Posted on 02/16/2012 10:12:01 AM PST by ZULU
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.
Granting the same honor to a media icon with a tragic end brought on by herself that is normally granted to fallen Military Heroes.
and she is justified too, The Marine Corps is at war, America is at the grammys.
Christie is just pandering to the black vote, which he won’t get in any event. He is showing neither character nor intelligence.
Much of it is to brain wash us and keep the worthless Hollywood media entertainment crowd controlling us and serving as our icons, instead of what is really important.
I also thought it was a similar outrage that any living non-serving breathing politician (of any party) such as Giffords was honored with a ship named after her, while young servicemen who give it all as nation builders often for politics and corrupt pseudo foreign dictators, get only a military burial. Politicians should be limited to post offices, not USN ships unless they served.
Well said...
A fallen Marine is a man, who self-lessly sacrificed his life in the preservation of freedom of Americans, and to preserve the lives of his comrades. He is, by definition, a hero; one worthy of honor and respect.
Whitney Houston was a self-absorbed drunk and drug abusing loser, who was blessed with both beauty and a voice that very, very few were ever given. She accoumulated wealth that most American families will never see, over their lifetimes, and the lifetimes of their children.
And she used her wealth, to puruse a life of laziness, drug addiction, alcohol addiction - and finally managed to kill herself.
And for this ... she is honored? Suicide by selfishness is not a virtue, nor is it something to worship. It’s something to be pitied and despised.
It was unneccesary and a bad message to kids.
Did he stop to think about the average inner city kid in NJ? Maybe just the average kid, period.
They already have messed up views of drugs and society, and this tells them you can go out as a drug addict and be honored.
I will say again, people such as Michael jackson, Whitney Houston, and that gay kid who committed suicide, should be criticized for destroying their lives. Kids can still listen to their songs, their deaths should be considered shameful mistakes.
Amen.
(2) Houston was a beloved figure in NJ, and that is what the lowering of the flag is generally used for in NJ, outside of political and military observances.
(3) Obviously an MSM reporter went out and tracked down the still freshly-grieving mother of an American hero for the sole purpose of using her grief to get a money quote with which to go after Governor Christie.
(4) Obviously some FReepers are, Pavlov's dog-like, gobbling up the MSM's bait without even thinking.
“All gave some, some gave all”
Whitney Houston merely had it all. Nothing more.
I agree with her, but the problem is that it has be done so often for many reason (Typhoon victims in Phuket, etc.) that it is somewhat unfair to just to complain about Christie. I am no fan of CC but he did not start it.
There were some conservatives here on FR who wanted the last surviving vet of World War I to lay in state in the Capitol Rontunda and questioned the patriotism of those who opposed it, when the honor is reserved By regulation and custom, to only Presidents, military commanders, and members of Congress.
He should at the very least wait until a cause of death has been determined. Suicide has not yet been ruled out. Either way this is something that should not be done for everyone.
Funny how people don’t appreciate celebrities who commit suicide through drug use.
Maybe New Jersey wants to legalize medical crack cocaine.
And this is the guy Ann Coulter wanted as the GOP nominee? No wonder she's supporting Romney.
Licking Romney’s hindquarters.....now this.
What in the HELL has gotten into Gov. Christie anyway?????
Uh-oh. You went and thought about it before you posted.
I too am offended by Gov. Christies lowering a flag to half staff for Whitney Houston.
ML/NJ
“What in the HELL has gotten into Gov. Christie anyway?????”
Re-election in a blue state.
Dittos on what you said!
If Christie is willing to do this for Whitney Houston, imagine what he’d do if Bruce Springsteen were to ‘pass’ during his administration...
I also thought it was a similar outrage that any living non-serving breathing politician (of any party) such as Giffords was honored with a ship named after her, while young servicemen who give it all as nation builders often for politics and corrupt pseudo foreign dictators, get only a military burial. Politicians should be limited to post offices, not USN ships unless they served.
BINGO!!!!
Chris Christie is trolling for votes in the next election. Count on it.
He’d wear a black mumu for a month.
“(1) Lowering the flag to half-staff is not reserved to military heroes alone.”
And in some cases warrented and others not. CLEARLY, to any RATIONAL tinking person, this is NOT.
“(4) Obviously some FReepers are, Pavlov’s dog-like, gobbling up the MSM’s bait without even thinking.”
Its MORE obvious that SOME people FAIL to recognize JUST ONE PIECE in the puzzle that is Chris Christie and the picture emerging is that of just another politician on the make, a RINO par excellance - just like his buddy - Mitt Romney.
As will Jimmah, and even (pardon me while I vomit) Comrade Zero.
Well, Christie came out in support of Romney very early and called Gingirch, in effect, a crook.
