Breitbart:
A Santa Monica firefighter who spent 20 minutes performing CPR on a dog that was rescued from a burning apartment Tuesday afternoon has been lauded as a hero for saving his life.
“I discovered him amidst all the smoke and the heat. I grabbed him and as soon as I grabbed him I knew that he was unresponsive just by his dead weight,” firefighter Andrew Klein told Los Angles ABC affiliate ABC 7.
Nice story that exemplifies the kind hearted devotion that western civilization has for all creatures. It’s what sets us apart from savages.
Sorry to make this political, but everything is political, in a sense. Kudos to the firefighter.
“lauded as a hero”
No. Not a hero. Proficient in life saving perhaps.
We’ve diluted and perverted the term “Hero”.
A hero is someone who places their own life in abject jeopardy to save another. Without thought or hesitation as to the risk to themselves.
The test applied to the act in the aftermath should result in ‘they should have died’, speaking of the hero. Everything else is a participation trophy.
@lowell.
The man went into a smoke and fire filled structure and happened upon a dying dog.
Dog or not, isn’t going into that situation an act of heroism? I don’t get your point. Yeah. The term hero is tossed around irresponsibly, but this isn’t one of those cases. It could have just as easily been a human.
I seem to have gotten a piece of dust in my eyes….
@Lowell
There’s cynical pessimism, and then there’s what I just read in your post. Not sure where you thought you were going with that.
He’s a hero. Especially if that had been one of our dogs.
We have volunteer fire departments around here, and just about all of them have had cpr/oxygen masks/kits for pets/animals donated to them. And they do get used.
“Most first responder agencies (fire, rescue, EMT) are not permitted to purchase equipment that is not for use on humans. Additionally, many of these agencies also have budget restrictions that prohibit buying these masks kits. If the equipment is not on the truck, the first responders can’t use it.”
http://projectpawsalive.org/pet-oxygen-recovery-mask-kits/
I would have trouble performing CPR on a dog because I know where they lick themselves.
@Vietvet – but none of them as bad as Charlie Sheen! 🙂
My biology teacher (Santa Monica HS in fact) had this ‘how to resuscitate a lizard’ on his wall: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c6/34/26/c634263b33bc42ceaac288c878c8bdc4.jpg
🙂
Seems my definition of the term is at odds with current wisdom. I can live with that.
Opinions and standards vary widely. They can even be adjusted as time progresses. Seems I’m behind the curve.
But I’m comfortable with my post. I’ve seen heroism, and been humbled by it. Buried people that died trying. Pardon me if I get itchy when I see the term applied loosely.
@Left Coast Dan (at 6:22 pm): I wouldn’t give him CPR, either.
@Left Coast Dan, isn’t “lizard” also a euphemism for a man’s junk? 😁 Or has IOTW ruined my mind?
@Lowell: For what it’s worth, I think you’re right. The term “hero” has been so devalued that it’s hardly even a compliment anymore. “Hero” bystander calls 911 after accident. “Hero” fireman saves cat from tree. “Hero” Caitlyn Jenner comes out as a transgender freak, inspires LGBTs and Leftists nationwide. If I was a Medal of Honor winner I would want to punch the first guy who called me a “hero”.
Maybe we just need to come up with a new term for people who do something truly heroic.
I suspect that the guy that saved the dog would eschew the term hero. Most heroes do shun the label.
Vietvet. I hate to be a prick about this, but there are no Medal Of Honor “winners.” Most of them are dead. And those “awarded” the Congressional Medal of Honor, both living and dead are indeed heros. I agree that the term “hero” has lost it’s meaning. just like the Pulitzer Prize, and the Nobel Prize. Semper Fi.
Hey, Chelsea Clinton is getting some type of “Woman’s Achievement Award” next week in New York. I don’t know. You tell me.
I’m with MoeTom. And Lowell. And Viet Vet.
I also agree that the term ‘hero’ has been downgraded to be nearly meaningless. That’s not where I Was going
I never used the term ‘hero’ in regards to this feel good story except that the brave dude who saved the dog wouldn’t want that term to describe himself.
Why argue when we all agree?
@Moe Tom: OK, no CMOH “winners”, even though the term is widely used, and you probably understood what I meant. And nobody gets them as “awards”, either. There are only CMOH recipients. Is that better?
♫ “You say ‘potayto’, I say ‘potahto’…” ♪
🙂
@cowgirl – no question about the latter! 🙂
As in J in VT said, “We have volunteer fire departments around here, and just about all of them have had cpr/oxygen masks/kits for pets/animals donated to them. And they do get used.”
Our Dog Obedience Training Club distributes these kits to the volunteer and municipal fire departments in this and the surrounding counties. They are very appreciated by the departments and they do get used. This being small town East Texas, the rescue of a dog usually makes the local paper and it’s heartwarming to hear the equipment was used.
Vietvet. Cotcha. I agree.
Hey you wonderful guys. Check this out:
“Texas Sheep Farmer Robert O’Malley.”
I met O’Malley years ago in a bar in Woodside, Queens, after a Jet game at Shea Stadium. There wasn’t much of a conversation as we were both a little shitfaced, and the Jets lost to Miami/
I truly enjoy the company of those who gather here. The signal to noise ratio is exceptionally high, and so many here are able to express themselves with the written word far beyond what I see in too many other venues.
Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this family. For that is what Fur has established in this corner of the web.
Lowell: Whale oil beef hooked! And I love you too, in a manly sort of way.
@lowell.
We mere commenters appreciate your presence. I can’t speak for the website. Thanks for the back and forth.
Group hug in safe space.
Ok. That’s just gay.
Google it “Texas Sheep Farmer, Robert O’Malley.” Just do it!
I worry about moe Tom though.
Just kidding.
Hey. By the way. Crazy conservatives are unofficially gathering at capital ale house in Richmond/innsbrook on April 8 around 6pm
Hit teapartyjim@live.com if you want details.
@Lowell: Near as I can tell, all of the regular commenters here are pretty decent folks, although I sometimes have my doubts about Larry the Left-wing Liberal, or whatever his actual screen name is. (Just kidding, Larry, you give us balance when we need it sometimes.)
We occasionally disagree, but that’s what makes the site interesting. Nobody has all the answers, and anyone that says they do is either a liar or a Democrat. But I repeat myself.
🙂
I had a dog once, a beauty, got killed chasing a car. Stupid dog. I hated cars for that, but when I grew up, I ended up buying one, a car, that is.
I love this site. It’s the essence of free speech
Even when you’re drunk as Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill.
@Moe Tom, I did look up Robert O’Malley. What an heroic man. Thanks!
Heroes Come In All Shapes and Sizes
There are real heros all over the world, but they are generally not in the spotlight.
http://goodstuffsworld.blogspot.com/2013/07/heroes-come-in-all-shapes-and-sizes.html