Atlanta Fire Chief Firing

[kalm]

Interesting case study in freedom. As person who manages people, for right or wrong, you have to sometimes be careful with your opinions. I'm guessing the firing is justified.

Thoughts?

ATLANTA — Mayor Kasim Reed’s decision to dismiss his fire chief last week for giving co-workers copies of a Christian self-help book condemning homosexuality is fanning new kinds of legal and political flames in this city, where deeply held religious convictions exist in a kind of defining tension with a reputation for New South tolerance.

Mr. Reed fired Kelvin Cochran, the chief, on Tuesday over the distribution of his book, which condemns homosexual acts as “vile, vulgar and inappropriate.” Reached at home on Thursday, Mr. Cochran referred all questions to his lawyers, who issued a statement on his behalf.

“I am heartbroken that I will no longer be able to serve the city and the people I love as fire chief, for no reason other than my Christian faith,” Mr. Cochran said in the statement released by the Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative legal organization that is representing him. “It’s ironic that the city points to tolerance and inclusion as part of its reasoning. What could be more intolerant and exclusionary than ending a public servant’s 30 years of distinguished service for his religious beliefs?”

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[CAA Flagship]

It's hate speech. Only cartoons of Muslins are excluded from this definition.

[tribe_pride]

If he was doing this in his private life, it's one thing but when you start getting your employer involved (especially as the top dog), you get into a tough spot when giving out controversial stuff like that, especially when the employer is a public entity.

[Ibanez]

I don't know about firing, but what he did was unacceptable. He wasn't fired for his faith. He was fired for bringing religion into the way he did.

[dbackjon]

For me, since he is the chief, it is doubly unacceptable. He manages staff. And to hand out at work, when some of your firemen are gay, is discrimination.

[CID1990]

For me, since he is the chief, it is doubly unacceptable. He manages staff. And to hand out at work, when some of your firemen are gay, is discrimination.

No, Jon. This is where you and most of the rest of the complaint culture are mistaken.

Handing out religious materials in your official capacity as a government employee is inappropriate.

Not hiring people because they are gay is discrimination.

[dbackjon]

For me, since he is the chief, it is doubly unacceptable. He manages staff. And to hand out at work, when some of your firemen are gay, is discrimination.

No, Jon. This is where you and most of the rest of the complaint culture are mistaken.

Handing out religious materials in your official capacity as a government employee is inappropriate.

Not hiring people because they are gay is discrimination.

And he clearly believes that gays are not capable of being employed by him, or being treated fairly by him. That's discrimination as well.