He's just another political hack.
Posted on 02/18/2012 5:40:00 PM PST by smoothsailing
NJLawman.com-Police and Law Enforcement News
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Yesterday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered all New Jersey State and American flags to be lowered to half staff on Saturday in honor of Entertainer Whitney Houston who passed away this week.
Last year, the governor did the same for Clarence Clemmons, the saxophone player for the E Street Band.
In January, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett ordered the state flag to half staff for three days in honor of Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno when he passed.
We take great issue with this practice.
Ms. Houston and Mr. Clemmons are both children of our great state and were both wildly successful. Each has made a significant contribution to music, culture, and the arts, and both are deserving of many accolades.
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.
It is eminently important that we protect the tributes that have become part of the military and public service fabric over the past two centuries. They are part of our tradition and should not be for sale at any price. They should not be available to take, and they should not be available to give.
The manner in which we lay the valorous when they fall helps define how we should carry ourselves while we live.
Lowering the flag to half staff should be reserved only for those who perish as a result of public duty and service, protecting our nation and the Constitution, and for those who served as formal leaders and dignitaries.
This practice must stop.
I can hear her now; "Wasn't Christie great! Mitt is so much like him!"
He's just another political hack.
I could not let that comment pass, without offering my thanks for raising a patriot, and for the sacrifice you have laid down on the altar of freedom. God bless you.
*Only the president of the United States or the Governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure. In addition to the traditional half-staff salutes, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring leading citizens such as Martin Luther King, Jr.
See post #23
Perhaps the outcry over this decision will make him think twice next time.
It’s not the end of the world, but this honor should be reserved for more worthy recipients.
Thank you. I will be eternally grateful for the honor of being “Joshua’s mom”.
Thanx for the post. FR is full of shoot-from-the-hip and thoughtless one-line posts that do not stand up to analysis. Posts like yours are refreshing. Well, at least the FReepers vote correctly.
She can ONLY be defined as a person that battled drugs, alcohol and so sought treatment for?
Is Rush identified only as a person who misused prescription drugs, used a housekeeper to score, but sought treatment via Rehab in NY? Bush abused alcohol and was arrested for driving under the influence. He admitted to substance abuse aka alcohol. Bush stopped drinking, he said in the late 80's and took up Bible study. Newt had a problem being faithful to his wives as did Clinton to Hillary and perhaps even Herman Cain as he has never disputed the last accusation. You can have addictions in many ways.
People can battle addictions, but that does not mean they do not do good for others from which society can benefit?
The Houston foundation as been in effect for over 10 years now and have benefited "the kids" At the Service for Ms Houston, charitable donations were given in lieu of flowers for "the kids".
Benedict Arnold--Now I have heard it all....GMAB~ then they all must be traitors under your definition thereof. She supported the Armed Forces, she was never vocal against our troops in the negative.
This was One State and a city-Newark remembered a famous of figure of their own. She is rated with Bill Cosby in the top 3 of Black celebrities who rose to the top highly established in their their respective careers.
As I stated the law in some states allows for a person outside of a fallen soldier, a government official etc to have the flag lowered to half staff in memory of a person who was from Newark, NJ.
Whitney singing the National Anthem is one of the best I have ever heard.
How many people here even fly a flag outside their home??
BA GMAB
i have no jealousy for her and made no comment on her life style, drug and alcohol abuse or the thing she was married to, it's simply the way i was raised, to follow the rules of flag etiquette... "BTW, I've saved several lives from certain death over the years. Did heroic work to save them."
not quite sure how that fits the discussion but congratulations
"They regularly lower flags for people with fewer accomplishments ~ administrative types in fact."
the fact that the flag has been lowered for people "with fewer accomplishments" doesn't make it right for them, or her
like i said i have no problem with him lowering the state flag but please read post #10, celebrities are not mentioned...
FReegards
You missed the point which was the last line professor.
A FReeper with a 1999 sign up date is a newb in your book?
thank you...
I find most posters have another agenda in mind--dislike, perhaps in this case, Gov Christie, just a hunch.
Everything becomes so damn political.
Have a good weekend.
LOL, with the second Gov. Cuomo in my lifetime, believe me, i feel your pain...
FWIW, I think neither Frank nor Bruce should be honored in such a way.
Honorable men, no doubt, in their own ways. But such honor should be reserved for those who have dedicated their lives to specifically public service, not those who managed to be a big success in private fields.
Bill Gates and George Lucas both made lots of money. And they’re deserving of every penny. Doesn’t make them deserving of flags lowered to half staff.
Always a pleasure, Chode. :)
Naps...another voice of reason heard from.:)
“I believe Gov Crispy Cream did the same thing when Clarence Clemens of the E Street Band died.”
Tell me you are joking. Please !!!!!!
Post #28 ~ she sounds like a contributor.
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