Giving thanks to unsung heroes
An open letter to firefighters, police, paramedics, ER doctors, nurses and other civil servants and social workers
As hard as I work and as much as I try to pitch in to help improve life on planet Earth, there are several jobs it would be impossible for me to do. At this season of giving thanks, I would like to express my appreciation to those who can and do perform these difficult tasks, day in and day out, often for little pay and even less recognition. These are frequently the jobs that few want and that are taken by those who must truly feel a calling. I'm talking about occupations that are not only dangerous but also traumatizing, gory, gross and scary, like:
- Firefighters, police and paramedics - the "first responders" who deal with emergencies and the aftermaths of accidents and crimes. Without thinking of themselves, these selfless individuals jump into hazardous and gruesome scenes for the sake of others. These are jobs I personally could not stomach, so THANK YOU to all who do them. And thanks to the people who clean up these horrible scenes of destruction as well - more unsung heroes. Many of us are oblivious to just how much work it requires to keep our infrastructure going.
- Emergency room doctors, nurses and staff - you who go to work every day to make sure someone is available for the suffering and dying. I can't imagine what you have seen - I'm too squeamish for such a job, so THANK YOU. Again, thanks also to the people who administer and clean up hospitals as well - another difficult occupation.
- Prison guards, mental institution doctors and staff, hospice workers, coroners and undertakers - all very tough jobs I could not do but without which society absolutely could not function. I frankly do not know how you do it, but THANK YOU.
- Military personnel, especially the rank-and-file soldiers - many of us are "antiwar" and take our freedoms for granted, so THANK YOU for risking your lives to protect those freedoms.
- Sanitation and social workers - to you who also contribute to holding together our infrastructure, THANK YOU.
- Farmworkers, truck drivers and railroad workers - to all who work so hard to keep food on our tables, THANK YOU.
- Teachers and school staff - especially those in inner city public schools and who work with "special needs" children. You are often poorly paid and function by the incentive of love and caring. For your dedication to our most precious treasures, THANK YOU.
To all those not mentioned here who also do society's difficult and dirty work, THANK YOU.
Sincerely,
D.M. Murdock
Citizen of the United States of America
Please show your support - leave a comment and pass this message around!
Comments
Wonderful article with the perfect holiday attitude. Thanks, Acharya!
Soldiers certainly do society's "dirty work", and my "freedom" is not necessarily what they're fighting to protect. It is often "national security interests" that they are serving to protect, and that should not be confused with concepts of democracy or freedom. thank you.
Yes well said.
They are truly our heroes and it is so sad that I can't really do more than just to leave a comment for them. But salute to you all and thankyou to Acharya for making us realise that how selfish we have become that we have to read an article to understand the worth of these gems.
You might mention medical laboratory scientists who perform research,and laboratory testing; for little compensation, they work tirelessly under a lot of pressure to produce quick and accurate test results that keep us alive. You most likely would be too squeamish to perform this task also.
Absolutely right to thank those whom we tend to take for granted. I have had a LOT of health issues and have seen first hand how dedicated our health care workers are and I always thank them. It is surprising how they really appreciate the thanks and say that they don't often get a thank you. I would encourage those who read this to make the extra small offort to thank the person who helps them the next time they are helped by the above mentioned folks
the american soldiers are nothing but puppets of a satanic government...they rape, mutilate,burn defenseless people...for oil and drug control...they are nothing but robbers ...ask the people of Irak,Vietnam, Afghanistan what they think about this pest the american evil empire uses for invading other countries...you may know about religion but don't open your mouth about geopolitics because you sound very stupid...what world do you live in?
There is no need for hateful spew, Martin, which is not much of an improvement over what you are ranting against.
I believe I made myself perfectly clear when discussing the rank-and-file soldiers, of whom I know a few, and they are certainly not as you are smearing them to be.
Thank you for your wonderful and important writings. I finished reading "Christ in Egypt" in october, and it made me countinue my studies further regarding the old egyptian mythologies.
I study to become a teacher in religion and music, and your book has helped me to new ideas when it comes to an essay that we have as examina. It includes both pythagorean music theory and the egyptian mythology.
Keep up the good work. :)
Thank you for your wonderful and important writings. I finished reading "Christ in Egypt" in october, and it made me countinue my studies further regarding the old egyptian mythologies.
I study to become a teacher in religion and music, and your book has helped me to new ideas when it comes to an essay that we have as examina. It includes both pythagorean music theory and the egyptian mythology.
Keep up the good work. :)
Very well said, and covered. The people mentioned are the backbone of the country, not the so-called political leaders, who's motives are money and power. Great job Acharya!
You brought tears to my eyes. It is a important reminder that just because some of us may be 'progressive' in our thinking, we most certainly support our military, our police, our healthcare workers, etc. Thank you for once again facilitating shift in this world. Best/T
The message was good. Thanks for reminding this.
Happy thanksgiving to you Acharya!
Many thanks for expressing yourself so generously and intelligently online and via your fantastic books, etc.
