If you remember, I covered a story on Houston Council Member Jolanda Jones here. At the time it seemed as though she was a big supporter of the firefighters. Now, not so much…
Jolanda Jones apparently refered to Houston’s IAFF President Jeff Caynon as a “house negro” in a meeting with him. Much to his displeasure, he wrote a letter to Jones stating:
In a sharply worded letter, union President Jeff Caynon says, “What evolved at the meeting shocked and disappointed us. Our attempts to answer your questions and update you were repeatedly interrupted and shouted down when our knowledge of the situation contradicted your inaccurate conclusions. Worse yet were your threats, attempts to intimidate, profane outbursts, and racist ranting.” Read the rest
The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341 don’t take politics lightly. They have been hard at work in getting the proper people elected that will help them with the issues the effect Fire/EMS Service in the City.
FirefighterHourly.com reports that Local 341 has pulled their endorsement of Jones in the upcoming election. Link
You can watch the video report on the incident here.
The Houston FD is already dealing with many claims of racism, sexism, and harassment within the stations. I have reported on the hazing here, and a former recruit who made a stupid remark that cost him his job here.
Jim Schwartz, the Arlington (VA) County Fire Chief, has found himself being called a racist. The issue is regarding comments made to firefighters about what types of conduct are and are NOT welcome in their firehouses.
Chief Schwartz says he was explaining to firefighters what types of conduct are not welcome in the firehouse but one excerpt in particular, “not wearing a white hood and dancing around a fire,” is stirring controversy.
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Other examples focused on keeping political arguments out of the firehouse but several firefighters who preferred to keep their identities concealed, are asking, what kind of context would make the chief’s racial references acceptable? The excerpt above is from WUSA9.com
I think that the Chief might not have picked his examples the best and that if he had to do it again he would probably change his examples or wording. HOWEVER, I do not think that this makes him a racist.
The term RACIST is being thrown around way too much. Many people who enjoy using this term misunderstand the damage it can do when used out of context.
I mean really, down deep in your belly do you really feel as though this comment makes this guy a racist. Hitler and Mussolini were more Facists than Racists but they are very similar. White Supremacists and Black Supremacists are examples of Racists. Jim Schwartz…not so much.
Webster’s Dictionary defines racism as: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
The real truth is that there are too many people out there who have too much time on their hands. Jumping up and down screaming racism (in cases where it does not apply such as this one) is not beneficial to anyone. Think of the boy who cried wolf. Many people are getting sick and tired of hearing it when it DOES NOT apply. Who will be there to listen when someone is a racist and does make a racist remark and someone tries to call them out?
And before I start getting all these comments about how I am insensitive, I am not. I am very sensitive to the issue. I also have a keen understanding that prejudice on race, creed, sex, etc. can go all kinds of ways.
There are so many other tactful ways of asking for an apology if the statement was interpreted as insensitive. The more professional course of action would have been much easier to understand and give credence to the opposing point of view.
Furthermore, I bet many of the ones crying foul don’t even know who Bill White is. He lives in the same State as Arlington and I wonder if the people attacking Chief Schwartz have given the same time and energy in attacking Bill?
One sidenote, you will have to look up Bill White yourself, I do not want to give him anymore attention that I have too. He does not deserve it.
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