By Susan Hartley Santa Monica
Surely, (letter writer) Steve Keats, jests: 1980 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s almost 2008! Get a new dictionary, go online or get out more. The current OED defines “fireman” as a male fire-fighter. Wikipedia explains: “A firefighter (also called a fireman or firewoman, although these terms have fallen from use in many countries) is trained and equipped to extinguish fires.” Pictures in the Malibu Times show female, as well as male, firefighters who fought the fires.
Give all firefighters the credit they deserve. It’s not castigating the language to use “firefighters.” It’s being correct. We’ve come a long way since 1980 (although, evidently, not far enough).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 13, 2007. Read the original PDF.