No we aren’t Pavlov’s dog. Lowering the flag to half staff for an entertainer is just wrong on many different levels. Back in the day this would never even be considered.
No we aren’t Pavlov’s dog. Lowering the flag to half staff for an entertainer is just wrong on many different levels. Back in the day this would never even be considered.
Nothing has “gotten into him”.
As I said, Christie is not now and never was, a philosophical conservative. He’s a pragmatic politician on the make fo rhigher office - a typical Northeastern RINO.
Don’t look now, but the Obamafication and Christiefication of America is WELL underway.
Here in Utah, we recently had our flags flown at half-mast for a funeral too. 7 Cops were shot while in the line of duty, 1 died trying to apprehend a Felon.
If we lower the flag every time some loser (and yes, Whitney is a loser) kicks the bucket; before long this honor will mean nothing to anyone.
It is not the same honour. This is the state flag. I do not understand why anyone would have a problem with it. But then again, she is the Mother of a fallen Marine so I do not criticize her at all. In any way. She has a right to her opinion.
If he had not done so, he would have been charged with disrespecting the memory of a black woman, obviously a racist omisssion. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
“honour” ????
Are you an American???? That’s a British spelling.
Seriously doubt that. He’s on the make for votes.
I am a Texan. Third generation. My grandson is fifth generation Texan...bustin’ my buttons here. Yes, I know about the spelling. I also use colour, etc. And yet, ..here I sit in San Antonio. (Did it matter from whence I came?)
I cited the flag code requirements and acknowledged that the judge killed was a veteran. Still, the only reason to direct the flag flown nationally at half staff, is the death of a high government official or sanctioned holidays.
Personally, I think the obummer administration is so ignorant of the flag code that they thought they were doing it for Gifford.
I can promise you that when Willie Nelson passes away the state of Texas will fly its flag at half staff for him. The Texas Senate has officially made 4 July Willie Nelson Day here. When it happened, I was not sure how I was supposed to honour it, so when my husband came home, he found me in the kitchen in my cowboy hat with red bandana hat band, a Willie tshirt and I was playing Amazing Grace and I’ll Fly Away on the stereo. Hope that sufficed.
Oh come on now, Whitney is a well known cocaine addict and here in the good ole upside down USA, we honor drug addicts, not the people who fight and die for this country. Sheesh.
I did not know that. Thank you for telling me. Still, I have no problem with it. Much as when Willie Nelson dies and we do the same here, Texas will not care how the rest of the country feels about us doing so. I am sure Gov Christie and NJ feels the same. Still, I mean no disrespect to the Mother of the fallen Marine.
She is 100%right.
It is an insult to good, law abiding people everywhere.
Are they going to put the flag at half mast for every self centered, drug addled, prima donna celebrity who drugs and drinks themselves into an early grave?
If so, the flag will never again make it to the top of the mast.
On the other hand, since when is one person being offended about something to be considered news? If that's the case, then it should be newsworthy that Obama offends the hell out of me, along with all his communist democrat cohorts. However, it's not something that the flag should be lowered to half mast over.
Just curious. I do it too. Comes from reading too many books printed in the Commonwealth.
“When it happened, I was not sure how I was supposed to honour it..”
Snort some good cocaine? Give up baths for a few weeks?
Just because somebody has one good God-Given talent, that doesn’t make them a role model. Hitler had toatl recall and Mussolini made the trains run on time and almost wiped out the Mafia.
These are extreme examples, but I think you get the point.
I PERSONALLY think the flag shold be flown at half mast to honor military dead and a FEW VERY select people. Around here they lower them for the local fire chief who died of natural causes at 90.
The American Flag is special. It should be honored as such.
I am sorry. I was being silly, though the story was true. We are a household who loves Willie. Instead of silly, I came across as obnoxious didn’t I? I do apologize. And I certainly do not disagree with you Re: flying the U.S. Flag at half staff. It absolutely should be flown at half staff for military only. I was talking about the Texas flag. My “humour” gets lost in translation doesn’t it? Such as it is....and the cocaine line? lol....sorry. That was funny. Don’t care who you are...it was funny. Tho Willie does not do cocaine. Marijuana? Yes. On a daily basis. And he can. Leave him alone. He says it is an “herb”...Willie is a sweet gentle man with alot of talent.
And presidents of course.
Now that you mention it, I probably do it for the same reason. Interesting now that you have brought it to my attention. By the way, my apology for coming off as obnoxious was sincere. I am truly sorry. I am not an obnoxious person. I hate it when I give that impression.
I don’t think you are an “obnoxious person” and your opinion is just as valuable as mine.
That’s why we live in America not Amerika.
And your humor is fine too. Its just that computer communications can’t convey nuances that face to face or even voice communications can.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.