I know that it was just Bill Manning`s opinion about the heroics that the firefighter took upon himself to jump in after a woman who jumped to take her own life, but in my opinion that decision was foolish. I feel Manning is giving a false message that it is okay to put your life at risk without considering your own safety. Haven`t you heard the phrase, “You should be part of the solution, not part of the problem”?
I feel that firefighters can be heroes without risking their own lives. That is our job! Manning talks about a radio talk show host getting phone calls saying that the firefighter was “crazy and dangerous.” Well, was he? Why wasn`t the same amount of recognition given to the boaters downstream who pulled them both to safety? Because they weren`t firefighters? Because they didn`t jump 13 stories to save anybody? They were just as heroic as the firefighter, but they aren`t being recognized in the editorial.
Manning`s putting the message across that [firefighters] should just act when an emergency comes across their path without thinking just to become a hero in his eyes is absurd…. He also stated that he would take one Dan Santos over a thousand firefighters who are concerned with their safety. I don`t think those thousand firefighters will agree.
I understand that the events leading up to the rescue were heroic, and that`s “Manning`s opinion.” I feel that putting down the firefighters and the departments for being concerned with their safety is wrong, and that`s “my opinion.”
Don Parker
Captain
Las Vegas (NV) Fire Department
