Despite Will’s best efforts, I’m happy to report that my ticker is still going strong after skipping only a beat, maybe two. — Rick Markley, FireRescue1 and Fire Chief editor-in-chief
I know the holidays have been over for a few months, but, indulge me on this one. Do you remember the Interweb uproar on the goings on in Lancaster, Ohio and the holiday billboard?
It seems the local lifesavers came up with an idea of renting a billboard to wish the community a Merry Christmas. The members decided not to exchange gifts, but spent their own money on the billboard as something nice to do for the community.
However, no good deed goes unpunished and things went awry when city officials noticed the billboard.
In the end 17 Lancaster Fire personnel — that’s one-third of the department — were disciplined. The punishment including a captain who was suspended for 48 hours and given one-year probation, three lieutenants who were suspended for 24 hours and given one-year probation and 13 firefighters who received written reprimands.
Oh and I almost forgot, a retired captain has been banned from entering fire stations in Lancaster. Wow, thanks for your years of service and dedication, just don’t ever come around here again. I would consider that a favor; I have no plans to hang out at the station when I retire.
Merry [redacted]
Basically there are two issues here.
The first being the use of city equipment and time to stage the photo shoot. In all fairness, I can’t argue that one. Had they gotten prior approval from the city, I would still be scratching my head on what to write about this month.
The second issue is the Merry Christmas banner being offensive to the town’s folk and being grounds for a lawsuit.
Before we proceed, let me tell you where I am coming from. At our house we celebrate Christmas, have a Christmas tree, hang Christmas lights and the wife sends out Christmas cards.
That being said, I will never win the Donald Trump Political Correctness Award. By the way my views do not reflect those of the FireRescue1 management staff, editorial staff or employees; your mileage may vary. I put that in there for Editor Rick who is clutching his chest and dialing 911 by now.
I have had some very fond memories of Christmas. I love fall and winter. A small town near to where I grew up used to line the main street with mini Christmas trees on poles. We would trudge out into the Christmas vacation frozen winter wonderland every year with the kids to cut down the family Christmas tree.
But in the end, when you see through all the wrapping paper, LED lights and parties, it is a religious holiday. But you know, there are other holidays on the calendar for other cultures and beliefs and they don’t bother me.
It would be wrong of me to solely blame the city officials in Lancaster; this is pervasive in society.
There are all kinds of things you can’t say and so forth. Remember freedom fries a few years ago? I get the separation of church and state, I’ve had a government class or two. The city attorney even cites violations of the U.S. Constitution.
Uncommon sense
I’m sorry I just don’t see this as being the end of the world. If Christmas being a religious holiday is so offensive to some, should we be hauling Santa around on a fire truck handing out candy?
Santa atop the big red (or whatever color) fire rig is a holiday tradition all across the country. That Norman Rockwell scene is almost as American as apple pie. I couldn’t wait for the second Saturday in December as a child. Mainly I just wanted to see the fire truck, but the candy canes were nice.
There is a large anti-nuclear energy faction in our country. If memory serves, some smoke detectors have radioactive chips in them. Should we discourage the use of smoke detectors as to not offend anyone?
Of course that is absurd, but my point is where do you draw the line?
I had to laugh at the letter to the captain explaining his infractions. They made this guy sound like Johnny Manziel on ladies night. I don’t think he could have had more allegations if he had sold military information to the Russians.
The first infraction involved the use or lack of use of common sense. Is that measurable? Is there an IFSTA manual on common sense? Can common sense be defined as far as disciplinary actions?
Sure, if somebody standing in water picks up a live electrical wire — that may violate common sense. I’ve heard it said many times in the firehouse, “Use common sense.”
Oh well, a lesson learned by Crew Number 3 of the Lancaster Fire Department. They all had some sort of Superman logo shirts made up for the photo.
I would call that esprit de corp or camaraderie. I think it is cool that they are proud enough of what they do to want to be a part of it. It seems a good idea to me to put a face on the people who are always on guard in the community.
Next year go back to exchanging gifts.
Let me hear from you.
