Expensive heroes

Re “Rescue’s rewards,” editorial, Dec. 23

Although I admire the skills, training, preparation and zest for life exhibited by the three Mt. Hood climbers, and others like them who push the envelope in extreme sports, rescue efforts after things go awry should not be provided by public agencies funded by taxpayer dollars. These heroic efforts must be borne by the private sector, and changes should be made in the rules of engagement for publicly supported agencies.

My heart goes out to those loved ones left behind, and I salute the unpaid brave men and women volunteers who are both caring and courageous enough to risk their own lives to help a fallen comrade.

NELSON MURPHY

Lake Forest

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As much as I wanted to believe your hypothesis that this urge to help “represents the better part of ourselves,” I believe that for a lot of these folks, the urge to help is solely an ego-driven need to be hero worshipped. The true hero works without fanfare. The true hero does not parade 364 days of the year in T-shirts (indicating their exalted status as firefighters or members of a search and rescue team.

Hero worship runs rampant in this country. These folks deserve our thanks for doing what they do, but let’s stop fooling ourselves about the reasons why many of them do it.

BILLY MANGE

Redlands

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People who engage in such risky activities don’t seem to acknowledge that their sport may cause others great risk and expense. In the Mt. Hood search, it wasn’t as if a child or casual hiker had gotten lost, or a natural disaster happened to people who weren’t prepared.

These are people who essentially dare nature and take great risks. If their risk doesn’t pan out, others end up paying for their “adventure.” While not going after them doesn’t seem right, neither does the great expense to save folks who delight in daring death.

HAROLD TUCHEL

Waterloo, Iowa