Who do you respect?Few times in our nation’s recent history have we seen such a blatant grab for political power and an utter disregard for how political decisions by the “few” are going to play out in the lives of the “many.” I am a college professor and last Tuesday I had the honor of protesting at the State House with, for the most part, firefighters. It was a very emotional experience for me, as these firefighters have a job that involves risking their lives for my family and me. However, these same firefighters are being treated with complete disrespect by Governor Kasich and his band of politicians who are supporting the power grab inherent in Senate Bill 5.
By Governor Kasich not even having the courtesy to ask for opinions or input from firefighters, Governor Kasich has disrespected these individuals. Governor Kasich, I would urge you to talk with the firefighters, as I did on Tuesday. It will become quite clear to you that that they are intelligent, brave, hardworking people. They deserve to have a say in their future and the future of their families.
Now it is one thing to make cuts in economic support for a profession, it is quite a different matter to try and take away the dignity of those in a profession. What has really struck me is the extent to which Senate Bill 5 has made people feel a sense of worthlessness; so many people I speak with feel that they have been singled out as scapegoats and that their work is not valued. One of the protests signs carried by a demonstrator stated “2001 heroes, 2011 zeros”....we’ve come a long way since 9/11.
Well my friends I am afraid we are in for a fight, and it’s time to bring back that feeling of honor and respect we once had for police and firefighters after 9/11. What really comforted me after that terrible event was the Who playing “We won’t get fooled again” at the concert for New York City. I remember Pete Townsend bowing to the firefighters and police officers in the audience and saying, “It is an honor to play for you this evening.” It would be best for the Governor and those politicians who have aligned themselves with him to take notice that we won’t get fooled again and in the Governor’s own words, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
The Who playing “We won’t get fooled again” at the concert for New York City.
(More info on the true political motives behind Senate Bill 5 is here.)
Meet the new boss....same as the old boss.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that really gets me frustrated is the way in which conservatives try to lay claim to supporting our public safety and military communities. They constantly evoke the flag and country and use the propaganda of patriotism to energize their base, but when it comes right down to financial support of these folks the conservatives time and time again tell them to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps".
It is this blatant hypocrisy that infuriates me to no end and it is made that much worse when I see these people who have been screwed stand next to the people who screwed them. It is a mystery to me how this continues to happen time and time again in our history.