Topic: What Is Wrong With Us?

[medic09]

First, I read this narrative in an EMS management column.  Handed it to my wife, who is a Division Leader at a National Lab.  (She doesn't need it; but always appreciates it.)

Then, I started working on a weekly bible study piece (I won't inflict that on you all), and this came to mind again.

What the hell is wrong with a society where total jerks can make millions as entertainers (pro-sports, movies, music, etc.), and a Congressional Medal of Honor winner is left to work as an anonymous janitor?  Some days, I just don't get it.

http://www.cwoauscg.org/history/history_janitor.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._Crawford

[333]

Good things come to those who wait?  No.

No good deed goes un-noticed?  No, not that one either.

Wait, I got it.


Life Sucks

Then you die.  But don't let that stop you from doing your best at anything you do.  Remember, you, too, can ignored.  Just like anyone else.



And also, two wrongs don't make a right.  But three lefts do.

[medic09]

Life Sucks

Then you die.  But don't let that stop you from doing your best at anything you do.  Remember, you, too, can ignored.  Just like anyone else.

Yet that's not the message you convey to the kids who benefit from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.   

[tramp]

it's how you market yourself
act like a winner
or act like a loser

[Duke McDukiedook]

I've said it once and I'll say it again- I think we tend to use the word hero a little too much in modern society, that and the word 'war'.

That guy just probably wanted to protect his life and his buddies around him, heroics are for people with death wishes.

[BeSeeingYou]

   Not sure where the outrage is.  He wasn't forced to be a janitor it seemed to be his choice.  Not everyone is career driven or seduced by the pursuit of wealth.  Seems to me that an ordinary individual was thrust into extraordinary circumstances and rose to the occasion.  It happens quite often but not everyone gets a Medal of Honor for it.  I am glad he was honored for his action but it does not and should not guarantee him millions of dollars.
    I guess the real outrage is the millions paid to entertainers, athletes, etc but that's the magic of capitalism.  My wife is a reading tutor and specializes in kids with serious reading disabilities, mostly young kids.   She has been doing this for 30 years and has over the years often been invited to high school or college graduations for kids she tutored years back when they were young.  Almost without exception she is introduced by the kid or the parents as one of the main reasons so and so graduated from college/high school.  Now that's having a direct and positive influence on people's lives but do you think she gets millions like Brett Farve or Lady GaGa.

[Raef]

Life Sucks

Then you die.  But don't let that stop you from doing your best at anything you do.  Remember, you, too, can ignored.  Just like anyone else.

Yet that's not the message you convey to the kids who benefit from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.   

I could write about this all day, and most would not make a lick of since.

 I spend a good deal of time wondering what has happened to the American dream, you know the nice little house with 2.5 kids and nothing mattered but your little corner of the world, your family, neighbors. you got your car fixed at the corner garage.

As far as what do you tell the kids.

 I am a skilled tradesman I take a great deal of pride in what I do, what ever that may be today, I also coach gymnastics, both of my daughters have left the sport and I still coach.
I try to teach patience with your self and others and your success must be measured form YOUR starting point not the success of others.

We may have all be created equal in the eyes of god, I can say with out a doubt that if there is a god he is the only one that sees us that way.

you must do what you think is right and like yourself before you can worry if anyone else will like you, you can't measure you happiness by other peoples standards

[333]

Yet that's not the message you convey to the kids who benefit from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.   

I'm impressed, Medic.  You're the first to spontaneously comment on my link.  And for the most part, you're right.  The "life" these kids have worked to get away from has already taught them that life can sometimes suck.  But we don't sugarcoat reality, in that we teach them that hard work is the way to a rewarding life.  And the jobs awaiting these kids are with the carpenters union, where the a$$hole factor(in management) is notably lower, so hard work is almost always rewarded.

To you, Medic, and anyone else; If you are ever in the Washington D.C. area with some spare time, and I'm around, I'd be happy to give a tour of our shop and program.  I'm still kicking myself for not looking you up when I was in Santa Fe last year.

[BobbyR]

Yet that's not the message you convey to the kids who benefit from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.   

I'm impressed, Medic.  You're the first to spontaneously comment on my link.  And for the most part, you're right.  The "life" these kids have worked to get away from has already taught them that life can sometimes suck.  But we don't sugarcoat reality, in that we teach them that hard work is the way to a rewarding life.  And the jobs awaiting these kids are with the carpenters union, where the a$$hole factor(in management) is notably lower, so hard work is almost always rewarded.

To you, Medic, and anyone else; If you are ever in the Washington D.C. area with some spare time, and I'm around, I'd be happy to give a tour of our shop and program.  I'm still kicking myself for not looking you up when I was in Santa Fe last year.

I will take you up on that. I will be doing work for WAMTA next year. 

[BobbyR]

I've said it once and I'll say it again- I think we tend to use the word hero a little too much in modern society, that and the word 'war'.

That guy just probably wanted to protect his life and his buddies around him, heroics are for people with death wishes.

