Probie Wife’s Explosive Charge: ‘Racist’ FDNY Killed My Husband; Training Targeted Minorities

My first awakening that blacks were lazy despite being more physically stronger came from watching the first series of Survivor. Two teams had to compete in a relay race. Everyone on one team said their chances of winning was good because one team member ( a black male ) was a very physically fit coach. All team members started running and continued running, exhausting themselves even when out of sight from their team members. Well except for the black who was much more fit than the others. As soon as he was out of sight he started walking. Now after studying black behavior I realize that the Survivor incident was the norm.

The article doesn’t make it clear that more strenuous drills were used. This seems to be the claim made by the lawyer.

If more strenuous physical tests were used, were they only required for minorities? If it’s true and can be proven, they have a case. If whites and minorities had to undergo the same challenges, then the charge is groundless.

“FDNY instructor ordered other trainees not to help Sears as he died before their eyes.”

These types of deaths are all too common in rigorous physical challenges. There should be better oversight of people who collapse during such drills to see if they’re simply exhausted or if they’re in life-threatening distress.

I’m sorry, this doesn’t pass the smell test. With NYC’s commitment to diversity, it seems they would relax the standards so more minorities could pass, not make them more stringent. Could it be they relaxed the medical entrance standards and he wasn’t in fact medically qualified to perform the prescribed physical fitness tests?

What must it be like to go through your whole life in a state of utter paranoia regarding your race? When every incident in life can be attributed to some manner of discrimination, seen or unseen, like some sort of dark-age belief in evil “spirits” and demons? I suppose it is convenient in many ways to have this built-in excuse for every misfortune that may befall one. But the neurosis of that constant paranois must also take its toll in various ways. No wonder Blacks are such dysfunctional and often unhealthy people.

Of all the preposterous claims I’ve ever seen made in a lawsuit, those made here have to be the most nonsensical.

For one thing, if “more than one-third” of the recruits were black, Hispanic, Asian or female, that still leaves nearly two thirds White males — unless there’s some third category we’re not being made aware of. Presumably the White males have to do the same training exercises all the others do — including carrying 100 pounds a given distance in a short period of time. As a matter of fact, if FDNY didn’t have that exercise before this year, it certainly should have. I find it hard to believe that the department didn’t have the carrying training before; I believe it’s SOP in firefighter training, world-wide.

Claiming that a training instructor “ordered the other recruits not to assist Sears as he died before their eyes” sounds to me like a stretching of the truth to the breaking point by the wife’s lawyer. And besides, is she suggesting that the instructor has the power of life and death over these recruits? If they could have helped him, doesn’t she think that some of them at least would have defied the instructor’s order and done so? As to the EMTs taking “more than 15 minutes to reach the Fire Academy on Randalls Island,” the academy may have been negligent in not having emergency personnel on hand just in case of sudden injury or illness. But wouldn’t the White male recruits have been just as vulnerable in their absence as the others?

Sounds to me like Sears’ wife has hired one dumb lawyer.

First, the aptitude tests are too difficult, now the physical tests are discriminatory, too. Black firefighters just can’t catch a break. What exactly are on these tests, anyway? In St. Louis, part of the Fire Department aptitude test was leaked. A sample question went something like this: a fire hydrant is 90 feet from a fire. If hoses come in 30 foot sections, how many sections are needed to reach from the hydrant to the fire? This was not a trick question. The answer was 3 {90 divided by 30 is 3}. I think if the requirements were widely known, these plaintiffs would be laughingstocks. Or maybe this is just wishful thinking.

First written tests are to difficult, now basic physical tests to hard, what next, having someone else fill out their applications as not to put a strain on their eyes? I just wonder if the “EMS” that was slow on showing up were “Affrimative Action” hires.

Let’s say that the allegations brought by Mrs. Sears are true. Aren’t blacks supposed to be better athletes in general? I would think they’d be able to handle the extra stress.

My favorite “Survivor” episode was the one where this Northeast Asian engineer gave a car he had won to a Black male contestant, in the hope that the Black would give him the “Immunity Idol” when he needed it.

When the time came for the Black to return the favor, he chose NOT to give the Idol to the engineer. That one episode totally reflected what Blacks do America.

Contrast that to “The Amazing Race” where these Korean guys attempted to keep as many of the contestants in the running.

It seems that some Blacks and all Liberals will stop at nothing until every single public service is degraded to the lowest common denominator, simply to allow unqualified Minorities in. God help those in Cities who bend to the will of these groups, for their lives truly will be in danger whenever the Fire Department or EMT’s are needed.