Hey! (is for horses..lol). Don't forget Parks Workers and/or Municipal and other Gov. employees! It's many times a thankless and odious job, but someone has to do it. ;) Our Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I give thanks to all (biting tongue) to all of you from Canaduh. Happy Thanksgiving Ms. D.
Our soldiers are often used as pawns, that just makes them even bigger heroes. They enlisted to protect and serve our country, but it is up to us to elect the leaders that use them. They themselves must obey the orders given or else our military would be in disarray. Americans have been asleep for so long and not until it has hit them in the pocket book that the masses have awoke. It is too late to stop the world wide collapse of the monetary system. A new dark age is among us unless there is a really big shift in our thinking.
Of course they're pawns but that sure as hell doesn't make them heroes. And, by all means, let's not have our wonderful military in "disarray." Yes, let's just have goose-stepping, unthinking, arrested adolescents with weapons obeying their unholy orders without conscience. We're all a lot better off if they just act on their training and kill whoever or whatever stands in their way. What a revolting attitude.
“The pioneers of a warless world are the youth who refuse military service.”—Albert Einstein
"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once." - Einstein
To my mind, to kill in war is not a whit better than to commit ordinary murder. - Einstein
My heroes are those that REFUSE to serve!!!!!
I concur, Ms. Murdock and I also want to thank you and your truthbeknown.com site and freethought nation! Thanks for opening our eyes and doing the research for us to make up our own minds about our beliefs on religion.
I can't help but think that Christ was postulating a Hindu belief when he said "When you see me you see the father"... one of the many quotes used to prove we should worship Christ. Perhaps he meant that there is a bit of God/Good? in all of us?? What is the real translation? I know that Hinduism sees all life as sacred and I believe Christ, if... he existed.... went there??
If he did not exist, and some writers of the New Testament wrote that, what exactly were they trying to convey? Worshiping Christ?
There are truly so many things to be thankful for and even for myself, being able to walk and use my left foot!! (affected my right side of my back)... I was able to walk further today, the farthest I've walked in months!
Happy Thanksgiving to all
Thanks to you, I agree! Happy Thanksgiving although American Indians died for our freedom.
with so much corruption in their system, their media, their religious narcissism, and therefore ourselves, i would like to give a big f-ing thank you to all the authorities and teachers around the world that made me question their ways due to them not even believing what they were. so thank you to the unsure, the one's that just drift along.. THANK YOU for the ones that never judge or question. Because of the (muahhhh) herd I am the way that I am and I couldn't be happier because of you. Thank you 'the norm' of society.
I give thanks to all the engineers and scientists who help make the device upon which I now keyboard, possible.
I give thanks to the entrepreneurs who had the business savy to create the organizations that bring me the products I want to buy.
Seldom has anyone in government done anything for me other than help lighten my metaphorical wallet.
One of my sons-in-law served as an NCO both in Irak and Afghanistan. He is a man of sterling character, and the comments made by Martin certainly do not fit him or any other other soldiers I know who fight and fought terrorism. Of course, there are bad eggs everywhere, but I strongly believe that they are few and far between.
I join you in honoring our troops, the police force, the firefighters and all that serve to make a better life for all of us possible.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Wonderful idea. Could we not extend it globally? Well done.
A moving and ever timely essay.
Dear D.M. Murdock: Thank You for Your Compassion in giving to those WHO SERVE MANKIND. I also, agree with Martin. He is absolutele right in his opinion on what interests the the "MILITARY COMPLEX serves. It isn't for humanity's sake. Take it from a retired College Professor...The United States is run by Zionist (not Jews) who exploit the Goyyim to enact their world tyrany. We, the people are nothing but "USELESS EATERS" to THEM. And, that is the Truth. Nothing more than a disease...that They (Zionists) wish to eradicate. BMI
Dear D.M. Murdock: Thank You for Your Compassion in giving to those WHO SERVE MANKIND. I also, agree with Martin. He is absolutely right in his opinion on what interests the U.S. "MILITARY COMPLEX" serves. It isn't for humanity's sake. Take it from a retired College Professor...The United States is run by Zionist (not Jews) who exploit the Goyyim to enact their world tyranny. We, the people are nothing but "USELESS EATERS" to THEM. And, that is the Truth. Nothing more than a disease...that They (Zionists) wish to eradicate. BMI
Unsung heroes?
Doctors and social workers among them? Right, some of them do good. But remember Spain under and after Franco, who were stealing babies?
A secret network of:
- priests
- nuns/nurses (every nurse was a "nun"/religious in Spain back then, I think)
and
- doctors, precisely.
Stealing children is not quite a Franco-régime speciality. Social workers involved in Child Welfare come to mind in countries like Sweden or US.
http://hglundahlsblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/another-take-on-flds.html
You're quite right. In every strata of these professions, there is ugliness of one kind or another taking place. We sometimes forget that they (doctors & nurses) are really in the service of Big Pharma and pushing one kind of needless drug or procedure or another.
