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Thursday, January 19, 2017

A Lesson in Brotherhood

It doesn’t matter if it’s in Iran or in Iowa—a building collapse that kills firefighters elicits the same profound response from the universal brotherhood that unites all firefighters.

Mahmoud Hosseini/Tasnim News Agency/Reuters
Firefighters live with the knowledge that death in the line of duty is a shadow over every work shift. They go on about their vitally important work with a tacit acceptance of the ever-present danger. When that ghostly danger becomes hard reality, as it did today in Tehran, we are all reminded of how much gratitude that we—the collective humanity of Earth—owe to these brave souls.

If everyone lived as firefighters do—dedicated and devoted to their calling, caring and compassionate of others, in a fraternal union with all of their colleagues—there is no doubt that the world would be a much better place. Thank you to all of them—worldwide.