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.”
Gov Krispie Creame is a Left Wing Loon !
A young Marine from Jersey died in Afghanistan the day before Whitney Houston did. Did Christie lower the flag for him?
Americans have tuned out of the war on terror it seems. I wonder if the next terror attack kills some celebrities then we might see Hollywood and the zombies that worship them support the war.
With this sort of stuff happening I think we are truly lost as a country....
[ Christie is a conservative Republican ]
No he isn’t.
They are even more disgusting then the run of the mill commie leftist.....
Calling him a left wing loon just doesn't go far enough......
Lowering the flag for a drug addled entertainer is an insult. No matter how popular she may have been it is inappropriate.
I also liked Whitney Houston but she certainly doesn’t deserve this “honor”. By doing this he is showing kids that it’s okay to live and die the way she did.
She had the choice as a responsible adult TO NOT DO THE DRUGS in the first place knowing she would become addicted. She did them anyway. Way to many people WORSHIP these false idols and put them on pedestals. She made her choices and they were wrong.
The best thing they can do is put a picture of her on a billboard with:
Gone before her time because she had money and used it the wrong way. Drugs kill.
The flag should remain full.
I am more than disappointed to hear Christie has lowered the flag for other NJ “cultural icons.” Yikes!!!
Can’t wait until they name the next ship the USS Whitney Houston.
Nickname it the "Screamer"
Once the enemies ears start bleeding, it'd be a whole lot easier to kick their @ss
Gag.
She is absolutely correct
USS Whitney Houston would be a new class of ship: the self-destroyer.
There’s no way around it for Christie. How can you honor a self-destructive celebrity over a fallen marine? One gave her life for an addiction, the other for his country. Is it not enough that high profile entertainers make millions, have huge fan clubs, have more “highs” (in every sense of the word) and receive more honors in a single month than the average person in a lifetime? Do we really have to start lowering our flags for them every time one of them dies now? Why not start erecting shrines for them too while we’re at it?
Ay yi yi.
At first Christie seemed like a breath of fresh air but this and other things have shown him to be a typical pandering politician who just happens to have a talent for witty retorts. What a disappointment he has turned out to be. But that can be said for most Republican politicians of late.
Christie’s action on this issue is disgusting, yet it is consistent with his RINOism.
This unpatriotic act and blatant insult to our fallen, just adds to understanding of why this large piece of lard has endorsed his RINO brother, Romney.
Whitney Houston was a wonderful singer and she had been a beautiful woman, but she was certainly not an American hero.
I loved her “voice”, just as I loved the voice of Elvis, and still do. They, like many others, were entertainers, very talented and gifted entertainers.....but that is all.
We live in a mad world, being lead by corrupt morons.
This is an abuse of power and degrades our flag.
Do we have a public memorial every time some pop star over doses just because we like their music?
Did we lower the flag when Michael Jackson died?
This bizarre decision destroys Christie’ credibility.
It is an insult to the men who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom.
We really could be losing it. It could be over.
Here is the problem. In our upside down society there are no consequences. Sports star baddies are heroes, impeached Presidents get reelected, and children are in charge.
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