Are We In This Fight Together, Or Not ???

When mountain climbers are stranded by weather or buried by avalanche, teams of rescuers go out to save them. In general the public pays for this (directly or indirectly), but how many of us are mountain climbers?

When spelunkers are stranded by flood waters or cave ins, teams of rescuers go down in the caves to save them. In general the public pays for this (directly or indirectly), but how many of us are spelunkers?

When small boat or yatch sailors are stranded at sea or threatened by bad weather, teams of rescuers go out to save them. If their boat has to be towed back they are charged a fee, but in general the public pays for their rescue (directly or indirectly). How many of us are boaters?

When our troops came back from the Vietnam War, many of them were sworn at and/or spit upon. Those exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins were left to rot and die. Others waited in line to get reasonable medical care. Some did, many didn't.

As our troops come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, many are committing suicide and/or killing their families or others. Those that survive are given pills and sent home. Others wait in line, hoping to get reasonable medical care. Some do, many don't.

Now we have volunteers going into the Ebola epidemic area of West Africa. When they come back they want to just breeze right through customs and go back to having a great time in the good old US of A. They don't want to be "inconvenienced" by a quarantine. They whine when their voluntary sacrifice is followed by a mandatory restriction.

Some people voluntarily go in harms way. Others go because they are ordered to. Which of them (if any) deserve our thanks and support when they come back (if they come back at all)?

People, there is a price we all have to pay. We either pay it individually or collectively. But to argue that it shouldn't have to be paid at all by medical professionals is to argue that the stranded climber, spelunker, boater, and wounded soldier should just be left to die.

And that's not what we want, is it? Are we in this fight together, or not?