Assignment 1-2

Tyler Teeter
Humn 341, Assignment 1-2
Feb 10, 2008
Popular Culture “343”
Popular culture can be practically anything; person, place or idea within a society or culture that is popular. To me popular culture found within our society is everywhere and it’s in the media, on television and in the newspapers. However I do not feel that an artifact has to be an item like Nintendo Wii or a popular candidate with popular ideas, but it can be a spirit that is found within ourselves that drives us to help each other in a time of need and even give ones life in the efforts to save others.
The artifact I choose is the 343 firemen who gave their lives in the line of duty on September 11th 2001. They represent the spirit that is popular in this country to help those in need. Because of these types of individuals we are much safer and can rely on help from our neighbors in times of natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks. I am a firefighter, and chose that to be my career after I saw not what happened on that day, but after I saw that money doesn’t matter in situations like that and the fact that a person would risk there live to save a complete stranger is one of the most prestigious artifacts in the world. Because of the spirit that lies within many of us, today we have over a million firefighters in this country with more than 70% being volunteer. This truly is a popular culture as many who do not fight fire as a career or volunteer help in other ways.
It is important to understand that this spirit is a popular culture artifact because in business a company that helps out and has the spirit will have a good image in society as being a good company. If a business donates money or employees to help out with natural disasters and large incidents in there communities they are well respected for their efforts. Some large companies purchase fire trucks for their communities or AEDs for use in public facilities and that certainly makes a positive image. As for my career, I have decided to make the popular culture artifact of having the same type of spirit as the “343” firemen who gave there lives helping strangers exit harms way.

FIREFIGHTER'S PRAYER
When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may rage
grant me the strength to save a life whatever be its age
Help me to embrace a little child before it is too late
or save an older person from the horror of that fate
Enable me to be alert to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently put the fire out
I want to fill my calling Lord and give the best in me
to guard my every neighbor and protect his property
And if according to your will I am to lose my life
God bless with your protecting hand my children and my wife
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