another reason I'm glad I didn't return to staten island. this injustice coupled with
the too high taxes, loser representives and stupid liberals. having spent 23 years in the us air force, if i was fired for questioned such a strong feeling about something as important as our countries flag.me and the captain would settle it on shore with the best guy to kick butt being the winner. in the long run though;all the liberals should worry about how to fly the chineseflag or the socialist flag our keynen president is leading us to.He lies yet the liberals don't dare suggest firing him. kind of a screwed up mess isn't it???
Russell Pierce - 15 years ago
What happened, happened. The young man was fired for disobeying an order. The validity of the order should not be questioned, the captain of a vessel is completely responsible for the operation of the vessel. While we may have sympathy for the young sailor, not following an order is wrong in almost every instance.
In this instance though... The Captain is clearly out of order. There are those who may view the actions of the young sailor as insubordinate. I on the other hand always admire character. This man has it in spades.
How the Captain choose to interpret the existing policy with regard to the display of the flag is not the issue. How he handled the situation is. He could just as easily have provided extra training or reported the act of insubordination for further review rather than pursue such a harsh punishment. This reflects an obvious lack of character.
There are only 2 factors involved in effective leadership; (1) Stand up to your people, (2) Stand up for your people. The Captain did not take the time to understand the significant of the flag to a recently returned veteran. The Captain would rather flex his power than take the time to stand up for his people.
I am a retired Chief Petty Officer, I know a ship is not a democracy, I also know what a good leader is and what a bad leader is.
There are those who've implied the questioning of a Captains judgement places the public at risk. As I recall it was the Captain who ran from the last major ferry boat accident, and the crew who stayed.
Doesn't seem like a lot has changed.
AMD - 15 years ago
No flag being flown at or on any facility in this country should ever be elevated higher then "old Glory". Many men and woman have died in defense of our flag. It should be flown higher then a ny other flag to honor them.
If the protocol is what the captain claims it to be, the protocol must be changed
Regarding Mr. Bergen's dismissal, shame on the captain of the ferry. Mr. Bergen should be reinstated immediately and thanked for his service to our country.
ajkm - 15 years ago
First of all, the flags on the ferry are both flown at equal height. On a ship of this sort it would be appropriate for them to be flown exactly as they are.. with the exception that they should theoretically be switched from side to side going back and forth,... which is pretty impossible.
If there was an emergency and this guy can;'t follow a simple instruction maybe he would not be able to follow through during an emergency.. always thinking he is the one who is right. The captain of a ship is always right.. even if he might be wrong.. there can;t be 4 leaders on a ship, only one person can be in charge.. they probably felt they could not trust him to follow orders and carry them out as told. If he was a DOT employee of 7 months he was on a probationary period... and could be fired for any reason. Maybe this was not the actual reason he was fired... anyone who rides the ferry knows the dangers in an emergency and would not want to have their safety relying on someone who cant follow basic orders ...
JOAN BATTAGLIA - 15 years ago
I AM A NAVY MOM, WHOSE SON SERVED TWO TOURS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. I THANK MR. BERGEN FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
I RIDE THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY AND CAPT. DESIMONE HAS BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN BEING SHOWN THE CORRECT WAY TO FLY OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG. THIS MAN SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST HIS JOB FOR POINTING OUT THE PROPER WAY TO FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG, EVEN TO A SUPERIOR.
Matt Iacovelli - 15 years ago
I think this man should not of been fired. It is his belief that the American flag should be flown higher than all other flags. I dont know the proper rule but as a veteran I applaud this young man. He is a tru patriot and something should be done to give this young man and proud citizen of the UNITED STATES his job back. Capt Desimone should rethink this out.
another reason I'm glad I didn't return to staten island. this injustice coupled with
the too high taxes, loser representives and stupid liberals. having spent 23 years in the us air force, if i was fired for questioned such a strong feeling about something as important as our countries flag.me and the captain would settle it on shore with the best guy to kick butt being the winner. in the long run though;all the liberals should worry about how to fly the chineseflag or the socialist flag our keynen president is leading us to.He lies yet the liberals don't dare suggest firing him. kind of a screwed up mess isn't it???
What happened, happened. The young man was fired for disobeying an order. The validity of the order should not be questioned, the captain of a vessel is completely responsible for the operation of the vessel. While we may have sympathy for the young sailor, not following an order is wrong in almost every instance.
In this instance though... The Captain is clearly out of order. There are those who may view the actions of the young sailor as insubordinate. I on the other hand always admire character. This man has it in spades.
How the Captain choose to interpret the existing policy with regard to the display of the flag is not the issue. How he handled the situation is. He could just as easily have provided extra training or reported the act of insubordination for further review rather than pursue such a harsh punishment. This reflects an obvious lack of character.
There are only 2 factors involved in effective leadership; (1) Stand up to your people, (2) Stand up for your people. The Captain did not take the time to understand the significant of the flag to a recently returned veteran. The Captain would rather flex his power than take the time to stand up for his people.
I am a retired Chief Petty Officer, I know a ship is not a democracy, I also know what a good leader is and what a bad leader is.
There are those who've implied the questioning of a Captains judgement places the public at risk. As I recall it was the Captain who ran from the last major ferry boat accident, and the crew who stayed.
Doesn't seem like a lot has changed.
No flag being flown at or on any facility in this country should ever be elevated higher then "old Glory". Many men and woman have died in defense of our flag. It should be flown higher then a ny other flag to honor them.
If the protocol is what the captain claims it to be, the protocol must be changed
Regarding Mr. Bergen's dismissal, shame on the captain of the ferry. Mr. Bergen should be reinstated immediately and thanked for his service to our country.
First of all, the flags on the ferry are both flown at equal height. On a ship of this sort it would be appropriate for them to be flown exactly as they are.. with the exception that they should theoretically be switched from side to side going back and forth,... which is pretty impossible.
If there was an emergency and this guy can;'t follow a simple instruction maybe he would not be able to follow through during an emergency.. always thinking he is the one who is right. The captain of a ship is always right.. even if he might be wrong.. there can;t be 4 leaders on a ship, only one person can be in charge.. they probably felt they could not trust him to follow orders and carry them out as told. If he was a DOT employee of 7 months he was on a probationary period... and could be fired for any reason. Maybe this was not the actual reason he was fired... anyone who rides the ferry knows the dangers in an emergency and would not want to have their safety relying on someone who cant follow basic orders ...
I AM A NAVY MOM, WHOSE SON SERVED TWO TOURS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. I THANK MR. BERGEN FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
I RIDE THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY AND CAPT. DESIMONE HAS BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN BEING SHOWN THE CORRECT WAY TO FLY OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG. THIS MAN SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST HIS JOB FOR POINTING OUT THE PROPER WAY TO FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG, EVEN TO A SUPERIOR.
I think this man should not of been fired. It is his belief that the American flag should be flown higher than all other flags. I dont know the proper rule but as a veteran I applaud this young man. He is a tru patriot and something should be done to give this young man and proud citizen of the UNITED STATES his job back. Capt Desimone should rethink this out.