No Firefighter Statue. . . .

[Syzygyone]

September 11 Today
By Peggy Noonan
The Wall Street Journal | June 11, 2003


. . .
 And there is the declaration of the organizations of World Trade Center families-of-victims that there should not be a statue of the firemen at the WTC memorial site. Three hundred forty-three of them died that day, but to commemorate their sacrifice would be "hierarchical." They want it clear that no one was better than anyone else, that all alike were helpless, victims. . .



Does any here think that the firemen who died should not have a statute at the proposed WTC memorial?
Very curious about your thoughts!

Here are Noonans"

"But that is not true; it is the opposite of the truth. The men and women working in the towers were there that morning, and died. The firemen and rescue workers -- they weren't there, they went there. They didn't run from the fire, they ran into the fire. They didn't run down the staircase, they ran up the staircase. They didn't lose their lives, they gave them."


What are your thoughts?

[GtoRA2]

Everyone a Hero.... Not victims, and yeah they should get a statue..

[miko2d]

That is what I was telling a while ago.

WTC - egalitarianism taken to the extreme

 miko

[Arfann]

Originally posted by Syzygyone
September 11 Today
By Peggy Noonan
The Wall Street Journal | June 11, 2003


. . .
 And there is the declaration of the organizations of World Trade Center families-of-victims that there should not be a statue of the firemen at the WTC memorial site. Three hundred forty-three of them died that day, but to commemorate their sacrifice would be "hierarchical." They want it clear that no one was better than anyone else, that all alike were helpless, victims. . .



Does any here think that the firemen who died should not have a statute at the proposed WTC memorial?
Very curious about your thoughts!

Here are Noonans"

"But that is not true; it is the opposite of the truth. The men and women working in the towers were there that morning, and died. The firemen and rescue workers -- they weren't there, they went there. They didn't run from the fire, they ran into the fire. They didn't run down the staircase, they ran up the staircase. They didn't lose their lives, they gave them."


What are your thoughts?

Pretty obvious situation here. Nothing heroic about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Seems like there should be one memorial for all the dead and another specifically for the heroes who rushed in while the civilians rushed out.

[Syzygyone]

Originally posted by Arfann
Pretty obvious situation here. Nothing heroic about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Seems like there should be one memorial for all the dead and another specifically for the heroes who rushed in while the civilians rushed out.

I agree with your sentiment apparently there is another poitn of view.  I for one am quite perplexed by the concept of "hierarchical" loss.  I guess those that espouse no statute feel that a lives are of equal value, and/or that the deaths of the innocent civilians is neither more nor less a loss than the death of those who moved into harms way and/or that all who died were victims of the same atrocity.  Is this some remnant of some politically correct thought process?   Can anyone help me out here with an explanation?

I just can't see that the willing sacrifice made by the first resonders does not deserve some separate and distinct memorial.   I feel very sorry for those innocent civilians who were killed.  Perhaps it is just me, but, I really have to say that I feel more sorrow for the loss of those who braved the danger to help their fellow man.

[icemaw]

What about a statue for the cops that died. They ran to and gave their lives just as the firemen did. I think there should be a statue to show all the victims. A statue of a man a woman a child a fireman and a cop they all deserve to be recognized. Anything less would be disrespectful.

[Arfann]

Originally posted by icemaw
What about a statue for the cops that died. They ran to and gave their lives just as the firemen did. I think there should be a statue to show all the victims. A statue of a man a woman a child a fireman and a cop they all deserve to be recognized. Anything less would be disrespectful.

I, of course, would include leo's among those who went in harm's way.

[Tarmac]

Yep, big difference between being there and going there.  

All victims, but the ones that were there out of their own free will deserve special recognition.

[Bodhi]

IMHO the use of the word heros is way overused now a days.  Everyone who dies and or gets caught up in a catastrophe is a hero.  To me, that seems like a slap in the face to every true red blooded hero that has ever walked the face of the earth.  It is horrible that people died in the WTC's on 9/11, it is even more horrible that rescue personnel, both police, fireman, and paramedics died as well.  If you want to call anyone heros, then they have earned it.  They did not have to be there, yet they came anyway.  To hell with the politically correct "hierarchal" death chart that some overpaid legal dipsh*t came up with.  The civilians were there, while they did not choose to die, guess what, it friggin happened, the rescue personnel, DID choose to be there, and that friends, IS the BOTTOM LINE.

The sad thing about this is, that these politically correct stunninghunks actually cultivate a lot of sentiment amongst our sorely uneducated, evian sipping yuppy losers in this country.

Give the rescue personnel a statue.  They deserve it.

[Maverick]

Arfan and Bodhi have it pretty well stated IMO. If you happen to be somewhere and a disaster strikes, you are not a hero. If a disaster strikes and you respond to help, that is a sign of heroism. Going in harms way, particularly to help others, is the mark of heroism.

[Syzygyone]

Originally posted by icemaw
What about a statue for the cops that died. They ran to and gave their lives just as the firemen did. I think there should be a statue to show all the victims. A statue of a man a woman a child a fireman and a cop they all deserve to be recognized. Anything less would be disrespectful.

Of course I would include anyone who went into those buildings to help othes, i.e. cops, paramedics, etc etc.  But,the article that prompted this only mentioned firefighters.

[Eagler]

ain't you guys got it yet!

in our PC world there are no heroes .. just ppl doing their jobs!!! and everyone doing it the same- no one doing it better or worse than their coworker- just different.

in our PC world there is no right way or wrong way to do anything .. all ways are good enough

in our PC world there is no right or wrong just "feelings" .. which by all and any means should be taken not to "hurt" anyones

what numb nut would think anything otherwise than that those firefighters deserve a memorial ... what a crock of PC ****.

and the innocent victims need a memorial also .. not for them but for the rest of the dumbarses left behind so they DO NOT FORGET!

[Scootter]

Ex USAF Firefighter here and my vote is no,

Firemen will always do the job, some will die, and no statue is required.

Our troops, police, firefighters, Americans all, and are remembered as a group and honored that way.

To many heroes past, present and future to honor with a statue. One memorial for all as they all died with honor and together.

[gofaster]

Its ok.  Orange County Choppers, of the "American Chopper" tv series, built a custom motorcycle for the firemen.  It was a real piece of art.  The carb was shaped like a hydrant and the styling was very reminiscent of a fire engine.  The episode aired just last week.  I was impressed at the amount of effort and cooperation from the various companies involved in the project.  At the end, Paul Jr. mounted a diamondplate with a bolt from the WTC onto the frame just below the tank and everyone got all choked up.

[Eagler]

Originally posted by gofaster
Its ok.  Orange County Choppers, of the "American Chopper" tv series, built a custom motorcycle for the firemen.  It was a real piece of art.  The carb was shaped like a hydrant and the styling was very reminiscent of a fire engine.  The episode aired just last week.  I was impressed at the amount of effort and cooperation from the various companies involved in the project.  At the end, Paul Jr. mounted a diamondplate with a bolt from the WTC onto the frame just below the tank and everyone got all choked up.

saw that the other night ... it was awesome