Firefighter memorial - ethnically sensitive or true to life?

[Lynda/WA]

Remember the picture of three firefighters raising a flag over the WTC rubble on 9/11? They are making a memorial using that photo. However, it was three white guys that did that. The city doesn't feel that is PC so they are changing it from the people in the photo to one white person, one African-American and one Hispanic.

Do you consider this apporpriate? And why do you feel as you do?

[AnnW]

I think if they wanted to create a memorial to all the firefighters, then having an ethnic/gender blend would be appropriate as there are many races and both male and female firefighters. BUT, to alter the makeup of this historial picture is inappropriate and insulting.

[Diane]

I think that's totally ridiculous... it should be the way it was in the picture... because that's the way it was. 8o I think sometimes they try a little bit too hard to make things even or "right". I have to wonder if they hadn't decided to do this if anyone else would have noticed or made a big deal about them all being white. ?( ?(

Diane... :wave:

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by AnnW
I think if they wanted to create a memorial to all the firefighters, then having an ethnic/gender blend would be appropriate as there are many races and both male and female firefighters. BUT, to alter the makeup of this historial picture is inappropriate and insulting.

Well said, Ann!! ITA!!!

[kat]

If they want to have an ethnic/gender blend then, design an appropriate memorial, but if your plan is to use that photo, then don't change the makeup. I personally think that we go too far to try and achieve political correctness, but then that is the way I see it through my middle-aged white eyes.

[Mickey]

Sounds like the photo is the inspiration for the memorial to firefighters in general, not those specific three men in the photo. I think that having the firefighters in the memorial be three different races is a great idea.

Here's a CNN story on it if anyone's interested:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/01/12/rec.firefighter.statue/index.html

[Lynda/WA]

I just read the article. I felt it was inappropriate before and now I do even more. It sounds as if this is a memorial for those firefighters that died. They agree that is is based upon those three men raising the flag at ground zero. In fact the name of the memorial says as much. I think that when you create a memorial based on an actual event you should stick to the facts and not do revisionist history. If they wanted a memorial to represent all ethnicities, they shouldn't have used an actual event and rewritten it. They should have created a unique memorial not associated with specific people or events.

BTW, from what I've heard over 90% of NYC firefighters are white (2.7% black, 3.2% Hispanic) so if you choose three at random that is what you are likely to get. I don't remember hearing of any women firefighters dying.

If fact I suspect there will be copyright problems anyways. Sounds like they used the photo as the bases without permission of those holding the copyright on the photo (a newspaper). And it sounds as if the men in the photo aren't thrilled to have their role in a historic event denied. They have request production stop via their lawyer.

[angie r]

Originally posted by Lynda/WA
I just read the article. I felt it was inappropriate before and now I do even more. It sounds as if this is a memorial for those firefighters that died. They agree that is is based upon those three men raising the flag at ground zero. In fact the name of the memorial says as much. I think that when you create a memorial based on an actual event you should stick to the facts and not do revisionist history. If they wanted a memorial to represent all ethnicities, they shouldn't have used an actual event and rewritten it. They should have created a unique memorial not associated with specific people or events.

BTW, from what I've heard over 90% of NYC firefighters are white (2.7% black, 3.2% Hispanic) so if you choose three at random that is what you are likely to get. I don't remember hearing of any women firefighters dying.

If fact I suspect there will be copyright problems anyways. Sounds like they used the photo as the bases without permission of those holding the copyright on the photo (a newspaper). And it sounds as if the men in the photo aren't thrilled to have their role in a historic event denied. They have request production stop via their lawyer.

Well said Lynda....I totally agree.

[RCT]

Lynda and Ann well said....I can't add anymore to what has already been written.....:rwb:

[Mickey]

Found the link and added it after I wrote my reply--it doesn't sound like a general tribute after all. It appears to be specifically about the WTC firefighters who died. I did see where there is a copyright issue regarding the photo, too. Therefore, I agree that it should be kept the same.