Today is Memorial Day, and at its heart, this whole time is about honoring the sacrifice so many make. We owe a debt of gratitude and thanks to all those that put their lives on the line, in military service and as first responders.
Recently, in some open comments, there are those in Falmouth who are upset over the post we made on Saturday. We wanted to clarify our position on a few things, and then we wanted to inform everyone out there with more information on Tuesday’s exposé on the NPFD.
News agencies have a traditional responsibility to inform the public, expose corruption, and report on the news, even if it stirs emotions, even if it stirs anger, and even if it stirs dissent. For years, news agencies have become the harbinger of stories that tow the line and lead people in one direction. For those in the cheap seats on your pillars of superiority, that means bias.. The news has been biased. One news agency that has been biased is the Falmouth Outlook, for instance. You cannot rebuild a community when the influential pretend nothing is wrong, while the rest of the community is divided on why Falmouth is considered a cesspool and why it fights progress like a hammer to a nail.
We were asked by more than one whisperer to bring awareness to the camper being washed at the Falmouth Fire Department. Based on the comments, some feel it was a waste of money, some felt it was a needless waste of an article, some felt offended as if we were criticizing first responders, and others felt as if we are just shit stirring a pot. We are going to report on whispers, and we try to do this without expressing our own sentiments. As if I am whispering in my own ear, I am going to loudly report our position at The Falmouth Whisper.
We respect all of those serving, those who are veterans, those who have lost their lives, and those who serve as first responders and serve the community. Personally, I feel there should be compensation for those who do not get paid, specifically firefighters. Personally, I think that the water may not have been that big of a deal. Personally, I think a lot of things. Most of all though, as I often do, I look deeper when I am reporting and researching.
We are talking about organizations as a whole that are rotten in places. While the water may not have been a big deal, what about the wasted tax dollars when “Overnight VIP’s,” to be as politically correct as possible, are allowed to stay at the firehouse when they should not? Is that okay too? Is that some of the compensation we are talking about?
Bringing attention to a camper that needs washed is a lot like bringing attention to a firehouse that may need washed as well. Especially when a certain fire chief likes to do position hopping so that he can influence the city and elected officials. That was the fastest transition I have ever seen: firefighter to council, to resting, and then back to chief. Sometimes our stories are meant to make people uncomfortable, to bring attention to things that may just be on the underside.
So for the everyday firefighter that places his or her life and time on the line, we have the utmost respect. For the first responder who goes into danger all the time, we commend you and wish continually we could award you in multiple ways. That does not excuse a foundation that may be blighted. That does not excuse underhanded corruption.
Tuesday, we release the first edition of an exposé on the Northern Pendleton Fire District. Multiple whistleblowers have tested our capacity with information on how this fire department needs more help than you know: multiple OSHA violations, blocked public records requests, accidents where the fault is carelessness and not following their training, fires that were handled haphazardly, and many more. Tuesday afternoon, we are interviewing a firefighter who has been disrespected and neglected by NPFD. Doing what he was supposed to do, fighting fire and saving lives.
Corruption is not pretty. It is insidious. It hides in the cracks and the shadows. It becomes “just how it is.” It is aided by those who turn a blind eye. The Falmouth Whisper will not turn a blind eye and will not turn a deaf ear. Once again, this should be a day of honor for those who have sacrificed their lives, those who have served, and those who serve the community by sacrificing their lives every day.
As long as the whispers exist, The Falmouth Whisper will bring them to life – exposing corruption, bringing history and facts, notifying from the water cooler of whispers, and overall inspiring people to discuss and express their opinions. All of this is to inspire change.
Whisper One, Out.