Unthinkable

When I was a kid, one of my great pleasures was going across the street to hang around the firehouse. It was a good place for boys, because all the members of the volunteer fire company, which I later joined at age 16, were good people. Some were high school or college guys, some young married guys just starting out, and a good amount of them, a tad bit older, had fought in World War II, which, you should know, had just ended like 15 years ago. They mentored us in good habits and skills.

It was a good time to grow up, although I have to add that it was to be years before someone realized that women were just as capable of doing things...

Most guys my age had dads who fought in that war. I get the impression that most of the dads were like mine, and didn’t talk at length about their war experiences, if at all. I can remember one thing that bothered my father was TV shows and movies that made the war a source of comedy, because he didn't remember a lot of laughter. 

All of those men would have been irate to hear that three fire companies on Long Island had to settle suits alleging "unlawful discrimination within these public entities served by taxpayer dollars."

They fire companies will "remove all depictions of the Confederate flag from equipment and websites, and to prohibit any displays of symbols of hate."

The Firefighters Association of New York said in a statement, "Fire departments operate best when their membership includes all members of the community they serve ... Everyone in a fire district should feel comfortable and respected."

"This is not wanted or allowed here on Long Island"

I cannot begin to understand the mindset that figured that hanging rebel flags on public fire engines was a good thing. To help clear my mind and yours, here's a picture of a pretty sunrise.