Random Thoughts

 

As I am writing this, I had a specific topic in mind and my train of thought has be derailed with the thoughts of the previous week, and the Fourth of July celebration that is before us. As frightening as this may be let me share some random thoughts in no particular order.

 

This morning's newspaper and television were sprinkled with renewed terror threats very non-specific about the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. I hope and pray that there will not be a significant events but somehow I know that if and when something happens, this week, next week, or five years from today my fire service brethren will be the front line of defense.

 

OOPS! Did I say "hope and pray" in the paragraph above? What the hell am I thinking? If one nation under God is offensive to some people that I must have surely offended someone. Tough! I, like many other Americans, am deeply offended by the attack on the Pledge of Allegiance. But because this is the United States every person has a right to express their opinion even people that do not believe in any God. Well that freedom also applies to me as well. I was recounting my rage the other day when a female coworker of mine had a suggestion....The person who raised the challenge should have all of his money taken away and given rubles or something. After all he collects money that says In God We Trust. I guess on his money that is OK then. Even the terrorist that attack us are claiming to do this for Allah. Everyone must believe in something. If you don't believe in everything everyone else does, then at least be tolerant of it.

I have just been as tolerant as I am going to be in this paragraph above.

Now I believe the anti American Bastard should be forced out of this country today.

Hey, that was my own freedom of expression.

 

Incidentally, sometime this week, gather all your coworkers in the public space where you work, and loudly recite the pledge of allegiance.

 

Remember this week on the Fourth of July some of the folks that have formed our fire service roots as volunteer firefighters. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the like. Humph....firefighters present on the front lines in an act of war serving as leaders over 200 years ago......what are the odds?

 

Also on the news this week was the word that yet another fire service employee was charged with setting a wildfire out west. I won't use the term firefighter because I cannot bring myself to do it. No firefighter would ever have done something that ultimately led to the crash of an airtanker and a transport vehicle that killed real firefighters. Either we have to screen these people better or we have to do something. We cannot tolerate one of our own ever doing something like this ever again.

 

I have also been following the scandal in the Catholic church. I am a catholic. Let's have the members of the fire service call your respective chaplains this week regardless of their religious affiliation. Tell them you are here to support them, as they are there to support you. Everyday millions of clergy continue to do wonderful things while the scandal has been raging around them. Let's group together and whether it is your own department chaplain or you pass a booth for a chaplains organization at a conference, stop and say thank you. Sometimes we don't say that enough.

 

I have just published an article in Fire Engineering that really speaks to firefighter safety. I have a friend that recently said in a newspaper that he would not jeopardize personnel in a vacant Mill structure. I have been criticized for my stand, and he was asked if his son was in there would he commit personnel then. We have both had some negative and some positive remarks about our stands on the issue of really making a difference in making sure firefighters return home safely.

I don't know about my friend, but I have been criticized for worse than that.

 

Have a safe 4th with your family and friends and fellow fire service professionals.

Take care and send any random thoughts or comments you might have. We can share them all.

Our National Symbol

by Charles Evans Hughes

 

The flag is the symbol of our national unity, our national endeavor, our national aspiration.
The flag tells of the struggle for independence, of union preserved, of liberty and union one and inseparable, of the sacrifices of brave men and women to whom the ideals and honor of this nation have been dearer than life.
It means America first; it means an undivided allegiance.
It means America united, strong and efficient, equal to her tasks.
It means that you cannot be saved by the valor and devotion of your ancestors, that to each generation comes its patriotic duty; and that upon your willingness to sacrifice and endure as those before you have sacrificed and endured rests the national hope.
It speaks of equal rights, of the inspiration of free institutions exemplified and vindicated, of liberty under law intelligently conceived and impartially administrated. There is not a thread in it but scorns self-indulgence, weakness, and rapacity.
It is eloquent of our community interests, outweighing all divergence of opinion, and of our common destiny.