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US Flag 'Offensive' at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas
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by Tina Kells | May 28, 2009 at 06:37 pm
3114 views | 30 Recommendations | 77 comments
Debbie McLucas, an employee at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas was stunned when she was told to remove a US flag she had in her office window because it was deemed "offensive" by hospital administrators. The US flag offensive? In Texas??
The mother of three military service people, one of whom, her daughter, is currently serving in Iraq for a second tour, and army wife, Debbie McLucas hung the flag to honor her family and her country during the week leading up to Memorial Day. On the Friday before the Memorial Day long weekend she was told to remove the US flag because it was "offensive."
McLucas, a supervisor at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas, had displayed the 3-by-5-foot flag in the office she shares with the hospital’s three other supervisors. McLucas said one of her colleagues, a woman who immigrated to the United States from Africa 14 years ago, complained about the flag to upper management, and the hospital decided to take down the flag.
"I was told that as long as my flag offended one person, it would be taken down," McLucas said.
She said the hospital told her that the American flag flying outside the building would have to suffice. "I was told, ‘There is a flag hanging out front, everyone can see that one. Is that not enough?’"
No, she said, that wasn't enough.
"It is more than I can even fathom, that you would find the American flag offensive, in America," McLucas said.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (77)
at 19:15 on May 28th, 2009
A 3 by 5 foot flag is some what over doing it in an office setting.
I ran a business in Canada and no Canadian Flag was there either, only the UN flag. All Staff followed that policy since the business promoted international thinking and not national thinking. I was not against putting up all 192 flags of Nations and the additional 6843 official clans or Ethnical flags, however since there was not enough room for all of them together the one UN flag had to do.
at 04:00 on May 29th, 2009
What does the UN Flag have to do with anything? This is about the right to have your country's flag in your office. Who cares about the UN Flag? That represents the most worthless misguided impotent corrupt organization in the world. That's not a country and has nothing to do with this. Any idiot who took offense against an American flag in America is welcome to move to Canada and fly the UN flag since the Candians obviously don't feel they have a national flag worth flying. You'll have to figure out the UN's theme song and sing it instead of "O Canada" at the next Olympics.
at 04:34 on May 29th, 2009
Policy, that is what "Disgusted". A business has it's own rights to state what goes and what does not go. Simple.
If you do not like it, you do not have to work there.
at 14:20 on May 30th, 2009
Paschen, CA citizens displaying UN flag should stay kissing UN's a$, in US, this is disgrace. I am proud to be American and displaying US flag on Memorial Day week is fine with me. If you dont like it, you are more than welcome to stay in socialistics Canada, I do not care
at 06:45 on May 31st, 2009
Going by Paschen's rule (if you don't like it, you don't have to work there) , it should be fair to say to Pashen and all others of the same mindset ; if you don't like flying our country's flag, you don't have to live here. Go back to Canada.....or, anywhere.
at 15:40 on June 1st, 2009
Yes they do however they are not absolved of the consequences of this policy. I will not give my buisness to any company that will not allow an american flag to be displayed, period and that's my right. I know it's sheak and trendy to be ashamed of our country but the most of us are not are starting to get tired of this crap.
at 22:20 on June 3rd, 2009
Any normal person, business owner or not, should WANT to fly their country's flag, unless that person is ashamed of their flag, IM NOT!!!!
at 13:06 on May 29th, 2009
THANK YOU..........YOU HAVE SAID EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID!!!
at 09:10 on May 29th, 2009
The flag was in the office for Memorial Day. The woman displaying the flag has a daughter currently in the military in Iraq and had 2 sons which served prior in the military as well. Since when is it overdoing it to display patriotism for Memorial Day? A day where service men and women are celebrated for their service. How is it anti-international thinking to display national patriotism on this day that is to celebrate those who are currently giving their lives and have given their lives for their service?
