The Elmont Fire Department in Long Island is under scrutiny for using the Confederate Flag (stars and bars) in their logos.
Apparently, the Elmont FD has a run territory that includes 35,000 people. Most of whom are black. (according to the report).
image from NBC New York
Questions are rising over the departments use of the confederate flag in their logos.
…”I felt very uncomfortable when I saw that,” said an Elmont firefighter, who is black and wanted to remain anonymous for fear of repercussion.
…
We showed Elmont residents photos of Engine Company 3′s logo.
“It’s disrespectful. I thought we were over that. Didn’t Lincoln free the slaves,” said Andrea Cross
“It’s disgraceful, very disgraceful,” said Joyce Johnson
“Racism. It’s the flag people use when they want you to know they are either part of the Klu Klux Klan they believe in just slavery,” said Judy Djalo
I thought maybe the department just came up with new logos…hence the recent report. But it actually it appears they have been using the stars and bars for a long time.
What do you think? Should they scratch the use of the Confederate Flag? Is the meaning lost in translation.
Links:
WOW its 2011 and people still do not know what the Civil War was about…..The Civil War was about states rights and the right to govern themselves instead of a all powerful national government.
That flag was a battle flag used by only certain military units. If you do some reasearch all units had individual flags to mark there Corp, Battalion, etc.
Oh and btw your benevolent President Lincoln only freed the slaves in order to draft them into military service becuase the North was losing the war and people were deserting the cause. Had this not been the case he probably would not have freed the slaves.
Now do some people use this symbol to represent hate? of course they do, that is however the minority most of us use it to represent the heritage of our state, and to represent the memories of our ancestors who faught in a war protecting there nation. They were veterans and should be remember as such.
Anyone who thinks this is racism is probably someone who thinks that they should get a job based on color and not performance.
soon all hazmat teams will have to order pink tyvec instead of white,,,wont be long now
I’m going to have to go with inappropriate. I’m from the south and have a pretty solid understanding of the history behind the stars and bars. While some people believe that it is “heritage not hate,” others still feel there is as stigma attached to it. Thanks in part to its up by groups such as the KKK. In the case of this company, they’re from Long Island so it’s certainly not their heritage. Some may say it’s a symbol of rebellion but is that really who you would want your fire company viewed by the public?
Who cares its a damn logo leave it at that.
Contrary to popular belief, the slavery issue played a very little role in the secession of the southern states.
I dont care what color your skin is, if that flag causes you that much grief than you should go back to school for a history lesson. The Confederate flag has nothing to do with slavery or the KKK, Its about heritage not hate. This flag was adapted for 13 states that wanted their own union. Does that mean the American flag means a mexican american is a spic, or a Japanese person is a gook in the USA ? NO IT DONT!!!! The rebel flag represents courage, Braveness, Honor, and kindness. Grow up people!!!!!!!
The Stars and Bars will always linked to the the Confederacy and has become a symbolic with racism albiet an innacurate one.One day we should live in a world where these things won’t offend us.
How long has this been a part of the logo? If it were something new I could understand someone being upset. But perhaps this is part of their TRADITION, or can’t anyone have that anymore. The only reason there is a problem with that flag is that; those that oppose it give it power by being offended, after all it is just a flag. People with hatred and bigotry have used it for the wrong the reasons. But to some people it is simply a symbol of the rebels, and I would guess that is how it became part of their logo is that department considered themselves Rebels, not racist.
Oh by the way, the Civil War was not really about slavery, yes that was one part of it, the real reason for the war was States Rights and the southern states not wanting to be dictated to by Washington DC. And the “Confederate Flag” as we know it today was only a battle flag it wasn’t even the flag of the Confederacy or any Confederate State. But don’t believe me, study your country’s history for yourself.
One last thing: If everyone would use or accept the flag for whatever reason its power could be taken away, the Flag is merely a symbol of many things, it is the hatred and bigotry that should be under attack!
paint the entire engine green, red and black. see what type of sh-t that starts. We got to many causes, that doesnt lead to anything, but one’s opinion!
Considering Lincoln didn’t free the slaves and the flag is simply that of a battle flag representing many men that fell in vain. I don’t see the problem with it. It has nothing to do with race, you would know that if you were educated. Black people get the stigma because they have chosen to be illiterate such as the black man that was quote quote uncomfortable.
It’s amazing how people who view things only one way and have thin skins are the ones who complain about something so small. If people would open a book vs. listening to the news and other persons then they would know the truth. If the “stars and bars” are an issue to a few, but not the whole, then the few just need to grow up and have an open mind. If they are using it as a symbol of “Hate and Racism” then yes remove the logo, but due to it being used as a logo for a fire department (that puts out fires for all races and protects the community as a whole) ,then why should anyone care what type of logo a department uses. I have a life long friend who is an African American who also has flown the Confederate Flag on several occasions and he has never considered it as a symbol of racism. It is all in what you make of it. If you let it be nothing but a sticker on the side of a fire truck, guess what? Its going to be a sticker on a fire truck and nothing more. Why is not an issue with you, that the symbol for all fire departments is the iron cross. It was used by the German Army during World War II.
The slaves ships actually flew the Stars and Stripes as in the Red, White and Blue not the stars and bars!! So protest the American flag as well, just saying………..