Posted on 02/16/2012 9:21:43 AM PST by Eyes Unclouded
Flags will be lowered in New Jersey Saturday, the day of Whitney Houston’s funeral. But a Marine mom in Arlington says it’s an honor Houston doesn’t deserve.
When Phyllis McGeath heard Gov. Chris Christie had ordered flags lowered to half-staff for Houston, she said she felt a pain deep inside her.
“I was hurt and offended. Disappointed. Saddened,” she said. “I felt like the honor that was given to my son was tarnished.”
McGeath had three sons who were active duty Marines.
Her oldest, Philip, was killed by a suicide bomber just four weeks ago in Afghanistan. He was 25.
“They killed my son.They took his body away from me,” she said, overcome by emotion.
Arizona, the McGeath’s former home state, lowered their flags in his honor.
“That honor meant a lot to me,” McGeath said.
McGeath says Houston is not deserving of that same honor.
“Nothing against Ms. Houston because she was a beautiful singer and I was a fan for years,” McGeath said.
But, “It was like putting them on the same level. And I know how my son lived. And I know through the media how Ms. Houston lived,” she said.
New Jersey’s Governor, Chris Christie, defended his decision to lower the flags in his state saying he wasn’t honoring Houston as a role model but as “a daughter of New Jersey.”
Christie is a conservative Republican. He’s also a former U.S. Attorney who recently called for mandatory drug treatment for non-violent offenders. But he said Houston’s substance abuse issues shouldn’t negate her achievements.
“There but for the grace of God go I,” he said.
Federal law authorizes governors of American states to order flags lowered to half-staff for state officials or residents who’ve died.
There is no law or rule that requires the person being honored to have been a politician or a service member.
Christie approved a similar order when Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band member Clarence Clemons died last June.
Thinking about the recent death of her Marine son, McGeath said, “It frustrates me all the attention this one lady is being given for dying. When our son died, it was initially a one liner in the newspaper.”
Houston also sang the National Anthem in 1991 to returning Gulf War service members. But for Phyllis McGeath singing and fighting on the front lines are two very different things.
“My son gave his life,” she said. “He gave his life.”
Say what?!
Christie is as given to ethnic pandering as most politicians are, as evidenced by his recent judicial nominations.
Hey ho, business as usual in the swamp.
To be fair, Christie would probably put the flags at half-mast if Bruce Springsteen died. But probably not if Springsteen had been a train wreck for years and died of a probable overdose.
“Calling him a left wing loon just doesn’t go far enough.....’’< How about ‘’fat-assed Lou Costello-look-alike f’ing RINO’’?
She is absolutely correct
No, you are both wrong. The honor was given by Arizona where she and her son lived. Only last year, flags were half-staffed in NJ for a member of Bruce Springsteen's band. If she doesn't like how NJ does things, I say get the hell out like a sane person.
Her view reflects the dangerous liberal grand central government thought, that each state is interchangeable with any other and needs uniform laws, values and practices.
This ex-Zonie feels entitled to tell NJ how to do its business much like illegal immigrants feel entitled to tell Americans how to feel about the erosion of common language and cultural values.
It's not a practice I would follow but it's NJ. It didn't surprise me.
Since it is common practice there, the sudden moral outrage on this thread and from the Zonie-transplant mom illicits a bit of an eye-roll.
Evidently Whitney Houston has been earmarked as the latest "two minutes hate" among a shameful group of freepers. What happened to not speaking ill of the dead? What happened to having a morsel of respect? They're savages.
Actually, in some places like his hometown, they did.
Buffalo's mayor wanted to do it for NBC's Tim Russert but their law didn't allow it.
I LIKE it! Spread the word!
“Spread the word!!’’< Thanks, I have been.
Christie likely recognizes that a majority of Americans are celebrity infatuated entertainment addicts and he will gain good will with them for loudly honoring a widely known singer.
BS. It’s has nothing to do with states rights. Let NJ fly it’s state flag half mast if they want
Maybe their another way to look at it like Jesus would...
Who is without SIN cast the first stone...
Today on all the Cable News Networks, people went to church as they heard about Jesus today...
No one said the woman is perfect or that she did not have her troubles and struggles we all do..
She loved the LORD... Yes Jesus loves her...GOD’s love and Mercy is far bigger than anyone’s Sin and Struggles....
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