Chuckle Bros by Brian and Ron Boychuk for October 23, 2009

so ned is a hoser

Many thanks to the volunteer firefighters who showed up at the conflagration across the street from my house yesterday. Nice to see so many active volunteers in my community.

As a Volunteer Firefighter I think this is a great way to wrap up Volunteer Service Week. We have 52 of them every year and are happy to serve.

I actually thought this was a sarcastic commentary on the fact that it takes 30 years of volunteer firefighting to be recognized. Seeing how volunteerism has been glorified in a lot of the comics this week, lauding people for giving a week of their time, I now just find it sad.

Xrystalia

Sarcastic? The joke (pun) is in the wording of banner not in anything that’s being said. I think someone’s being a bit sensitive. Others who commented didn’t have a problem. Not even the firefighter.

Well, jt… I did misread the sign, so that explains why I didn’t get the pun… thank you for explaining it to me. Guess my brain registered what it THOUGHT it should say and I focused on what was being said.

Had I gotten the joke, it probably would never have crossed my mind to consider what it takes to volunteer 30 years when many only manage one week a year, if that. (I’m not criticizing people who don’t volunteer! I’m pointing out length of time to recognize long-term volunteers.)

However, had I been right, I think my “sensitivity” would have been warranted and that you still probably wouldn’t have heard a complaint from our humble volunteer firefighters. It’s not like I was seething with offense, just saddened by the irony.

But I was wrong, so the point is moot. :0)

As a former volunteer firefighter in a small town, recognition does not come from years of service, heroic deeds, compilation of points, or how shiny the 1928 Pirisch truck looks. I am happy to say I never won any awards. But in my years of service it is the most gratifying feeling to be with the friends I’d helped in any situation. And in some of my own situations, I never even had to ask for help. We’ve had some fires, floods, and thank God, nothing as bad as an earthquake. Rewards are not suitable for framing in my opinion. Sure, I don’t have to pay for a cup of coffe at the grill, or sometimes a local merchant will say, “Get outta here “when I stand in line to pay for merchandise. It is part and parcel of the fabric that made this country what it is; and we’re losing it. People helping people is not a lost wax method. It exists. All around us

. Mass media only shows itself as the term implies,when it needs to. ‘Yellow Journalism’ hasn’t been used in many years because it would taint the industry. (Perish and forbid). Pot calling the kettle…… But think about all the time spent wandering about with the likes of a Hilton,Spears,Lohan or any of their ilk.

Obama wants to start a volunteerism campaign, he’s about 40 years behind in his wiseass contributions to the overall renovation of this country. Mr. Peace-Prize is a check writing champ who has never wriiten or passed a bill in any legislature on this planet. I , as a U.S Navy Veteran, cringe when I see our Marines salute a commander -in chief who has no idea what the military is all about. Get back to the basics! Undocumented=Illegal Bailing out the rich=Deception 40,000 more troops=VietNam Healthcare=Smokescreen I think all hats should go of to all those who volunteer for any good cause. My heart is with the fire service, but Kudos to all. Most of all, I think what is wrong with this country is the media. They have such a lack of a primary virtue that most of the good dead reporters are probably trying to spin up to the surface and just beat the living bleeep INTO them. In the hope that two negative forces will at least bring their sorry asses to earth. But I digress, it’s been a long day helping a neighbor rebuild his porch after a drunk councilman ran ito it last night.

Adieu,

MD