My name is Kevin, I'm a NYC Firefighter. Regarding what you wrote, we didn't want any of the press after 9/11, all we wanted to do was go into that pile and dig out our fellow citizens and brothers. We didn't go looking for that press, just like we don't look for negative press against us. We didn't put our selves on any pedestal, the press did and when they got tired of the story, they pulled it right out from under us. We don't want your adulation, your thanks, or your respect. All we look for is for our brothers to pat us on the back and tell us we did a good job when we are finished working. We do ask for fare wages so we don't have to work a second job to support our families, because that's all that matters to us, that we come home safely to them. I'm not gonna curse you out, because I'm sure you've had enough of that on this site, and it's probably the response you want, so I won't stoop down to your level. All I know is I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I see, and the people who matter most to me see the same thing. I don't hide behind an anonymous website and trash peoples lively hoods because I'm jealous, only cowards do that. I wonder what you see when you look in the mirror?

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I don’t disagree with your comments about fair wages, in fact, I agree you do deserve to be paid very well.  At least as well as a military soldier or police officer. 

 I also agree you didn’t ask for media hype, but politicians looking for a photo op used you and your image to gain a buck and some political credit, but you know that already.

Read what I wrote, again, carefully.  I praised the FDNY for their role on 911.  I was critical of the many people who I see even in other parts of the country sporting FDNY gear and stickers.  Even if you don’t consider yourselves “heroes” some people do, and you should be able to understand how that can come off as annoying.

 Really, I re-read what I wrote and I can’t see anything that you should object to.  I was generally complimentary of the role of your job and the good work you did on 9/11.  I was critical about bandwagoners, merchandisers and other low class people who have warped that day into a publicity shoot.

 Also, I don’t know how your station is run, but in other parts of the country a fire house is the same as a frat house.  I have friends and family who are firemen and while they are hard workers, I can see that many of the firemen there have one goal in mind: to use being a fireman to get laid.  These are generally guys who didn’t go to college but are trying to capture the college lifestyle, I don’t blame them for that.  But what I do object to is a random firefighter in Florida trying to use 9/11 and the FDNY as an excuse to why he should get his bar tab taken care or any other special treatment. 

 If you still object to something in specific that offends you after you re-read, please let me know what it is, because frankly your comments were general and it doesn’t seem like you thought about what I was saying.  You just heard “anti-FDNY” and blinders went up.  I’ll be more than happy to address them.

Lastly, my website is far from anonymous.  In fact, its about as far from it as possible.  I posted my picture, and I posted my address, heck a tiny bit of research could find you my name and telephone number.  If I’m hiding behind my website, I’m doing quite a poor job.  Also, I'm not a coward and I'm not jealous, and while I am glad you are an amateur psychologist in your free time, please leave it to the professionals.