An idiot can find fault with the plaintiff’s argument, but it matters not, folks.

That New York is one of the most liberal cities in the country almost guarantees lawsuit success. No matter what happens, the city government will pay this woman handsomely.

The ghetto lottery is rarely, if every, denied a winner.

I have to laugh. wait until (blacks) creep into NASCAR with their demands for Equal Opportunity (without) Equal Ability, do you think they will say the rules are RACIST and stacked against them because the white guys all drive to fast for them to keep up?

Let’s say that the allegations brought by Mrs. Sears are true. Aren’t blacks supposed to be better athletes in general? I would think they’d be able to handle the extra stress.

Posted by Question Diversity at 8:24 PM on February 13

That is one of many stupid sterotypes that have been passed around in America. It’s been proven that a work out ethic and a strict adherence to excersize have to do with your physical abilities. The same way reading, studing, and writing have to do with increasing your mental abilities.

This woman is distressed that her husband died. Ive seen worse from people who lost love ones. So cut this woman some slack please.

This is the opening of the final assault on the NYC Fire Dept. It is the last standing institution that drives the elite left (almost all white) totally nuts. This is due to the fact that the Dept remains 90% plus WHITE MALE after campaign after campaign to diversify the Dept has been an utter failure. I believe the answer to this is that WHITE MALES are the ones who are most interested in this job. In NYC police, correction, and transit departments have almost all become multicult and diversity paradises. Just walk down 5th Ave at the height of the Christmas season when the area is flooded with cops and the collection of stumble bums and misfits dressed in police uniforms will astound you.

I guess if the recruits in New York only have to drag 100 pounds, they are not as strong as the police and fire recruits in Birmingham, who have to drag about 150 pounds for a short distance. This is to simulate getting a person away from danger. If you can’t do that, then you are out. I mean fire hoses and people are heavy, and the weak recruits have to be weeded out, because who wants to think the guy supposedly coming to save your life can’t even pull you out of a burning building?

“That is one of many stupid sterotypes that have been passed around in America. It’s been proven that a work out ethic and a strict adherence to excersize have to do with your physical abilities. The same way reading, studing, and writing have to do with increasing your mental abilities.” says Rational Thinker
_____________________

Laughably absurd and frankly irrational. You obviously never competed with or against any Blacks. How could anyone, anyone, think there is no physical difference between Blacks and Whites?

The article did not say the exercises were more stringent for minorities; it only said the exercises were more stringent than in the past. That sounds like a weak argument for racism, since in each case minorities and whites took the same test.

I know in the past some fire departments had relaxed the physical exercises to a point that they became a joke. They had lowered the standards so women could pass the test in greater numbers, and they lowered the written tests so more minorities could pass.

That New York is one of the most liberal cities in the country almost guarantees lawsuit success. No matter what happens, the city government will pay this woman handsomely.

I hope she wins, I have no more consideration for the city of NY than I do for the plight of blacks in Africa.

I have to laugh. wait until (blacks) creep into NASCAR with their demands for Equal Opportunity (without) Equal Ability, do you think they will say the rules are RACIST and stacked against them because the white guys all drive to fast for them to keep up?

Posted by T Rexx at 9:14 AM on February 14

As much as I could care less about NASCAR, when we see affirmative action taking hold in NASCAR, expect the death rate to go up as well. Driving fast vs. driving fast with skill are two different concepts. If the laws of nature have anything to say about it, there will be mayhem.

Does anybody else have a problem with the fact that this woman, who is clearly doing something dishonest and displaying a very low moral standard, is a police officer? What kind of judgement on the job would such a person have? Does she have any sense of right from wrong?

Laughably absurd and frankly irrational. You obviously never competed with or against any Blacks. How could anyone, anyone, think there is no physical difference between Blacks and Whites?

Posted by Victor Gerhard at 11:58 AM on February 14

So let me get this straight, working out, staying focused, and having steady diet have nothing to do with being strong. There are plenty of whites who can compete with blacks in many sports so dont tell me about differences.

What are trying to say blacks woke up one morning with muscles, fast speed, and really good at certain sports? Give me a break.

I guess the woman will get a settlement out of the case, I think that’s the way the city handles these things. I don’t think these cases go to trial often.

The bigger issue i think is that Sears was 33 yrs old and just going to the academy. It’s my opinion that a guy who is that age shouldn’t even be in the academy in the first place. He’s too old. his best years are behind him. The taxpayer is really getting a beating when a man that age is allowed to try to be a “firemen.” I guess with everything being as crazy as things are, you can’t even have a reasonable age cutoof. I remember in my Union, it was twenty seven. Anyone older than that isn’t going to give the taxpayer his moneys worth.

