Peggy Noonan: Courage Under Fire

Opinion Journal ^ | 10/05/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

Forgive me. I'm going to return to a story that has been well documented the past few weeks, and I ask your indulgence. So much has been happening, there are so many things to say, and yet my mind will not leave one thing: the firemen, and what they did.

[KantianBurke]

Wow.

[KantianBurke]

Dude u gotta read this

[Arthur McGowan]

Of course, Peggy is that poet.

[L,TOWM]

Thank you for this post.

[cactusSharp]

one needs to know that as surely as a mother and father raised great FIREMEN,the same raised a grat WOMAN in Peggy Noonan. Sometimes the eyes can read and understand what the eyes see and do not. God bless you Peggy Noonan.

[Phaedrus]

Everyone died as the person they were...
The firemen were rough repositories of grace.

Moving. Powerful. Peggy has outdone herself.

[xlib]

If you read this, and tears don't well up in your eyes, check for a pulse.

Until now I had seen the men who fought for control of the airliner as the greatest heroes of this war so far; but it doesn't take anything away from what they did to recognize that they were trapped, while the firemen chose the danger.

[Pokey78]

Ping

[Republic of Texas]

I think we found our poet for this generation and her name is Peggy Noonan.

[okie01]

...."Of course, Peggy is that poet."....

Peggy was moved.

And she moved me.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Peggy Noonan should learn about our own BCM - Chief Moran! And she should also learn about our own Chief Negotiator and his last POST! (About his desire to re-up as a Marine - but was told he was too old).

[.38sw]

Another marvel by Peggy Noonan.

[RobFromGa]

Another great Noonan essay.

Remember that there are firemen in each of our communities across the USA who would do the same for us if duty were to call closer to home. They are on the front-lines and have placed themselves in harms way by becoming a fireman.

They are all heroes, along with our policemen and our soldiers because they risk their lives and they don't know when they will be called to do their duty, and maybe lose their life in the process. Money cannot possibly buy that bravery. But they should at least know that we are grateful. The least we can do is tell them that we appreciate what they do for us.

[ikka]

But Love has pitched his mansion in
The place of excrement;
For nothing can be sole or whole
That has not been rent.

This is what I think of when I think of the firemen.

[onyx]

Peggy writes from her heart with her head. She is without peer.

[Taxman]

Must read bump. A keeper! Thanks for posting.

[go_avs]

We still make men like that. We're still making their kind. Then that must be who we are.

This might be the most profound essay I've read yet about 911. I have no doubt there were similarly brave and heroic police officers, EMTs, military personnel, and civilians (think of the heroes on Flight 93) that day in addition to the firemen. I also have no doubt there will be equally heroic acts required and delivered by other Americans before al Qu'eda and it's ilk are smashed and smoldering ruins (which they must and will become).

[BillF]

Great post. Noonan at her best. Words are inadequate to convey the braveness of the rescuers, but they will have to do.

To find some good in the horror, Americans will began to realize that, however skilled or entertaining they are, althetes, movie & TV stars, and rock stars are NOT heroes.

The true heroes are those fire fighers, police, EMT, and military who take a solemn pledge to go into harm's way to protect us, our freedoms, and our beloved country. All too many paid with their lives when they made good on that promise on Sept. 11.

God bless them, their families, victims and families. God bless America!

[pgkdan]

We don't need a poet Peggy...we have you and you're a wonderful poet. This is beautiful.