Political Correctness 101 -- Firefighters Are Ordered Not To Fly The U.S. Flag.

“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.” So said George Washington.

George would be ashamed of what we have become. A bunch of namby pamby slaves to political correctness.

I was five years old when I came to the United States. I came here with my mom, dad, and sister because my parents knew what was in store for our family if we stayed in Cuba. Our homeland was in the process of being turned upside down politically and there was a very good chance my dad would be arrested, imprisoned, and worse if we stayed. So my parents packed a suitcase for each of us to make it look like we were coming to the U.S. on a short trip, we headed for the airport, and managed to get to Miami in the nick of time.

I quickly became Americanized. Growing up, I became more and more grateful for the freedoms I had as compared to what members of my family were experiencing in Cuba. When I graduated from high school I received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship award. Imagine that - a non-U.S. citizen being honored for good citizenship. In 1978, I was finally able to say that I was a United States citizen after undergoing the naturalization process.

I was proud to be a full fledged American. And because of how I had to earn my citizenship, it has never been something I have taken for granted.

Which is why I have to shake my head in disgust when I read about the mindless stupidity of people who have never had to sacrifice anything for the freedoms, liberties, and opportunities provided by the greatest country in the world.

Take the example of Central Coventry Fire District Chairman Fred Gralinski, a true box of rocks if there ever was one. Firefighters in this small hamlet in Rhode Island decided to fly American flags on the back of the city's fire trucks to show their patriotism. During a Board meeting, he called the firefighters terrorists, analogized them to ISIS, and ordered the firefighters to take the flags down from the vehicles.

“They look like a bunch of yahoos," said Gralinski. "Like in the paper, like ISIS is Syria going to take over a city. I don’t think they need that big flag on the back of the truck. That’s not America to me. Those are a bunch of terrorists. So, I’m going to ask you to take the flag off the truck."

So what is America to you, Fred? What could possibly say "America" more than flying the flag to honor our troops who make the ultimate sacrifice for us every day? What better way to show pride in country, love of liberty, and respect for the fallen heroes?

Nah, Fred is your typical, pseudo-intellectual left wing nut job who thinks that honor, duty, and country are overrated.

But Fred's not the only one with his head planted squarely up his rear end. An upstate New York fire department was also ordered to stop flying the American flag from its trucks.

Firefighters in Poughkeepsie NY remove a flag from their fire truck

Firefighters from the Arlington Fire District in Poughkeepsie, New York were told by their Fire Commissioners that they had to remove the American flags from the back of their trucks because they are “distracting.”  Oh yeah, we all know how distracting an American flag can be on the back of a fire truck as it passes by. Never mind the sirens blaring and the lights flashing, it's the flag that can be a distraction to motorist.

It was another assault on American pride initiated by politically correct members of the left who pretend to honor our troops but in reality have nothing but disdain for them. The only difference between today and the Vietnam War era is that back then the left openly spit on our troops and otherwise denigrated them. Today, the left pretends to support our military and law enforcement heroes while hiding their contempt for them just below the surface. But their true colors come out every chance they get. Just a lot more subtly.

The pro-police flag with the blue stripe down the middle

Like in Riverside County, California. Firefighters there wanted to show their support for the fallen police officers murdered in Baton Rouge and Dallas. Firefighter Eric Hille decided to display a pro-police flag on one of the fire engines, a black and white flag with a blue stripe through the middle that  symbolizes the “thin blue line.”

Hille wanted to show support for law enforcement and let them know that the firefighters stood in solidarity with them. The day after he flew the flag on the truck Hille and the other firefighters at his station received an email from the Fire Chief ordering them to remove the flag. "The type of flag -- while strongly supporting our LE (law enforcement) family -- could increase tension or cause a negative response within the community,” the Chief said in his email.

Let me translate for you. "We're more concerned with the frail sensibilities of liberals, the politically correct crowd, and thugs who have no respect for authority or law enforcement. In order to make sure we don't offend them in any way, we will not honor those who senselessly had their lives extinguished in the line of duty."  

And it didn't end there. Hille and the other firefighters were also told to  remove any and all images depicting the flag on the back of the truck that they had posted on social media sites, including their personal ones.

Yet liberals are amazed to learn that 70% of Americans polled believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. Go figure.

For many years, I and most Americans have viewed our flag with dignity, respect, and honor. The flag has always been a special symbol to us. While I was growing up it was something sacred. Today, many of the folks on the left fail to show the flag the respect it so proudly deserves. Not only do they seem to be ashamed of what it symbolizes, they find it amusing to defile it.

I completely understand that they have every right to burn or defile the flag as an expression of free speech as guaranteed by our Constitution. But just because someone has the right to do something doesn't mean they should do it. Folks also have the right to fly a confederate flag or wear a swastika on a shirt sleeve. Both of those expressions of speech are offensive to the majority of Americans and thus they shouldn't do so. 

The American flag is a reminder of our greatest achievements.  It represents our liberties, our values as a nation, and serves as a symbol of equality. That's right - equality. Where else on this earth could a five year old Cuban kid, transplanted to the U.S. without speaking the language, whose dad had to wash dishes and bus tables for a living, be able to go to college, earn a law degree, and live the American dream? It wasn't because anything was given to me. I worked for it. But I had the opportunity and I chose to work for it instead of sitting on my behind looking for ways to take offense by the conduct of others.

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers have given their lives for our freedoms. They and their families made the ultimate sacrifice so that you and me could have the very freedom to burn the flag. Which is exactly why we shouldn't burn it. Or defile it. We should honor it like the firefighters in Rhode Island and New York tried to do. Instead of looking for ways to avoid offending the sensibilities of the few, we should consider the sensibilities of the many.

Every stitch in our flag has a price tag. It is expedient that we must remember those who have given all if we are to truly understand its importance.

And fly it proudly. Even on the back of a fire truck.