A blog on theater (and other stuff) from the fine folks at Apple Core Theater Company
“A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose”
Mel writes about a subject matter close to his heart: the first responders of September 11.
It never ceases to amaze me that, whenever you are writing about a particular subject matter, the themes that you are exploring seems to jump out at you from every newscast you come across or any periodical your eyes happen to glance at. Case in point: the subject matter of those heroic, selfless first responders and their current emotional and physical struggles.
It has been ten years since that deeply wounding September morning and many events are being scheduled to commemorate the anniversary of those horrific attacks, some of those events will be celebratory in nature (yes, this is true), while still others will consist of somber remembrances of family, friends and the many loved ones known and unknown who lost their lives. And as with any commemorating event many will border on the exploitative. But the one thing and the only thing that has really struck me has been the recent loss of so many first responders.
Like FDNY Fire Marshall Steve Mosiello, who worked long hours at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks who died of esophageal cancer on 7/15 of this year… or Police officer, Robert Oswain, a Bronx cop who passed away in May of this year, who was only 42 and served in recovery efforts at Ground Zero who also died of cancer. There are others who were also first responders have also recently passed away from or are now struggling with a similar form of cancer.
Many first responders – as well as people who lived near the lower Manhattan site on September 11 – believe their cancer is connected to the cloud of toxins that bloomed from the destruction of the 110 story World Trade Center. But sadly, a federal review by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health determined that “very little” evidence had been reported on the link between the massive toxic cloud and cancer.
In my play “Midnight Mass,” when confronted with suggestions that his father, Richard a former fireman and first responder should exercise more, his son, David responds with: “Have you really looked at him lately? The man hardly’s got any wind left after what he’s sucked up, plus his back is for shit and on top of all that he’s got some unknown ground zero disease eating him up from the inside out like a school of piranha fish.”
What defines a hero? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a hero is: “A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.”
I think this truly describes all of the first responders, police officers, fire fighters. They must be honored and taken care of, and not discarded like yesterday’s news.
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Apple Core Theater Company produces emotional, entertaining plays by American writers. Valuing the immediacy and intimacy of theater, we strive to present plays that cut down to the core and go straight to the heart. Believing that theater should be accessible to all people, we are committed to providing affordable theater to New York City.
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