Friday Events (Seattle Forward)

October 05, 2008

Friday Events

I attended two events last Friday related to public safety.

One event honored firefighters who have given their lives in service in our city. The event was held at the fallen firefighter memorial in Occidental Park near Pioneer Square. Three names were added to the memorial list: Battalion Chief James Scragg and Firefighters Tim Heelen and Nate Ford. There are now 34 firefighters memorialized. I was honored to meet the widows of Chief Scragg and Firefighter Ford.

Scragg, Heelen and Ford lost their lives in the line of duty but not in a manner we typically expect. All three died from the effects of long careers as firefighters—cancer and heart failure. Friday's memorial service was a reminder of the deadly impact fire fighting can inflict over a lifetime.

The other Friday event recognized two police officers and a civilian police employee who had gone the extra mile in helping victims of domestic violence. There are few crimes that cause such widespread impact, injury, fear, and community damage. Domestic violence is both an intensely personal crime and a crime against the soul of our city. October is DV awareness month.

Posted by Tim Burgess on October 05, 2008 at 03:07 PM in Public Safety | Permalink

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Burgess Bookshelf

Snyder, Timothy: Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary
This book, along with Snyder's earlier, On Tyranny, is packed full of useful policy ideas that can help rebuild our country. Snyder's understanding of the rising threat of authoritarianism is exactly what needs to be understood today, coupled with his diagnosis of how we have failed to support all of the people of America.
Putnam, Robert D.: The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
Here's a hope filled historical review of how America has made itself more inclusive and equitable and can do it again. Very encouraging.
Sacks, Jonathan: Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times
Rabbi Sacks' book is essential reading, in my opinion, especially now when freedom is under such attack. His wisdom fills every page, his defense of liberal democracy is compelling.
Epstein, David: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
This is a compelling and great read. I love it since I'm a generalist.
McCaulley, Esau: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
While the white Christian church, especially evangelicalism, was the dominant influence in my family of origin and my youth, I've learned so much more recently from the Black church. McCaulley's book is a very good introduction to Black theology and biblical interpretation.
Yglesias, Matthew: One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger
A critical thinker and blogger, Yglesias lays out a vision for America that is more inclusive and equitable; includes good sections on early learning and the crucial value of immigration.
Thomas E. Ricks: Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
This book examines the lives and efforts of two men who never met each other but who helped save democracy leading up to and during World War II. Another much read for those who are worried about the American condition today.
Timothy Snyder: The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
From the author of "On Tyranny" comes another pithy look at how freedom and democracy can be destroyed from within.
Greg Weiner: American Burke: The Uncommon Liberalism of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (American Political Thought)
Fascinating account of the former New York Senator; good friend and colleague of our own Senator Henry Jackson.
Steven Levitsky & Daniel Liblatt: How Democracies Die
This is a must read for people concerned about the future of our democracy. One of their main points is that democracies begin to fail when the norms of civil discourse and the rule of law begin to crumble. We are seeing that happen before our very eyes today.