March 25, 2003

(Updated) To Flag or Not to Flag?

Note: This post has been updated. Any and all updates appear at the end of the original post.

So I was tipped off this morning via email to this story from The Oregonian about the Portland Fire Bureau ordering flags to come off local fire vehicles out of fear that they would be attacked by antiwar protestors.

Fortunately, according to this site, this decision appears to have been reversed.

Having just called Sten's office for confirmation, I can say that this is indeed the case. Which is good for all of us, because this has to have been one of the most asinine decisions made by anyone in Portland over the past week. While I have little doubt that there are a few obsessive malcontents (of the sorts I've described previously as being in the game more for their egos than for the cause) who would assult anyone and anything with an American flag, the vast majority of protestors -- and this includes those who have been engaging in permit-less marches through downtown over the past several days -- who have never, and would never, assault a flag or someone holding one.

All this decision does is fan the flames of a fictitious divisiveness. Go back into some of the recent protest pictures. You'll find one of, seemingly, two students -- one all punked out -- holding an American flag together. Not a burning one. Not one with a message scrawled on it. Not one that's upside down (although that is certainly a legitimate symbol). Just holding it.

This is our country, too, after all. Yes, there is small subset of some of the more radical activists in town who are in it for the adrenaline rush of destruction.

But for most of us, we're in it because we want our country back.

March 25, 2003

Update

Please see the comments to this entry. They now include a post from the staff liason to the Fire Bureau out of Sten's office. It contains the text of what I assume is the release from Sten on the reversal decision.

Posted at 12:50 PM | PermalinkComments (3) | TrackBacks (1)
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Comments (3)

  1. Rich Rodgers on 25 Mar 2003

    U.S. Flags to Remain on Fire Engines

    Portland, OR – Commissioner Erik Sten has reversed a decision to remove U.S. flags from downtown fire engines. “These are difficult times. Public servants are called upon to make some tough decisions. In this case, I was not consulted. The decision was wrong and the flags will remain in place”, said Sten.

    A memo issued Monday by Deputy Chief Gary Warrington of the Portland Fire Bureau ordered the removal of the flags on downtown fire engines in order to avoid any risks associated with anti-war protests.

    “After consulting with Fire Chief Ed Wilson as to the reason this decision was made and how and why the memo was sent, I rescinded the decision. The Fire Bureau apologizes to anyone who was offended. It is entirely appropriate to proudly display the flag on fire vehicles,” added Commissioner Sten.

    The decision is effective immediately.

  2. The One True b!X on 25 Mar 2003

    I should add something that I didn't get to in the original post: While I don't think even the most voracious of nimrods would attack a fire vehicle, I do want to go on record as saying how pitifully wrong it would be to do so.

    We all have our varied opiions when it comes to the police, and certainly when it comes to the laws others pass which they must then enforce.

    And, yes, some police officers take things too far, just as some protestors do.

    But the men and women of the Fire Bureau have only one central job: To save people and property from fire. Outside of some extraordinary and extremely rare hypothetical circumstance, they derserve nothing but our respect.

  3. alwin on 26 Mar 2003

    Bravo, Bix. Well said.

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