Tom Iron…

Was the recruit forced through this lethal physical training by threat of death or serious injury from his instructor?

Or was he - as i suspect - free to leave at any time?

blacks are better physically? why are all of our champion heavyweight boxers white? why are almost all tennis players, which is an exausting sport as any, white? how about hockey players, which is another equally exausting sport, white? how about our strong man contests? all white.

“This woman is distressed that her husband died. Ive seen worse from people who lost love ones. So cut this woman some slack please.”
Posted by rational thinker

Rational Thinker: We’re not talking about sympathy for this woman. We’re talking here about a lawsuit and its legal merits. That should be kept strictly apart from emotion. If you’re so rational you ought to be able to see that.

if the recruits in New York only have to drag 100 pounds, they are not as strong as the recruits in Birmingham, who have to drag about 150 …. who wants to think the guy supposedly coming to save your life can’t even pull you out of a burning building?
Posted by Anonymous
———————————————
Even then, that’s not much. How many adults weigh only 100 pounds or 150?

I suppose if you weigh over 150, may Heaven help you, because the fireman can’t!

Regardless if this was (as they claim) a new training procedure, I fail to see how there was any racial component, or discrimination involved — if EVERYBODY was taking the same test. The racial percentages are irrelevant.

Procedures and training methods change all the time. That means absolutely NOTHING, if everyone is treated equally. Some people will always find something to gripe about. Or to sue about.

Incidentally, I do notice that his wife is a city police officer. She knows the game. I wonder what sort of “police work” she does.

There are plenty of whites who can compete with blacks in many sports so dont tell me about differences.
Posted by rational thinker at 5:34 PM on February 14

Next time you are swimming in the ocean and get in trouble. I hope to prove your point on lack of physical differences between blacks and whites as correct, that you choose to do it in a AA ‘black only’ patroled lifeguard area.

Victor Gerhard,

I wouldn’t say I competed with blacks in sports. however, during my extremely physical career, I never saw one who could keep up with White or Red men physically speaking. The thing with our work was it was a combination of physical and mental agility and i think the mental aspect of the work was probably the difference maker. That’s why in my work (Structural Ironworker), to this day, there are no black connectors. That work is far out of their reach.

A thirty-three year old recruit; come on people. This man had a failure history of some sort, and his wife is Cop, all government all the time. And oh yes, if you can’t win the lottery by all means win a lawsuit.

“[Sears’s] wife is a city police officer.”

This is coming from somebody who, if given an average physical standards test, would fail miserably. She has no business being a cop.

Give her an assignment to wrestle an average size guy to the ground and she’d get her head whipped badly. In fact her and another female would get their heads whipped badly.

What she wants out of the FD and the PD is a physical test that favors all blacks and when they can’t do the work they’re paid to do, she’ll be screaming discrimination, because she’ll want more people to do what only one or two have always done in the past.

She hasn’t had to take anyone on by herself, but when she does and winds up being trounced and humiliated it will all be because the higher ups are racist and didn’t provide enough help for her.

To Rational Thinker,

I can understand your hesitance to believe that blacks have a physiological edge in athletic endeavors. Perhaps it’s the focus on their race that makes you uncomfortable.

However, it’s a very plausible concept. Consider if you will the anatomical differences discovered in the Sherpas, a race of people of Asian descent in the Nepal/Tibet areas.

The Sherpas (as a people) have never lived below an altitude of 12,000 feet. They live and work in the Himalayas, most notably as porters and guides on Mt. Everest.

Modern medicine has discovered that they have larger hearts than other people. Their lungs possess a capacity to extract oxygen from the ambient air (VO2 max) that no other people have. These medical facts explain their awesome power to perform physically at otherwise unsurvivable altitudes without supplemental oxygen.

Also consider similar medical discoveries made about Polynesian pearl divers. They can obtain and hold incredible depths while free-diving in the open ocean, at a point where other divers would exhaust their lung capacity and/or suffer “the bends.”

Closer to home, look at Lance Armstrong. Dozens of medical tests (and plenty of doping accusations) have simply confirmed that his lungs are literally larger than the average person’s. He can deliver more oxygen to his working muscles than anyone else under identical athletic demands.

Plenty of professional literature in the field of sports physiology has confirmed over the years that great sprinters are great sprinters because of a genetic predisposition to fast-twitch muscle fibers. Similarily, great marathoners have a more abundant supply of slow-twitch muscle fibers.

