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I was going to write a post on this yesterday, but I deleted it when I read this.

When you put on the uniform of a cop, a firefighter or a paramedic, or to a far greater extent, a soldier, there comes with it the acknowledgment that you may die wearing that uniform. You come to grips with that, or you don’t put on the uniform.

Dying in the line of duty may be honorable, but it is not heroic. There is nothing heroic about dying. And honoring the sacrifice of cops and firefighters in New York certainly does not extend the same honors to cops or firefighters in Texas.

Or for that matter, paramedics in Louisiana.

You want to look for 9/11 heroes, look no further than the passengers of Flight 93. Those people came from all walks of life. They were not members of the public safety brotherhood, but members of the larger brotherhood of man. They swore no oaths to protect or defend anyone.

And yet, when the situation called for it, they rose up and fought back. When faced with the prospect of dying themselves to save thousands of others from a similar fate, they did not shrink from the task.

They were heroes.

When I listened to the politicians and pundits bloviate yesterday, I was struck by two realizations:

First, none of them – not a single, blow-dried, vacuous, morally compromised one of them – are worthy of the sacrifice of those men and women.

Second, if America is still capable of producing citizens like the passengers of Flight 93, we are still strong indeed. I suspect there are many thousands more just like them, found pretty much anywhere in America outside the DC Beltway.

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Posted by on September 12, 2009 • Filed under: Uncategorized
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  • Mr. Fixit

    AD, thanks for the link, sitemeter is spinning like a ceiling fan.I've thought about it, and you're right. There is a difference in hero and brave. We do throw out words carelessly sometimes. Ah, so much to think about.Mr Fixit

  • Mr. Fixit

    AD, thanks for the link, sitemeter is spinning like a ceiling fan.

    I've thought about it, and you're right. There is a difference in hero and brave. We do throw out words carelessly sometimes.

    Ah, so much to think about.

    Mr Fixit

  • Florida doctors

    Having injured my back this summer, I have come to learn a lot about pain firsthand. Pain can be hard to define. It means different things to different people and your own perception of pain can change over time, it indicates findrxonline in his article. For some people, acknowledging pain is a sign of weakness. What most people don't realize is that that pain is a medical problem– and that it can be treated.

  • Florida doctors

    Having injured my back this summer, I have come to learn a lot about pain firsthand. Pain can be hard to define. It means different things to different people and your own perception of pain can change over time, it indicates findrxonline in his article. For some people, acknowledging pain is a sign of weakness. What most people don't realize is that that pain is a medical problem– and that it can be treated.

  • Fordo

    Agreed.

  • Fordo

    Agreed.

  • Stacey

    *Standing ovation to AD*

  • Stacey

    *Standing ovation to AD*

  • charlotte g

    "To be perfectly honest, the passengers of Flight 93 did not give their lives that day…they simply changed the method of their death…" Wrong. Against all odds, they fought to survive. and by aborting the flight plan, they saved others who would have died–or a nation from seeing our own fighter planes taking out a civilian airliner full of hostages. Because that plane HAD to be stopped. I saw the firefighters striding toward the towers as others were running to escape. They were heroes, right and well. The passengers of Flight 93 didn't volunteer, hadn't trained for the job they ultimately did. They were strong. They were heroes. And each year, I give thanks for them.

  • charlotte g

    "To be perfectly honest, the passengers of Flight 93 did not give their lives that day…they simply changed the method of their death…" Wrong.
    Against all odds, they fought to survive. and by aborting the flight plan, they saved others who would have died–or a nation from seeing our own fighter planes taking out a civilian airliner full of hostages. Because that plane HAD to be stopped. I saw the firefighters striding toward the towers as others were running to escape. They were heroes, right and well. The passengers of Flight 93 didn't volunteer, hadn't trained for the job they ultimately did. They were strong. They were heroes. And each year, I give thanks for them.

  • Anonymous

    Yeah!!! My hubby is a cop. Before that he was a Marine. I think he is exceedingly heroic to do the job he doeshas done to protect other citizens. But, it is his job, it's what he signed up for, what he is paid for. We have had this discussion and both agree with you totally. The people on Flight 93 give me hope for our nation, that maybe we aren't all bottom feeders like those on wall street and in many respects in congress right now. That maybe there is still some of that American can-do attitude that enabled us to break from tierany and become a free democratic nation. Ok, stepping off the soapbox. Just thank you for your post's, it is a joy to read your stuff. Janet in Texas

  • Anonymous

    Yeah!!! My hubby is a cop. Before that he was a Marine. I think he is exceedingly heroic to do the job he does\has done to protect other citizens. But, it is his job, it's what he signed up for, what he is paid for. We have had this discussion and both agree with you totally. The people on Flight 93 give me hope for our nation, that maybe we aren't all bottom feeders like those on wall street and in many respects in congress right now. That maybe there is still some of that American can-do attitude that enabled us to break from tierany and become a free democratic nation. Ok, stepping off the soapbox. Just thank you for your post's, it is a joy to read your stuff. Janet in Texas

  • Hill Country Blogger

    Texas Fire Fighter signing in here and I have to say that I agree with A.D.. I don't feel that I did what the 343 did. I don't know any FF in my house that does. Yeah we do the same thing but we didn't do the same thing. If people want to make 9/11 about fire fighters, ok, I guess I can't stop you. I think its nice. Just know that I think, and maybe a lot of FF's, that we should remember those that gave. I'd hate to lose focus of that. In all, both sides have such warm thoughts and good intent. I really see very little point in make sides for 9/11.

  • Hill Country Blogger

    Texas Fire Fighter signing in here and I have to say that I agree with A.D.. I don't feel that I did what the 343 did. I don't know any FF in my house that does.

    Yeah we do the same thing but we didn't do the same thing. If people want to make 9/11 about fire fighters, ok, I guess I can't stop you. I think its nice. Just know that I think, and maybe a lot of FF's, that we should remember those that gave. I'd hate to lose focus of that.

    In all, both sides have such warm thoughts and good intent. I really see very little point in make sides for 9/11.

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  • NeedleNerd

    well said

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