I have just finished reading three differant news stories about Brother FF James Krapf in Chester,PA who was suspended without pay for having an American flag decal on the front of his locker . It seems that one of the firefighters had a cartoon or picture on his locker that offended "some" of the other firefighters and the Fire Commish-James Johnson- decreed that "all decorations shall be removed from the front of departmental lockers".The ff's could still decorate the "inside" of the lockers if they wished. This rule hadn't yet been enforced,untill somebody decided to make an example out of this guy who kept the decal or placed a decal of the American flag on his locker .
What a load of CRAP ! The commish should have told the whinners that they were acting like "cry babies" and they should grow up ! This kind of thing about an offensive cartoon or picture should have never gotten out of the firehouse . It should have been handled "in house" ,It reminds me of a time long,long ago when there was a bully in our classroom .One day when the teacher was out of the room,he was pushing a couple of kids around and asking for any pocket money they might have .Well ,one kid said "I'm going to go tell"and he left the room.The bully just laughed,and said "if any of you guys tell on me I'll get you when we go out onto the playground" When he came up to me and demanded money -I was so angry at the "unfairness "of the possibility he might get away with his bullying,I hit him upside the head with my text book.He looked up at me from the floor and started crying and asked "what'd you do that for ?" I told him I wasn't going to give him any of my money AND I was going to tell the teacher .
My point is the Brothers should have handled it between themselves,and not gone outside to the Boss . And I think those that did are weak for doing it .