People display their national flags at soccer games abroad is that anti-internationalism as well? B/c they are showing support for their home teams?
It is no,t in America ,considered to be offensive to display your country's flag. A flag that has much meaning. It is a symbol of our American Anthem. I guess you can not understand the deep symbolic meaning behind our flag. Perhaps b/c you don't have that same heritage.
at 09:26 on May 29th, 2009
The 3x5 foot flag had nothing to do with it; I'd bet the "offended ungrateful immigrant," was a liberal Obama supporter....and wanted something, anything to be offended about; as Obama supporters often seek out.
at 07:27 on May 31st, 2009
I just spoke to Rhonda Williams in the Administration Office. She has handled this beautifully.
The company's public statement is pasted below:
Louisville, KY (May 28, 2009) – Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: KND) issued this statement today regarding an incident involving an American flag at Kindred Hopital Mansfield:
We are offended one of our employees took down a colleague's American flag in our Mansfield, TX hospital. It was wrong and as soon as we learned about it we took immediate action to correct the situation. At no time did anyone at Kindred Healthcare instruct anyone to take down the American flag. This was an unauthorized act of an individual employee. The flag is now proudly displayed once again, and we apologize to all who were equally offended by this unpatriotic action, including the owner of the flag. We have reprimanded the employee and let them know we don't tolerate behavior inconsistent with our Company's values.
at 19:46 on May 28th, 2009
If the flag is too big, then the boss could ask her to use a smaller flag. A different message entirely to hear that the flag is "offensive".
That is OFFENSIVE.
at 03:06 on May 29th, 2009
I am offended by anyone who is offended by the display of OUR AMERICAN FLAG! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT This is AMERICA It is time for all of this BS to STOP! We are slowly losing OUR COUNTRY........ask yourself why?
at 03:39 on May 29th, 2009
This Hospital should be ashamed of the person who complained as well as the person who ordered the Flag be removed. As a 20 year Army Vet, I am deeply saddened to see such ignorance taking place in the USA....and especially in Texas.
Fire the complainer....send her back to where she came from 14 years ago and send that fool who ordered the flag removed right along with her.
at 03:54 on May 29th, 2009
"If the immigrant African finds it so offensive...............GO BACK TO AFRICA!!!!! Then you can live in your shack and not have to look at our flag!!"
Exactly..! Did that immigrant find it too offensive to shamelessly utilize and live on the benefits provided by the "offensive" dollars..?
I like this story. Funny beyond any stretch of imagination...!
.Agent.
at 14:27 on May 30th, 2009
thanks, ISL agent, well said
at 04:25 on May 29th, 2009
This is our country and we should be able to fly our flag anytime anywhere, enough said!
at 04:56 on May 29th, 2009
On second thoughts, I guess nobody will have any issue if you fly this flag instead of the US one....! This is applicable too every other country too..!!!
Source: media.photobucket.com
.Agent.
at 05:11 on May 29th, 2009
That flag does not have a country any longer Agent.
Getting all worked up over a flag in an office is some what immature and show a great lack of confidence in once nation.
at 05:43 on May 29th, 2009
I know about that flag, Paschen.
Yes there is no need to get worked up seeing a flag in the office. That should be applicable to everyone - even for that African immigrant too. Does he feel offended if he counts the US dollar bills? Like the US flag, US dollars also is another symbol of that country.
.Agent.
at 06:19 on May 29th, 2009
Politics and patriotism as well as religion have no place in an office.
You are blowing things way out of proportion. Like I said American must feel very unsecured for getting all worked up over this.
At the same time the US is known to fly other countries flags upside down at international events such as the Olympics in Great Lake or the Hockey finals between Canada and the US or even the Football tournament in NY in 2004.
They sure can insult every one else and show great disrespect and yet no one gets as worked up about it as the US when ever their own flag is in question.
No disrespect was shown here nor was the flag burned, flown upside down or trampled on.