You are partially right, you do fight for your own life and the lives of the people around you. Very occasionally a person will go beyond personal regard for themselves and put themselves at risk for another. On two occasions recently people have pulled a person who fell in front of a Subway car to safety. One laid on top of the person while the car passed over them. I teach maintenance on those and he had inches between him and all the sharp objects under there, and how the motors did not get him I will never know. Six subway cars passed over him not one.  Single Father and construction worker. He had no death wish he simply did what he saw to be done.

The Medal of Honor winner may have wanted a simple life after what he probably saw and experienced. His choice, no dishonor in that.

[Uncle Ernie]

I am reminded of a guy (one of many I knew because of my job) who was homess.  I was sitting in traffic one day and saw him sweeping in front of a store.  He saw be, brightened up, and waved with a big smile on his face.  He was so proud to have a job- finally.

Mr medic, what do you think should be done?  my thoughts are that people have come to expect way too much from the gevernment.  A record-breaking hurricane sweeps in, and folks expect an instant fix.  A huge earthquake bring an area built with sticks and mud, and folks want hospitals and housing to pop up overnight.  ? 

As far as this topic goes, a janitor is not a loser.  He is a guy with a job (a miracle these days in and of itself).  There are as many types of ambition and drive as there are people. 

[Damfino]

I get what you're saying Mordechai, and I think it has to do with choosing false heroes over real ones. 

[medic09]

I get what you're saying Mordechai, and I think it has to do with choosing false heroes over real ones. 

Something like that.  But it burns me more.  We are talking about about how we guide our selves and our children.  Even when I was young, I was aware of this.  Sadly, I didn't appreciate or respect my parents anywhere near enough when I was young.  But everywhere I went in our town, businesspeople and workers would ask me (often in a heavy immigrant's accent), 'your father Mr. Scher?  Thanks to him my kid finished school.  First in our family.'  or 'Is your mother Mrs. Scher?  Thanks to her my kid got through a really traumatic year and went on to the next grade.'

Go back and look at Srust's description of his wife.  There's a real hero.

But I do think a CMOH winner did something far more significant than throw a Superbowl touchdown.  If he chooses to quietly go off later and keep to himself, great.  But a medal is just a geegaw, a bit of jewelry.  A society that claims to care so much as to grant a rare honor to someone for acting most honorably to the benefit of others, should follow through and include a pension or some such.  AFAIK, all these guys have decades later is the jewelry in the box to wistfully look at and reminisce.  Each of those medal winners set an example to help keep bravery and sacrifice alive and current among those who are called upon to struggle for the good of others.  Not only in combat; but especially so.  In many cases, they saved lives.  Personally, I think we need to honor our vets a whole lot more; but that has at least improved.

Lee Iococca stated one of my favorite quotes:  "In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have. "

I really look forward to the day when we take our athletes and entertainers off the high pedestals.  Sure, they provide a service.  Sure, they should make a reasonable wage for reasonable service.  But they are an adjunct in society.  Time to elevate the vets, the medal winners, the school teachers, the linemen and other tradesmen who turn up in the middle of a blizzard to start fixing things and restoring function to civil society.  Time to elevate the the emergency services workers.

Sorry, I'm not even sure what I'm ranting about.  But I have been for going on 40 years, and still not satisfied.  Thanks guys,  all of you, including those who disagree but respect enough to respond and rebut.   

[Duke McDukiedook]

Not enough respect for teachers is one place to start.

If we say we value education so much why do we pay most teachers such a piss poor salary?

[BeSeeingYou]

Interestingly one of my wife's former students is one of these high paid athletes (hockey)   I do envy the satisfaction she gets from her job.  My big "heroics" these last few weeks have been building a multiple room video and audio conferencing system that is being shipped to China to be installed in a new office complex of a large corporation.  Take that you Commies I thought as I chanted USA,USA, in my head.  Then I noticed much of the gear going into the system was made in China.

I hear what your saying Medic, Captain "Sully" had his 15 minutes of fame but Lady GaGa or goes on and on.  Far too often the wrong people are elevated to "hero" status to the point that the word is just a cheap phrase now.  Don't know what the answer is other than to throw out your TV, get off the computer , and go out and interact with real people.

[demon78]

Medic I agree those who have served their nation with extraordinary service and sacrifice should be honored with a livable pension and looked after for the rest of their lives, I don't know if you have heard of "Tommy Prince" but he was allowed to die of booze after serving his country in two conflicts, which is tragic. Take a secound and Google tommy prince a true hero and a true tragedy, another one of my countries shames.
Bill the demon.

[333]

Not to disagree with the rant, but a few entertainers and sports figures do qualify for hero status.  If it weren't for Brad and Angolina, there would be about 150 less rebuilt homes in New Orleans.  And in a lesser known case, former local Washington Redskin Art Monk(traded with a few good years left in him) still thinks of D.C. as his home, and is very active in local charities.  Just sayin'- they're not all bad.

