They're not particularly forgiving to Tea Partiers either, check out the horrible picture on this one:

www.projo.com/news/content/COSTA_MIDSESSION_PROFILE_05-09-11_FBNTLB4_v20.2f66384.html

And they always pick the fat firemen to put on the front page.

How could there be a fat fireman? All we hear is what high mental and physical standards the job requires. I've been smugly informed dozens of times that I could never hope to qualify (by those who know absolutely nothing about me.)

"unshun"

What is the matter with you, Dan?"

"shun"

I'm well, Michael. How are you?

You must be in good spirits to be playing childish silent-treatment games.

When I think of the ideal public servant, condescention, unaccountability, elitism, and disdain aren't usually what come to mind. But as you frequently make clear on your personal blog, firefighting is the hardest job in the history of mankind, so you're entitled to bad behavior and a little mouthing off to those who pay your salary from time to time.

I would have been fired a long time ago for representing my office the way you do.

Dan, I assume this is the piece you found so offensive and grounds for firing.

Fire away.

"They call us niggers, spicks, crackers, douchebags, assholes and punks. They punch, spit ,kick, bite, head-butt, and throw things. They piss on the floor of the rescue, shit on the stretcher and put their bloody hands, their blood infected with Hepatitis and HIV on us.

“We’re public servants and we need to have thicker skin. … We’re expected to take verbal abuse — to an extent,” City of Providence Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Pare

Sorry Mr. Commissioner, but I respectfully disagree. Just as I have to use the word "respectfully" addressing you, the citizens of Providence, and everywhere must also use respect while interacting with us. It can be no other way. To allow, and condone any degree of disrespect to anybody, public servant or not is unacceptable.

If the public, who called us to help them cannot muster the civility needed to ensure respectable discourse they need to be exposed, criticized and the abuse stopped. Tolerance is not an option. Acceptance of abuse is unacceptable. The fine threads holding this city together are frayed already, it is time to repair those threads, and begin rebuilding the decayed foundation that holds this place together.

We are representatives of the city, ambassadors sent into peoples homes and neighborhoods to render assistance when things go wrong. Allowing those people to treat us with disdain is essentially allowing them to spit in the face of America.

We have a retired State Police Executive running public safety in Providence. I respectfully suggest he clean up the streets and start policing this place before suggesting the EMT's in his city grow some thick skin and allowing the criminals we are forced to treat as patients with kid gloves.

I'll try to remember to raise the bar a little higher the next time I'm sent to deal with an intoxicated, combative "patient" off their meds.

It won't take long."

And by the way, a lot of my "patients" carry loaded guns.