Posted on 02/20/2012 8:51:49 AM PST by MNDude
But just as an American serviceman killed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan is not deserving of a Grammy award, musicians and celebrities are not deserving of the lowering of the American flag.
Simply, not everybody gets every honor.
There are few gestures as symbolic and as loud as an entire state lowering their flags at the same moment for the same amount of time.
Seeing a flag at the half staff position should spawn pause and thought. It should make one a bit unsettled but at the same time thankful. It should make one ask, "what happened?"
A flag at half staff gives publicity to courage and nobility otherwise only mildly publicized. For one day, it is an inescapable message announcing to an entire state that tragedy occurred and reminding everyone that the fruits of each free day come with a price.
Expanding this honor only diminishes its meaning and raises the question: where does it end?
Between Ms. Houston and Mr. Clemmons, entire rooms could be filled with the distinctions they have each received throughout their lives.
In the coming months and years they will continue to be given well deserved recognition for their accomplishments.
But there are certain honors that should and must be set aside.
Rifle salutes, aircraft flyovers, and half-staffed flags are among those honors and they should not be on the public menu.
(Excerpt) Read more at ushistory.org ...
Governor of NJ puts flags at half staff for Whitney Houston.
Think he is appeasing a voting block?
Deal not big. 725 on my list of concerns
yes it is appeasing. sympathizing and racist too. would not have happened if the singer was a different color.
The US Rulebook For Blacks says all celebrity black drug addicts get the flag lowered along with 10 days of non-stop pandering TV coverage and a funeral at least as big as JFK’s.
I agree, he should have Flown A CRACK PIPE at Half Mast instead.
That’s racist!
Not for some lesbian millionaire singer who got wasted on illegal drugs and drowned in her bathtub.
Knock Knock:
Who’s there?
Dwaine.
Dwaine who?
Dwaine the bathtub! I’m dwowning!
I agree in the case of Houston but not all celebrities. Houston was a junkie and a drunk with absolutlely NO redeeming social value. However, someone like Bob Hope, who used his fame to serve his country and honor her veterans and active duty servicemen certainly deserved the honor. But, IMHO, there are very few who do...of ANY walk of life, including most politicians.
Agreed. I would not make the same decision as Christie, but not being from NJ, I do not have a dog in this fight.
I will say I never associated Whitney Houston with NJ—always Atlanta.
At least it was the Governor, which is the appropriate person to order the flags to fly at half staff. Up here where I live a while ago a high school librarian was killed in a car accident. The principal of the school ordered the flags to fly at half staff. When I questioned her, she got all huffy. I told her that if she did not follow the rules how did she expect the students to follow the rules. She went off on some kind of ends justify the means rant.
For whatever it’s worth, I say let this go.
I don’t think this will gain any of the ‘Rat vote for Christie anyway.
I understand flag-lowering was big for Elvis’ demise, so I don’t think a case can be made of racism.
I see this as a symptom of the decay of our culture.
50 years ago no governor would have ever considered honoring an entertainer in such a way.
But in today’s society entertainers have become our royalty because soldier and politicians have been so diminished in the public eye by the popular press and Hollywood that they no longer can be viewed as heroes by the popular press or in general, the public.
When traditional heroes have been so diminished there must arise another class of hero to take their place.
It is sad that a group so morally unworthy of admiration has risen to take the place honor from those who put their very lives at risk for our country
“yes it is appeasing. sympathizing and racist too. would not have happened if the singer was a different color.”
Nixon did it for Elvis, but I haven’t been able to determine if he just suggested it or ordered it; nevertheless, many cities and states did it.
While it certainly seems appeasing and sympathizing, I cannot disagree with your statement that it is racist.
State flag; fine. Old Glory, not so much.
Oops, meant to say:
I cannot agree with your statement that it is racist.
To lower the flag for this trashy crack ho just shows how liberal and stupid Chris is.
This is the kind of liberal RINO we get from the North East coast. Keep them. In fact, Republicans should start kicking out anyone who isn’t a true Republican or conservative. Starting with Christy, Paul, Romney.
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