[medic09]

Not to disagree with the rant, but a few entertainers and sports figures do qualify for hero status.  If it weren't for Brad and Angolina, there would be about 150 less rebuilt homes in New Orleans.  And in a lesser known case, former local Washington Redskin Art Monk(traded with a few good years left in him) still thinks of D.C. as his home, and is very active in local charities.  Just sayin'- they're not all bad.

I'm not saying 'they're all bad.'  I'm not saying they're bad at all.  I'm saying we vastly overrate what they do to contribute to society in their professions.  I admired Warren Moon for his work with the Warren Moon Foundation; not because he could throw a football.  I admired Nolan Ryan for his community contributions; not because he threw I-don't-recall-how-many-no-hitters.  I admire the explorers who reveal new assets and aspects of our world more than I respect those who've climbed a mountain already summitted by a thousand others.  I admire the local heros with whom I've been privileged to work whose contribution isn't even apparent until we look back and see that for 30 years we've relied on them time after time to be there, supply services, solve problems, maintain a civil society.  It is way past time that we reassess how we look at people's contributions and lasting effect on individuals and society.  It is high time we reassess how we reward those whose contributions really matter, and how we recognize them.  Make a list  sometime of the professions/trades that you depend on or take-for-granted daily - the ones who you rely upon without thinking much about it.  Entertainers have their place in helping us maintain our sanity; but they'd be pretty far down the list.  Even there- there are figures who really make a difference in human culture, and those who are just a passing, titillating fad.  Our heroes should be those who promote and preserve and improve life/survival, culture, civility, and society - even at the local, grassroots level.

[BobbyR]

I have done a bit of thinking about this since it actually bothers me. Then I realized that it is a matter of media exposure. Sports are entertainment and the players are essentially entertainers. If want to see people who just love a game, go to a public park.

The War Hero may get some mention, but their deeds are only  recorded on paper. Capt. Sully had his moment recorded and the rescue of the passenger could make the nightly news, something visual something that could be repeated. 

Sports are entertainment from Football to NASCAR. They are on TV weekly, reported in the papers and news broadcasts. The Leagues go to great lengths to drive attendance and TV coverage.

The players have a finite career, so their agents grab as much as they can, and with the media hype certain players draw larger crowds. If I were the player the owner is getting rich on, I would like a piece of the pie. Once I can no longer play, they kick you to the curb.

The War hero has no ongoing media hype. It was a one time event, and over time people forget. The early Astronauts were the only Military people to get on going PR. Can some one name me the people who were in the last Space shuttle flight?

I am saying how things work,  I am not saying it is right.

[333]

You both are so right.  What chaps my cheeks are the sheer number of TV shows dedicated to "who's sleeping with who" or other crap like that.  It's these shows, along with rag (news?)papers that feed our insatiable need for $h!t.  People are the problem.  Uhh, not us.  We're okay.  It's them.

By the definition that has emerged here, I probably work with a hero every week.  At the Seaport, the executive director Joe Youcha is a true hero.  I don't work so closely with him, so I don't get to see it very often, but when I do, it stops me in my tracks and makes me proud to be connected with this program.  He was working with 4 after school kids this week on our latest boat project.  One said she was having trouble with percentages(I think. Happened so fast & I don't hear so well).  He whisked her out of the group and had her school books out so fast.  He was so "in the zone" that it was difficult to supervise the rest of the group because I was so in awe.

[bikerbart]

The distribution of wealth in our society is completely wrong.All in the name of capitalism.I agree wholeheartedly that pop culture whores and sports stars make entirely too much money.The fact that I have to usually pay to watch a ball game on my TV when growing up I can flip on Wide world of sports and watch it on free tv is saying a lot.They do it because they can.That is a reason I am not a sports fan.back then they still got paid well.Nowadays you cant even take a piss without a commercial.(advertisements on Barf bags fer crissakes)I am a decorated war vet and I had to wash dishes when I got out,and I was glad to have a job.being a janitor is a good job actually,sure there is zero respect but you have steady income and usually Insurance(and thats a lot in this crappy economy).

[Retro Rocket]

#$%* just doesn't happen any more, it is all orchestrated, everything is a business and money is the only factor. We have this stuff shoved down our throats to the extent that we get totally used to it and it becomes the norm. Medic, you are definitely not the only one pissed off about where morals and loyalties lie these days mate....

Mick

[scrapvalue]

The problem is, extreme liberalisim.

You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything!  John Cougar Mellencamp

If you want something, work for it!
Don't depend on the goverment to pick someone elses pockets to take care of your needs,(wants).

[333]

You didn't just go there.  That is the quickest way to get a thread deleted is to bring politics into this.  I'll be nice and won't go into just how wrong you are.

[Retro Rocket]

You didn't just go there.  That is the quickest way to get a thread deleted is to bring politics into this.  I'll be nice and won't go into just how wrong you are.

Agreed, mindless comments.....and not very well thought out

Mick