Though i tried to refrain from participating in this thread, especially when it was sent on a tangent totally irreverent to the thread, but as you guys have started it, i think i do have a right to add something:
Ever heard of the risks of exposure to HIV, hepatitis, etc. etc.?
Try resuscitating one of these patients and then tell me what you think.
On an average, how many doctors/nurses die or get paralyzed from dealing with such diseases? As compared to a uniformed personnel (including those standing as gatekeepers and chowkidars) who are at risk even when they are sleeping, eating, traveling even when they are on leave.
Actually, the chances of exposure of the dedicated staff to a deadly disease in a major hospital in Pakistan are FAR higher than that of an avalanche in the northern areas.
I suspect that the chances of a guard guarding a bank in Karachi these days being shot at are higher than being at a border post, but I am not sure.
How can the risk be greater when one is supposed to use protective gear as part of his profession/duty (masks, gloves, controlled environment etc) ofcourse if one fails to take necessary protective measures, it is the individual or at the max the organization he works for that can be blamed for either being negligent if it's an individual or in case of the organization, failure to enforce stricter rules due to shortage of funds or whatever.
Whereas, you want to compare them to those for whom things such as protective gear, prevention or even strict SOPs have no meaning and thus cannot guarantee their safety.
Though i agree that an epidemic might be more lethal than war, but hey, are we going to compare viruses that can affect an handful men/women (what would be the max number of people who are actually involved in dealing with such dangerous things at any point of time the world over?) with millions who stand in the line of fire 24/7 every time they move from point A to B to fetch a bucket of water (mines/IED threat), move in a convoy, stand guard at a post, sleep in their tents, and now a days even their homes, form a gathering even though it was for a casual talk?
Here, let me give you an example, when i was at Siachen, the second post i got sent to lay on a very sharp gradient of the mountain. Every time one of us had to use the so called bathroom, we had to
repel a rope (if you know what i mean, with the D rings tied to you and stuff) and then make a sprint just before entering the jerry can walled bathroom because the indian sniper effectively covered a 6-feet-wide gap (as viewed from the enemy's side) which existed between the gully and the bathroom because of the configuration of the ground and finally, if you were successful in crossing the Pul-e-Siraat and dodging a sniper's bullet, you had to empty your balder while standing on slippery as hell ice (not snow) floor while you held/tied a rope on one of your arms, because there was no commode but a hole dug in the ice through which your crown jewels either from your balder or bowels dropped down in the abyss that ended at the foothills of the mountain you were occupying - a little slip and the next thing you would see after a fall of approx 400 feet was your head drowning inside your own shyt at the base of the mountain - that is, if you are still alive when you fall down from 400 feet.
Seriously, you guys want to compare these condition with a guy clad in a lab court, wearing a gas mask and hand covered in gloves which are working behind a barrier of glass?
No sir, i dont think so.
Exactly correct.
And also why to claim that soldiers are somehow superior because of their job is wrong. After all, being a soldier is another job that serves the nation, just like other jobs do too.
NO ONE IS SUPERIOR TO ANYONE!!!!
Everyone has its own job to dwell upon. Some have it by choice, others have them enforced upon them because of circumstances. A guy cleaning windows over a sky scrapper is also at risk, and so is the one who changes your light bulbs when they blow up, but for someone who despite of having a choice to join a profession that was more stable, predictable and easy, decides to wear a uniform knowing fully well that just after 2 years (of training), he will be landing in a war zone (FATAville) and might get killed, i think he deserves a little respect, no?
Let's start with Civilians. Starting with Peshawar BDS Hakim khan and entire team of officials working there. DIG Safwat Ghayyaur lead his men from front and died while leading his man from front. DSP died in a suicide in Peshawar while he was inspecting Imam barha security. Then Intelligence Bureau low level officials. Special branch and the list goes on!
Ok, thankyou mafiya for bringing this up.
i apologize from my readers as even though i wanted to honor every men and women who adorns a uniform (Police, FC, Rangers etc) in my article, i just couldnt do it because of the limitation of space and the bounds of the topic.
Why do you think i added about this Police chap who was patrolling till 4 in the morning alongwith his DSP and was still made to guard the mosque, even though Mr Fazal Mehmood had been spared at 0200 hours?
Who do you think was at loss here, the Police chap who was up all night or the Army soldier who atleast was able to sleep for 2 hours?
The aim was to remember these unsung heroes that include but are not limited to our Police Force, doctors/NGOs who work inside hostile territory, those public transport guards who stand in Daewoo buses in an ever worsening law and order situation, those traffic Police walas who stand wearing a stupid mask and still smokes all that shytty exhaust coming from the vehicles, those bus drivers who safely transport people through KKH and those bank guards who gets robbed every day.
But as i mentioned that it was not possible for me to includes all of their stories in my piece, i sincerely hope you guys will forgive me.