Fired for offensive picture at Tomb of the Unknown

Not sure if this has been posted yet; I looked through D&D and didn't see anything so...

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Facebook-Firestorm-Should-She-Lose-Her-Job-180301321.html


"A Facebook firestorm has erupted over a photo of a visitor "clowning around" near the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery - and now there's an online campaign to cost that visitor her job.
Lindsey Stone, a visitor from Cape Cod, was on a work trip to the Washington area last month when she and a co-worker visited Arlington, reports News4's Erika Gonzalez.
A sign at the Tomb of the Unknowns, among the most solemn places in the cemetery that calls itself "our Nation's most hallowed ground," asks for "Silence and Respect."
Stone's co-worker shot a photo of Stone next to that sign, her middle finger raised, and mugging as if she is shouting loudly.
Stone posted the photo to her Facebook page, and quickly received a flurry of furious reaction, reports Gonzalez.
Stone has since removed the photo, but it already had been shared widely. A "Fire Lindsey Stone" Facebook page was quickly created, and now has more than 12,000 likes.
Stone would not agree to an interview. But her father told News4 that his daughter wants to apologize to anyone she may have offended.
She was clowning around and reacting to the sign, not the place, Stone's father told Gonzalez.
Stone had taken to Facebook in her own defense, saying she was "challenging authority in general. Much like the pic posted the night before, of me smoking right next to a no smoking sign."
"OBVIOUSLY we meant NO disrespect to people that serve or have served our country," she said, according to Gawker.
But that explanation does not seem to have quelled the anger of the "Fire Lindsey Stone" community, many of whom have posted photos of their loved ones who were killed in action and are buried at Arlington.
"However one feels about the war, these young men, fought, bled, endured things beyond 99% of the population's comprehension and gave their lives for a country they love…" reads part of one post.
"Having been to Arlington I can't imagine how any human being could be so disrespectful," reads another.
Stone and her co-worker are is now on unpaid leave from their jobs at LIFE, a non-profit organization that provides housing for people with disabilities in the Cape Cod area, and which paid for the trip.
The organization said it was conducting an investigation, and issued a statement:
"This photograph in no way reflects the opinions or values of the LIFE organization, which holds our nation's veterans in the highest regard."
The Old Guard, the U.S. Army Infantry regiment that is charged with guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns and is famous for weathering literal storms, seems prepared to weather a social media storm as well. They told Gonzalez that Stone is entitled to her freedom of speech.
And as for Stone's photo, the Old Guard said, it deserves no further comment."




This is similar to the girl being fired from Cold Stone for her offensive facebook status after Obama winning the Presidential election, and I know how most people felt about that.
My thoughts:
While it might be a little harsh to fire her, the company for whom she works would simply be protecting themselves from consumer backlash. She obviously wasn't speaking on behalf of the company itself with her actions, but as an employee (especially one who was on a company trip), the way that she speaks/acts does reflect on them. By firing her, LIFE would be sending a zero tolerance message to the public (beyond a measly "We don't agree with her actions" statement). I may not agree with it myself, but that might be what is required for the best interests of the company.

I'm just going by having seen the picture and your topic. She absolutely should have been fired. She's such a twat.

I agree with the company's actions and I agree that she was way out of line. A no smoking sign and causing a scene at the most prominent cemetery in the US are 2 totally different things. There are certain things that need to be respected.

Because she was on a company trip, I would fire her. Especially after her comment that she was pranking. That shows a lack of discipline and common sense.

Quoting Supafly★:" I agree with the company's actions and I agree that she was way out of line. A no smoking sign and causing ... [snip!] ... at the most prominent cemetery in the US are 2 totally different things. There are certain things that need to be respected. "

  This.

<blockquote><b>Quoting khigh:</b>" Because she was on a company trip, I would fire her. Especially after her comment that she was pranking. That shows a lack of discipline and common sense."</blockquote>

I agree.

Quoting khigh:" Because she was on a company trip, I would fire her. Especially after her comment that she was pranking. That shows a lack of discipline and common sense."

  This too.

I dont know... Although it was a work trip, I'm assuming she wasn't at a work function at the time, and was there in her free time, meaning her work and her photo should be kept apart, IMO.

She's a smurfing smurf though, that's for sure. I understand she said she was "challenging authority" in general... but that was neither the time, nor the place.

She looks like a douche. Firing her may have been a tad bit extreme, but that's the company's right.

This girl deserved to be fired! She looked so immature doing that. That is lame crap people did in mid school. Not to mention the obvious lack of respect.

I think firing her is extreme...

But with all the backlash, it might be in the companies best interest to do so.

mmm I dont know..part of me says yes part of me says no.

Maybe I see it differently because DH is military and my grandparents are buried at Arlington . I don't see firing her being extreme or uncalled for at all. I would have fired her simply for her actions, especially because she was on a work trip, not just because of the social backlash.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I dont know... Although it was a work trip, I'm assuming she wasn't at a work function at the time, and ... [snip!] ... for sure. I understand she said she was "challenging authority" in general... but that was neither the time, nor the place."

  My sentiments exactly.

I've seen that pic going around Facebook. I think it's so disrespectful