Posted on 02/16/2003 6:15:09 AM PST by Catspaw
| War in Iraq, another here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Engine 8 was returning to the firehouse from a run, and yesterday afternoon that meant turning down a block of E. 53rd St. that was packed with protesters. The roof lights were flashing, but the protesters did not budge. The driver hit the horn, and the protesters responded with shouts. Some were so dim as to imagine the firefighters were seeking to disperse them. "They're trying to break up the crowd!" a woman shouted. A squad of police officers stepped in and the protesters grudgingly stepped out of the way. A young man in a green fleece jacket then hurled an epithet at these firefighters from a house that lost 10 men at the World Trade Center. "Fascists!" Others took up the cry. "Fascists!" The firefighters peered out of the cab, among them one you recognized from an immortal photograph taken that terrible day at the twin towers. He also had appeared in the video shot in the north tower, having ridden to the scene by subway in full gear. After the south tower collapsed, this firefighter had been among those who came upon Fire Chaplain Mychal Judge. The firefighter was helping to carry the lifeless priest from the smoldering ruins when a photographer snapped what would be called the modern Pieta. Seventeen months later, this same firefighter sat in the engine cab, his tan fire retardant hood framing his face as he gazed blankly out at these shouting protesters. The engine rolled slowly on, eventually turning down Lexington Ave. and reaching the firehouse on E. 51st St. The American flag out front rippled in the icy wind as Engine 8 backed in alongside Ladder 2. The firefighter from the famous picture pulled off his hood and stood in the doorway. You remembered from a previous encounter that he would rather not have his name in print. "They were calling us fascists," he said. He seemed disbelieving rather than angry as he turned inside. The big red door came down until the next alarm came in. Up at the corner, you saw two police commanders who had served with distinction that day at the twin towers. Chief of Department Joseph Esposito and Chief Thomas Purtell were now clearing a band of protesters who were blocking the street for the benefit of a camera atop a TV news truck. Earlier in the day, a cop had disgraced himself by bullying a distinguished news photographer. Many more officers had shown considerable restraint even as several of their comrades were injured. The cops at this scene were pure professionals. "We don't want anybody to get hurt," Purtell said. Purtell stood in the street opposite an office building showing the same calm that had seemed almost superhuman in the minutes after the north tower fell. You recalled how he had immediately regrouped the surviving Emergency Service Unit cops. "At least this building's not falling down," he now said. The demonstration was breaking up of its own accord, and departing protesters filed past the firehouse bearing placards reading "No War" and "The World Says No to War." The war in question was the looming conflict with Iraq. The protesters seemed to have forgotten we are already at war whether they like it or not with those who murdered 10 men of this firehouse, along with almost 3,000 firefighters, police officers, paramedics and civilians in downtown Manhattan. This is the war that had much of our city in fear all week. Your first impulse was to side with the prime object of the protest, President Bush. You then remembered encountering a firefighter's widow last month in the parish hall at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Far Rockaway. She wondered aloud why Bush was so obsessed with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein while terrorist mastermind Osama Bin Laden remains at large. "Is there something I missed?" she asked. Since then, much of our city has been in increasing fear of another attack by Bin Laden. Sign of the times As the last of the protesters headed home yesterday, Engine 8 and Ladder 2 remained ready to respond to whatever comes, along with Esposito and Purtell and all the others who were rightly called heroes after Sept. 11, 2001. They will do so without all the equipment they so clearly require. While our nation gears up for war with Iraq, our city still has not received the millions in federal funds we need to defend ourselves in the war that too often seems forgotten by everyone but those who live in its constant shadow. Meanwhile, the feds advise us to buy duct tape, and protesters on E. 53rd St. call firefighters fascists and we can only pray the worst already happened 17 months ago. |
I don't know about other parts of the country, but when Los Angeles has it's riots (er....uprisings), a favorite acitivity is to shoot at the firefighters that show up to deal with the arson.
Our War Against terrorism is Against Bin Laden not Hussein.
Here, let me help. Our war against terror is against Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Al Queda, Hezzbolah, Hamas, etc.. They are all trying to kill us.
Hope that helps.
5.56mm
"Why would GWB attack Iraq? Our War Against terrorism is Against Bin Laden not Hussein."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
One doesn't have to be a mental giant to connect the dots. One DOES need the ability to rid themselves of sheeple wool though....
But of course, like their namesakes....sheeple all speak the same language. B_A_H, B_A_H, B_A_H............................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.