The same goes for the police who have been largely militarized and are composed of damaged veterans. They are NOT your friend.
Just trying to see if this is gonna work or not...
in india ,tamilnadu ,human souls are taken under earth ,under rocks ,even to several thousnds kilometers under rocks,taking old revenges ,vengenes ,conspirancies ,polatics and given different shapes .in sevrages and made like aliens .taking under earth and beating and burning .please save to every one,every molecules and request to bring all the souls ,creatures from under earth to on earth .and requests to request not to spoil souls and humans.please save from pains sufferings .please save .requests to request to make to stop all quarrells and taking under earth and hells and spoiling souls .
Acharya,
You message is so true. I am really grateful for these people who give so much to make us comfortable and safe. THANK YOU!
for every good they might do i can think of a horror they do do.when doctors go on strike the death rate goes down, social workers are agents of the new world order and if police diont get a grip on their attitudes toward their fellow non police then they just becoem enforcers ogf tyrannywhich is what we live uinder in case you ahve not noticed.I dont think it was prudent for those firefighters on 9/11 t basically commit suicide by going starit into certain death for soem reason .they do no one any good dead. ok bye bye
"Military personnel, especially the rank-and-file soldiers - many of us are "antiwar" and take our freedoms for granted, so THANK YOU for risking your lives to protect those freedoms."
Oh, brother, where to start. First, I couldn't agree more with the expression of appreciation to the "First Responders" and related. Tough, emotional and (many times) thankless work.
But we part company for any kind of support for soldiers - including the "rank-and-file" - for their "service." Are they (for the most part) well-meaning? Sure. Did they join for the so-called "right reasons"? Probably. And are they brainwashed? Absolutely. But that doesn't mitigate the horrible damage that they do in the service to a country that has marauded around the world for 200+ years, imposing it's will by force on other countries and cultures (and, by the way, if you think WWII was the exception, please go read "Rethinking the Good War") all in the name of opening up new markets for multinationals and, like the Mob, selling our protection services and weapons.
We currently have troops in over 140 countries with over 800 military bases while we overtly meddle in the affairs of others while our "intelligence" agencies covertly screw with all the others. It is precisely the "rank-and-file" that make such an abomination possible.
But, you are right about one thing. It's a job I could never do. I still have a conscience.
Being a retired military person, I see comment's like Matin's and Mr. Ireland and some other narrow thinking individuals above and feel sad for them and glad for them at the same time. I am glad that because of the so-called "pawns" they describe they are in a country where they can openly voice their opinions but am sad that they do not realize or don't care where this right came from. It came from those who have served and died, period. In a world such as ours Freedom is not free. It requires sacrifice. No amount of sideline intellectual thinking will ever keep a man and his family safe at night.
Most people mean well. Some people have the strength to do jobs that the more squeamish among us could not. They mostly have the highest intentions, though there are some who have motives much less noble. I personally know a soldier who joined so that he could get adventure that involved killing people, I know some doctors that care little for much beyond the wealth that profession delivers, there are instances of police who clearly enjoy assaulting peaceful protesters. I know these people exist, but I also know many more have higher aims and want to make the world a better place. This is true of most of us.
Nobody can characterise any group as bad. (Or good.) That's making the same mistake the racists, the elitists, the homophobes, the religious, the misogynists and so on make. We must see the good that's in most people while trying to undo the rot that poisons them. We are all to blame for that rot.
I'm thankful for the good in most of us. From the young girl smiling at me behind a shop counter and wishing me a pleasant day, to the people who work at amazing organisations like Oxfam, or the firemen who risk their lives routinely, or those policemen who do help keep people safe.
Even people who do monstrous things are not intrinsically bad. The slave owners who whipped human beings to death were also family people who loved their children. Human motivations are not simple. We can be good AND bad. But I'm very grateful for the good.
Yes, thanking unsung heroes and in so doing, realize that we are all part of the whole of existence. We all play a part in the symphony of life. And do not forget Mother Nature!
Ret. TSgt. Winter: "Being a retired military person, I see comment's like Matin's and Mr. Ireland and some other narrow thinking individuals above and feel sad for them and glad for them at the same time. I am glad that because of the so-called "pawns" they describe they are in a country where they can openly voice their opinions but am sad that they do not realize or don't care where this right came from. It came from those who have served and died, period. In a world such as ours Freedom is not free. It requires sacrifice. No amount of sideline intellectual thinking will ever keep a man and his family safe at night."
Thank you for your courteous input. It appears that such critics have never had a friend or relative who has served in the military. My father was in the army - apparently I'm supposed to hate him and not be grateful for his service. Ditto with many other friends and relatives who have selflessly put their lives on the line while armchair critics have benefited from their sacrifice.
As has been pointed out, the freedoms that these naysayers take for granted as they sit from the comfort of their home or office and kvetch, has been paid for, significantly and unfortunately, by these rank-and-file military personnel.
This "oh brother" spitting on such individuals is really a sign of classless unconsciousness.
just toshing it out their the message is so true
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!