Toronto to remove 'Troops' decals from 350 vehicles

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Azure

Why the heck would you ask 'what decision?'

Isn't it obvious what we're talking about?

Not really... I'm talking about a program that was always scheduled to end in the Fall. You're acting like some specific decision has recently been made to remove the stickers.

Maybe they shouldn't have said...

Its plain what they're saying in the article;

"It was never intended to be forever," he said.
Chief Farr and his colleague, Fire Chief Bill Stewart, told a press conference today that neither city council, nor city staff ordered the stickers removed.
Instead, the chiefs said the campaign to adorn about 170 fire trucks and 175 ambulances with yellow ribbon decals was done on their authority and would be ended on their authority, as planned, in the autumn.

I'm not going to assume they're lying here... are you?

Why did they start it in the first place? Surely the opinions didn't get in the way then, eh?

So... what... unless they want to do it forever, there's no point in doing it at all? Things are allowed to end on schedule... even good things.

I know the program was supposed to end...I read the article too. But the article also talks about public influence.

Fair enough... though if you choose to read into this portion of the article as indicating it was public pressure that ended the program rather than... the scheduled end of the program, thats your call. For now, unless other evidence surfaces, I'll choose to believe the word of the Chiefs of these emergency services.

Just to add...if these stickers meant nothing...why the complaints from the public? In fact, why put them on in the first place?

I sincerely don't know. I don't see how someone putting a bumper sticker on their car makes them any more supportive of Canadian soldiers. Writing letters to soldiers, sending them gift boxes, volunteering your time with veteran's associations... THAT is a way to support the troops. Putting a bumper sticker on your car and puffing up your chest about how much you 'support the troops' means nothing, to me at least.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Flame On

... It seems like the pro sticker group could give a crap abuot the troops but really just want to be seen with a sticker that they can then point to and tsk the other people who don't have one.

Just to provide a bit of context in the case of EMS, armed forces medics are considered to be professional brothers by paramedics across Canada. There have been two armed forces medics killed in Afghanistan, and their deaths were officially considered line of duty deaths by the Paramedic Association of Canada and paramedics across Canada paid tribute to them at their memorial services. Armed forces medics are members of the Paramedic Association of Canada, just like the paramedics who staff ambulances across Canada. So for paramedics, these stickers didn't just represent support of Canadian troops, but also support of their brothers in the armed forces.

For additional context, I know Bruce Farr, the Toronto EMS Chief who is quoted in the article. He is a good guy and I doubt he would remove the stickers for political reasons. His reasons are likely as stated ... because the program had a predetermined shelf life. Therefore, I would hesitate to make more out of this story than what meets the eye.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Just to provide a bit of context in the case of EMS, armed forces medics are considered to be professional brothers by paramedics across Canada. There have been two armed forces medics killed in Afghanistan, and their deaths were officially considered line of duty deaths by the Paramedic Association of Canada and paramedics across Canada paid tribute to them at their memorial services. Armed forces medics are members of the Paramedic Association of Canada, just like the paramedics who staff ambulances across Canada. So for paramedics, these stickers didn't just represent support of Canadian troops, but also support of their brothers in the armed forces.

For additional context, I know Bruce Farr, the Toronto EMS Chief who is quoted in the article. He is a good guy and I doubt he would remove the stickers for political reasons. His reasons are likely as stated ... because the program had a predetermined shelf life. Therefore, I would hesitate to make more out of this story than what meets the eye.

I think we're actually in agreement then. I'm not against the stickers. I'm against the outcry when the stickers went away. Which as you describe, sound as if they did so for entirely above board reasons....hmmm hope that's not confusing.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Flame On

I think we're actually in agreement then. I'm not against the stickers. I'm against the outcry when the stickers went away. Which as you describe, sound as if they did so for entirely above board reasons....hmmm hope that's not confusing.

Yes, we are in agreement. I just wanted to provide some context as to why they were there in the first place, as far as EMS is concerned. And for anyone from EMS who wanted them to remain, they have a very legitimate reason. That's all ... I wasn't disagreeing, just adding context.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Yes, we are in agreement. I just wanted to provide some context as to why they were there in the first place, as far as EMS is concerned. And for anyone from EMS who wanted them to remain, they have a very legitimate reason. That's all ... I wasn't disagreeing, just adding context.

Come on pick a side. You're either with the troops or against them!

[Rockin' Flames]

Seems that the Toronto municpal government has changed their mind.

Decals on emergency vehicles showing support for Canada's troops will remain on Toronto's emergency vehicles for at least another year.
City councillors voted unanimously today in favour of keeping the “Support Our Troops” decals on fire trucks and ambulances.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Come on pick a side. You're either with the troops or against them!

I'm support the troops, but I find stickers are a lame way to express things. Therefore I don't really care one way or the other about whether they leave them on or take them off. Although, if I were a paramedic in Toronto, I'd probably want to leave them on.

Edit: Actually, after re-reading your posts and mine, I think we agree on similar things but for different reasons, and it is getting a bit confused. I mostly just wanted to throw in the EMS background to the story more than anything. I'll leave it to the sticker haters and the sticker lovers to quarrel about their usefulness.