No, it was just ask to be removed from a work area. She can fly her flag at home or in her car. The office is not her home. Management has made a decision about it and so be it.
If, I decide in our office that you can not wear a t-shirt with a flag on it, then you better do so or i fire you. And if you get all worked up about it, well guess what, I fire you for certain.
Simple as that. You do as is asked of you and if you do not like it well find another job.
at 06:30 on May 29th, 2009
Don't lump all Americans into your hate-America mode when you know nothing about them. What did America do to you, man? What's wrong with you?
at 10:47 on May 29th, 2009
The funny part about the statement here is that really it always OTHER countries who burn the US flag and fly it upside down. People risk life and limb, just to enter the United States, and when they get here, they spit on the very people who welcome them, the very ground that protects them and theirs.
Perhaps it's really only those who are here illegally who can't stand the thought of looking at the stars and stripes, because the sacrifice isn't theirs yet.
at 14:59 on May 30th, 2009
to "Michael Al (not verified)" - he hates it because he did not get an entry visa to US .... -:)
at 06:59 on May 29th, 2009
If that is the management's policy, then it is ok. I am only talking about the particular immigrant here. It has nothing to do with how Americans feel or not. How that immigrant feel about being in America?. Why did that immigrant migrated to US for the first place? Because he/she could not live in his own country or what she/he gets there is insufficient even to barely live.Now after migrating to another country, after getting a life and after getting so many benifits on the tax payer's (American money paid by Americans) the immigrant suddenly finds the view of the flag alone "offensive". That is something very cute indeed.
So what will happen if some other employee finds a religious dress / costume worn by another employee "offensive" ? Like a Jew skull cap or a Muslim veil or a Sikh's turban? Every symbol should be treated as equal, right?
.Agent.
at 08:08 on May 29th, 2009
That is the problem with this story there are a couple of facts missing. Part of it his one sided, who knows what the real story is.
we only have all the facts from one site.
And yes, one should not immigrate to the US if they do not like it there. However a 5 by 3 Foot flag is some what out of line here as well. We are talking about an office not a garden.
Would it have been a desk flag of 10cm by 15cm, I would have said every thing in reverse.
Nevertheless, this is a big flag we are talking about in an office, that is over kill.
Further, this is Fox News we are talking about and they did not bother to find out what is what or if this is even true as Miss Luckas claims.
at 14:02 on May 29th, 2009
Excellent point Paschen. For all we know she objected to the size of the flag and not the flag itself. Or perhaps, her issue was with where it was placed, maybe it obscured something important or made it hard for her to do her job. If the person who asked it to be removed does not speak English fluently, as some comments here suggest, she may not have meant it was offensive at all... she could have meant "it gets blocks the light and I can't do my job."
Thank you for raising that point!
at 14:58 on May 30th, 2009
dear Tina, if the person did not speak English she should not have the job - I hope you get the point. Just in case you want to raise an issue here, when I had the priviledge to imigrate to US, I did not speak english and I could not work in a hospital (or any such job) until I've spoke the language sufficiently to do the job. This is not french speaking Canada not Mexico - if you don't speak english, get a lesson and do not apply for a job which requires such basic skill as local language
at 09:13 on June 2nd, 2009
The excellent point is that it is not wrong to have an American flag displayed in America. If it blocked her light all that needed to be done was move it to another location not take it down.
How is it offensive to anyone that has been here for 14 years to have such issues with a revered patriotic symbol in the country they are residing in?
at 14:26 on May 30th, 2009
you can fire anyone you want i n Canada, Paschen. Keep your socialistics propagande there as well. I am not offended nor will I fire a single emplopyee of mine (100+) for wearing US flag on t heir t-shirt. African (or any other for the record) a$$hole being offended by America Flag hanging in any of my offices will get fired on spot. Period. If you don't like it, too bad. Stay in Marxist Canada, I do not care. Just do not stick your nose in to our busines - nobody asked you....