves 6 billion lives from starvation every year.
Yet honor is also earned by the consumer manufacturers of the world, for it is they that are responsible for the ambition of every person on the planet. What work would be accomplished without man's desire to better his own conditions through the purchase of material possessions? It is the consumer manufacturers that are directly responsible for the hope of betterment of 6 billion lives around the globe. All progress of civilization is focused on and centric to the lives of consumer manufacturers.
Yet forget not teachers and scholars. What progress is possible without the technology and understanding that these individuals dedicate their lives to pursuing?
And the list goes on...


And yes, thanks is given to the defenders of our lives, the firefighters, police officers, paramedics and soldiers of the world. But what do any of these men and women have to defend if it is not the lives of those whom they are defending? These men are just as honorable as the rest, and yet without the rest they would not exist. What is a soldier to no country, or a firefighter to no building?

In short there is no more-honorable profession. Every profession on the planet is crucial to and dependent on every other profession. There is no such thing as an innoble profession. Specialization in itself, regardless of the specific niche, is the most noble condition humans may achieve.

 

i was waiting on you. knew it was just a matter of time

britt

 

That's right, it's a choice. Do you think the kid placing cones in the road would rather be doing something a little less hazardous? I would venture to say yes, He'd probably rather be driving the end loader inside the construction zone, or at least driving the truck with the cones on it.
I would also doubt that he went to school for two years, at his own expense, to compete with thousands of other candidates for the opportunity to place himself in harms way. I did.

Firefighters, cops and soldiers WILLINGLY make the choice to place themselves in situations that they know full well going into might cost them their lives. Every single one of these folks faces a point where they have to decide to run or fight. Most, with very few exceptions, will go so far as to go forward and confront the danger rather than wait for it. Personal safety is most often secondary to accomplishing the task at hand. These selfless people are more concerned with the wellbeing of those around them than about their own. I have an aversion to being a target, so I chose to be a firefighter. Most cops I know would rather be shot at than run into a burning building.

I, like most firefighters I know, don't tell stories (other than swappin' war stories with other firemen) about running into burning buildings and saving little kids and old ladies. I'd rather tell a story about the loony drunk we ran on the other night that was sitting on his wrecked car drinking a beer when we showed up. Or the car full of hot women that were involved in a little fender bender.

If I was after the adrenaline rush, I'd jump out of airplanes or something. Much safer. Another thing you probably didn't know....average life span for a firefighter, after retirement, is five years. Usually, five years of declining health. Not something to look forward to, but we do it anyhow. Cops have the highest incidence of divorce, depression, and suicide of any profession. There's motivation to be a cop.

I don't boast, but then again I do appreciate the recognition when I get it. I am proud to count myself among these people.

So unless you're willing to pin on a badge and go to work, I respectfully suggest that you cork that hole under your nose.

 

There's no money in it.

I have the deepest respect for firefighters, policemen, military, etc. Heck...my dad was a fireman/paramedic for the first 18 years of my life. All of them provide a wonderful service at their own expense (ahem....no money, life in harm's way, etc.). I've even thought about becoming a volunteer fireman or a reserve police officer myself...but that's hard to do when the city you live in only has paid positions.

That said...those people aren't the ONLY people who are willing to put their own lives on the line in order to save someone else. This world is full of heros and you don't have to look far to find them.

 

Don't worry T-7, Cowhand and others. My wife still loves you guys. At least that what she says anytime we pass a firestation or fire truck "Ooohh, look, fire fighters!!" Then she gets all googley eyed and starts talking about equipment (on the trucks of course).

~Rob

 

So unless you're willing to pin on a badge and go to work, I respectfully suggest that you cork that hole under your nose. "quote from cowhand"

so cowhand since, i was fire fighting for less money and probably before you could wipe your butt i need to shut up? i think you need to watch your mouth of yours. a badge does not make you more of a person, and sure as he11 doesn't give you the right to tell me to shut my mouth.

 

I dont know why, but women love firefighters. I've thought about getting a suit for that purpose.