The medical groundwork has, in my opinion, been laid. I certainly find it plausible that certain physiological differences could exist that make blacks better prepared for athletic competition.

I hope this information gives more credence to what you might think is simply a racial sterotype.

This incident is eerily reminiscent of a tragic event that occurred some years ago in Baltimore City. A black female firefighter trainee died in a training fire set in an abandoned row home.

Several federal investigations determined that a number of safety regulations had been violated during the fire. However, the fire department’s own records revealed that the trainee had been “passed” on certain physical fitness tests when she actually lacked the required physical ability. When danger showed itself, many professionals believe her unprepared body “red-lined” and she was unable to physically lift herself through a window to escape.

I think this FDNY recruit’s death is a tragedy. However, training deaths do occur - public service is a life-and-death profession and those brave souls entrusted to protect us should indeed be trained in as near to real circumstances as possible.

Perhaps the real tragedy might be a matter of “PC” over professional aptitude. I find it completely believable that a physically unfit minority candidate, kept in place solely due to his race, was then subjected to demanding training that his body simply wasn’t ready for. A blind adherence to foolish (and technically unlawful) racial preference may have cost this young man his life.

It is also worth noting that in the military, the most elite troops{Army Rangers, Navy Seals, Marines} have lower black enrollment than other parts of the military.

“It’s been proven that a work out ethic and a strict adherence to excersize have to do with your physical abilities. The same way reading, studing, and writing have to do with increasing your mental abilities.”

-rational thinker

I can read, study, and write all I want, but I will never be able to become, say, a theoretical physicist. The reason for this is that I will achieve diminishing returns from my intellectual endeavours, as determined by my intelligence. This is my innate ability, and it cannot be changed significantly.

Similarly, and as any ectomorph knows, additional workouts, eating a good diet, and getting enough sleep are not the only determiners of athletic performance. This is easily observable: some guys in the gym have to do very little to get very muscular, while others work very hard but achieve little. Like intelligence, there is an innate component.

Now, certain diseases, such as sickle-cell anemia, heart disease, and others strike blacks more than whites: this is not disputed.

While disputed, there is very strong evidence that blacks are not as intelligent as whites, who in turn are not as intelligent as some asians.

If we are different mentally and different physically such that we are differently susceptible to disease, why would you not believe that we are different in athletic capacity?

To rational thinker at 5:34 PM; “What you are trying to say blacks woke up one morning with muscles, fast speed [sic]…?” Do you think cheetahs woke up one morning being fast and bears woke up one morning being strong? Of course not. Young cheetahs spent hours running in a desert track and field staduim and young bears spent hours lifting weights in a forest gym. With proper training and motivation every human can be as fast as a cheetah and as strong as a bear.

And in other NYC news….

Ms. Teneisha Jones, 26, parent of three girls and two boys, died of smoke inhalation from a fire at her Bronx apartment caused by unattended cooking grease this past Friday. Ms. Jones’s family plans to file a lawsuit against the FDNY for failing to carry her to safety - literally.

“You see, my girl was on the bigger side,” said Teneisha’s father. “She liked her McDonald’s and stuff like that.” FDNY firefighters were unable to lift the 320lbs unconscious woman to safety.

Mr. Ken Thompson, the family’s lawyer, plans to file a suit alleging that the FDNY’s reduction in physical testing standards has a clearly racial component. “Of no fault of their own, and due to their lower income status, it is well known that African Americans struggle with obesity,” Mr. Thompson explained. “The FDNY’s lax physical training standards has an invidious and disproportionate effect on African-Americans.” Mr. Thompson charged: “Clearly, the FDNY’s policies are aimed at reducing the level of services received by the black community, as is trajedly demonstrated by the needless death of Teneisha.”

The family seeks $10 million in damages.

All I was trying to say is that there are some good blacks and bad ones. Some are fast and some are slow. I hate these sterotypes because I was faster than most of them and played sports better than most of them. The NBA & NFL have seen an increase of whites over the years, why?

Because they are fast and work out. True some of it came naturally but overall they still had to work at it. They didnt just wake up fast and had muscles. Also environment does have something to do with it.

Blacks arent mentally inferior. When I was in high school I noticed that ones who played basketball most of the time didnt do so well in school. The blacks who were in the library studing did well on all their test and went on to go to a good college. The studies to prove blacks are inferior are always one side ultra right wingers (like some of the ones on this site) who probably wanted to prove blacks were inferior before they started these test.

“The blacks who were in the library studing did well on all their test and went on to go to a good college. “

Umm, isn’t that simply recognition of an IQ differential? If you’re in the library and reading, obviously, reading is something you enjoy. But I must say going to a Black HS in Chicago, a Black reading some sort of technical publication was a RARE thing indeed.

