Mr. Aram Barsoumian is an articulate writer, but his opinion seems
misinformed at best, and bitter at worst. "Not speaking Armenian is a
fire hazard"! In your own words, that is pure "basturma." Bologna is
the same in any language.
If my hillside, home or family were at risk, I could care less
which country of origin my rescuer was from. Being from a multiethnic
family with three generations of men in firefighting, I cannot fathom
your inflammatory letter of Feb. 18.
I know that the Glendale Fire Department and the Arroyo Seco Fire
Academy are open to all qualified students and potential recruits.
The Fire Department and the Academy represent all members of our
community who are dedicated enough to qualify and complete the
program. Across the nation, there are thousands of men and women who
have been on waiting lists to be accepted into this noble career.
Being a firefighter is not just a career, it is a calling.
Choosing this life comes from the heart and soul. These men and women
sacrifice their lives, on 24-hour shifts, to keep your life and
property safe. How many hours a day do you put in, Aram?
They are away from family and friends on any given holiday. In
times of disaster, they are required to leave their own families and
homes to protect that of total strangers. When not out on a call,
they are checking on equipment, surveying hillside brush and doing
the same things they come home to, e.g., mowing lawns, cleaning
detail and a multitude of other tasks. Your comment on the
"overnourishment" of the department is too simple-minded to even
dispute.
These men and women are trained to work as a team. This means
their survival in a fire. Although they are civil servants, it is
much like the military in times of war. They have to look after each
other and depend on each other. They are required to get up all hours
of the night to respond to calls ranging from a burning house to a
mom who has called 911 over her 2-year-old's bleeding nose. Some are
major, some are not, but they still respond. We all sleep better
knowing that they are there in a heartbeat.
I don't that think you are giving our young Armenian men and women
enough credit. Like all of Glendale kids, they are our future heroes.
PATTI KELLEY
Glendale
