This letter is in response to Mona Charen’s column of Dec. 30. Ms. Charen praised the male heroes of Sept. 11 and questioned the value of women as strong heroes. I have the utmost respect for all of the firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who have always been heroes of mine. I also deeply respect Mayor Giuliani, a leader among all of us.
Ms. Charen said she wasn’t sure if women firefighters were a good idea. As a firefighter, my sister worked along side the men in her unit and did the same work as they did. She was not given an easier path because of being a woman. In fact, she had to prove that she was up to the task, and then some.
Not all men, or all women, are capable of being firefighters or police officers. That does not lessen those men’s virility, nor does it mean that the ranks of firefighters and police officers should be free of women. Many were saved on Sept. 11 because of men and women heroes who gave up their lives.
The column also mentioned how Mayor Giuliani was admired for his virtues of command, authority, competence and leadership. Due to the tone of the column, it appeared that those qualities were male dominated ones. All of those virtues, however, are deeply ingrained in the good mothers and fathers I know. Mayor Giuliani did an outstanding job because he is Rudy Giuliani, not due to his gender.
It has taken a long time for women to compete equally for jobs, such as firefighters, police officers and newspaper columnists.
Let’s be proud of all the heroes in our nation, no matter what their gender.
Everett
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