In my “real” job, I’m sure as heck not a hero. Reviewing contracts just doesn’t save a lot of lives.
When I’m at my “fun” job on the ambulance, it’s not heroism either. It’s doing something I’m passionate about. It’s the pride, honor, integrity, and dare I say, the compassion of providing medical care to people in the worst moments. (Let’s face it, even if we consider it “BS,” it’s still the worst thing in our patient’s day.) I walk into houses, businesses, and the street and see humanity at its worst.
I’m hanging out at the Texas EMS Conference this week, learning new things, renewing friendships, and making new friends. Watching a British paramedic experiencing Texas for the first time is rather funny at times. Driving through the Fort Worth Stockyards listening to George Strait while you explain the history of our country, our state, and the “Old West” is a perfect way to remind yourself of how special these moments are. EMS, fire, law enforcement, and emergency medicine creates a special bond and kinship between all of us.
But allow me to digress here into the really serious current events of the day. Ferguson, Missouri. I’ve had a few friends who aren’t in public safety or medicine post some pretty snarky comments on Facebook about the grand jury decision, Officer Darren Wilson, and/or law enforcement in general. I won’t hector or lecture you. All I ask is that you try to be as compassionate to your public servants as you are to the thug culture, the “oppressed” who aren’t really oppressed, the criminal underclass, and the looters. Take it from someone who sees more than Instagram shots of the Mike Browns and Leslie Cochrans of the world — crime, homelessness, and the drug culture aren’t hip, cool, or funny. They’re a one-way ticket to self-destruction.
You have a right to those opinions. The “uncool” people that you mock protect your rights to be hip, liberal, and oh so cool. Me? I have the right to unfriend you.
Thanks for listening. I’ll try to be funnier in the next blog.