A Call to Do More Than Vote From a Volunteer Firefighter

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Kai Ostrow as a member of Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue working to clean up a dump.

Kai Ostrow as a member of Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue working to clean up a dump. [Photo by Kym Kemp]

By all means, GO VOTE TODAY.

Just please don’t let that be the extent of your civic duty.

Support your local businesses and organizations. Grill some salmon for Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice, answer phones for KMUD or CLMP, lend a hand with the Eel River Cleanup Crew. Glutton for volunteer punishment? Consider joining your local VFD and the Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue Team. Learn to look for and recognize injustice, and when you do; be loud, fight for change. Do something to make this world what you want it to be. Your vision of what that looks like may be very different than mine, but I guarantee they have more in common with each other than the dystopian future the moneyed and powerful are working towards.

America needs the hands of her citizens on the tiller.

Kai Ostrow

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11 Comments
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Dan Fuller
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Dan Fuller
5 years ago

Very, well said sir!!!

eel river
Guest
eel river
5 years ago

Nothing but respect for you, Kai.

CoveTroll
Guest
CoveTroll
5 years ago

Tech rescue kicks ass! This portion of humboldt should be very blessed to have this team. They are volunteers from other fire depts who put in a LARGE amount of time on training and real life rescues. No, they are not paid.

Tony Nester
Guest
Tony Nester
5 years ago

💙

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
5 years ago

Right on, Kai. A riff on what Dave Brower said: an activist can be an uncomfortable neighbor but is a great ancestor. Everybody who has the presence of mind and the courage to be unpopular can make a difference.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
5 years ago

Thanks Kai

If it is true that serving your fellow man is the price you pay for the life you get, Southern Humboldt’s First Responders deserve a great life. What would we do without these folks?

Not everyone can qualify to be a first responder, but if you are inclined to be one please give it a try. I can truly say that it was the best gig of my life, and I miss it greatly.

Support your local first responders!

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Anyone can serve up food at a fund raiser. Lots of opportunities. Answer phones. Organize meets.

George
Guest
George
5 years ago

Kai, I respect what you said & what you do.

Scott Bliss
Guest
Scott Bliss
5 years ago

Been seeing a lot about Bobby Kennedy here on the anniversary of his assasination . He spoke so elegantly about service to your country and community. Kai , you’re in good company.

robin
Guest
robin
5 years ago

Thanks for doing what you do and caring to do it well. I also know you are in good company.

Taurus Ballzhoff
Guest
Taurus Ballzhoff
5 years ago

Please also recognize the service of those working in your hospitals, police departments, sheriff deputies and everyone else who devotes their lives to caring for others.