“The studies to prove blacks are inferior are always one side ultra right wingers (like some of the ones on this site) who probably wanted to prove blacks were inferior before they started these test.”

Interesting hypothesis. What about things like IQ and the Wealth of Nations?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQ_and_the_Wealth_of_Nations

Are you saying the estimate of IQs is highly flawed, slightly flawed or something in-between? And do you think it would effect the evaluation on a relative basis of Black nations vs. everyone else? Just curious as to your viewpoint.

Reply to “rational thinker” at 6:03 PM on February 17:

With this post you show you know absolutely nothing. All measures of intelligence-testing show blacks as less bright then other races. All black countries around the world clearly bare this out. This is why Haiti is such an abominable place. This is why sub-Saharan Africa is such a basketcase. This is why blacks leave Jamaica and move to historically White countries like Canada and the U.K. Where are the prosperous, dynamic, successfully advanced black nations? Why don’t you name them for us?

100 pounds? In the army, I had to run three miles cross-country with that (not fun I can tell you) - and lift 300 pounds with one hand.
Kevin…
That one is hilarious - and very fitting. However, have you ever tried to get a limp 200 pound guy up from the ground and into a fireman´s carry? It´s not as easy as it sounds. 320 pounds and flabby? Two men in top shape could at best have DRAGGED, not “lifted” her to safety. At which, there would again have been cries of “racism”.

Moral: If you “are into fast food for socioeconomic reasons through no fault of your own”, do not start a fire.

“Blacks arent mentally inferior. When I was in high school I noticed that ones who played basketball most of the time didnt do so well in school. The blacks who were in the library studing did well on all their test and went on to go to a good college. The studies to prove blacks are inferior are always one side ultra right wingers (like some of the ones on this site) who probably wanted to prove blacks were inferior before they started these test.” -rational thinker

If what you say is true, why do whites consistently score higher on any aptitude test conceivable, whereas no one has yet been able to create an aptitude test on which blacks score higher than whites?

“Of no fault of their own, and due to their lower income status, it is well known that African Americans struggle with obesity,”

Again I say, shouldn’t poverty and obesity be mutually exclusive terms?

“Of no fault of their own, and due to their lower income status, it is well known that African Americans struggle with obesity”

Idiotic, self-excusing statements like the above really get my dander up. And they are all too common. It’s standard. It’s always someone else’s fault. Never their own. Blame society! Blame the government! Blame whites! It’s all the result of poverty and racism.

Well, I’m sorry. No it isn’t! Having gone through real hardship myself, I can state that “lower income” and obesity have absolutely NOTHING to do with each other! In fact, anyone with the money to eat at fast-food restaurants is suffering from the affliction of TOO MUCH money, and not enough sense to know how to spend it.

Anyone who’s really poor isn’t eating out in the first place. People ordering super-size meals at McDonald’s are people who have money to throw away. With a little common sense, you can eat at home - a healty, balanced, home-cooked meal - for far less than you would spend at Popeye’s or Burger King. No sodas, no fries, no fats, no greasy meats — just good, wholesome, solid food. And at home, that means no potato chips, no beer, no soda, no junk foods. I can be done.

I did it, and I know. These whiners get zero sympathy from me!

Quiet Professional, too bad I didn’t see this thread earlier. There are definite difference between the races, mentally and physically. Having competed against blacks in Div I football and in track and field, I can tell everyone that 8 out of 10 times they are able to run faster than whites and everyone else. Period. Whites do tend to be able to move side to side faster despite stereotypes that say otherwise. On the other hand, 9 out of 10 times, put a black guy and white of equal size together, the white guy will be physically stronger. It’s genetics, but a lot of people have a hard time understanding this. Blacks can look fit because they don’t have the subcutaneous fat that whites and Asians do, hence the muscular appearance, but it doesn’t mean they’re actually fit or strong in many cases. But to deny that there are differences is silly. The most important differences in the end, the ones we should concern ourselves with, are the mental differences. There are people of all groups who can pass the physical portion of the fire dept. tests. It’s the ability to think, especially under duress, that is key.

Hmm, very cognitive post.
Is this theme good unough for the Digg?

Mostly good comments, but I am suprised one question has not been raised about the matter: Just what does this woman - who appears to be louder than she is smart - think is the purpose of having fire departments? If I could reach her, I would ask her just that, with the hint that fire departments are not welfare agencies for providing highly-paid makework for out-of-shape 32 year-olds.