Flag at half staff for Whitney Houston

[mamagardener]

Wow, I can't believe how off the rails this thread has gone.
I don't care if she was a celebrity, if she was black, if she was a drug addict, if she gave money away to charity.

She was not a hero by the standards of people who have given great sacrifice to their country...

That is all I care about.

Maybe this is because my father went to Korea, and I have great respect for veterans. Too many people seem to relate celebrity with heroes.

A hero is someone who usually lives a quiet life and does their duty and doesn't look for fame or glory!

 

[Capvin]

I assume that you believe that this topic has "gone off the rails" because there are people who may disagree with you. The topic was started as a commentary of Governor Christie's decision to fly the flag at half staff for Whitney Houston. The comments, for the most part, have been politely limited to those who disagree and why, and those who agree with him, and why. Now your comment that Houston was not a hero is a bit off the rails. I do not believe anyone said that she was a hero and that is really not the topic. You also talk about the standards of people who gave great sacrifice to this country. I gave great sacrifice to this country. I was in Vietnam for almost two years and my son was a fighter pilot in Iraq and Afganistan for almost ten years with many combat missions. I will not speak for my son but I disagree with you. You may be correct in saying that in your opinion the lowering of the flag should be limited only to those who are hero's by your standards. However, that is not how it works. Just this year alone the flag was lowered to half staff for a head basketball coach in a high school, a 102 year old minister, a civil rights activist, the 13 people who were killed when the bridge collapsed in Minn, the President of a small university in Oklahoma and numerous Representatives that hardly anyone has heard of and could not be classified as hero's in any sense of the word. Houston was not a hero, but that was not the test. I do not believe that Houston was a hero, except to those people in Newark and the Oranges who looked up to her. BUT, under the present circumstances and considering how the other Governor's used the order to fly the flag at half staff, I think Christie made the right decision.

 

[Beekissed]

Of course he did...because following the crowd is such a wise choice in these matters. One wouldn't want to have a principle and actually stand upon it.

 

[trooper]

I assume that you believe that this topic has "gone off the rails" because there are people who may disagree with you. The topic was started as a commentary of Governor Christie's decision to fly the flag at half staff for Whitney Houston. The comments, for the most part, have been politely limited to those who disagree and why, and those who agree with him, and why. Now your comment that Houston was not a hero is a bit off the rails. I do not believe anyone said that she was a hero and that is really not the topic. You also talk about the standards of people who gave great sacrifice to this country. I gave great sacrifice to this country. I was in Vietnam for almost two years and my son was a fighter pilot in Iraq and Afganistan for almost ten years with many combat missions. I will not speak for my son but I disagree with you. You may be correct in saying that in your opinion the lowering of the flag should be limited only to those who are hero's by your standards. However, that is not how it works. Just this year alone the flag was lowered to half staff for a head basketball coach in a high school, a 102 year old minister, a civil rights activist, the 13 people who were killed when the bridge collapsed in Minn, the President of a small university in Oklahoma and numerous Representatives that hardly anyone has heard of and could not be classified as hero's in any sense of the word. Houston was not a hero, but that was not the test. I do not believe that Houston was a hero, except to those people in Newark and the Oranges who looked up to her. BUT, under the present circumstances and considering how the other Governor's used the order to fly the flag at half staff, I think Christie made the right decision.

You are out of your mind.He did not have the right to lower the flag for her.He did have the right to lower the State flag.He should have been speaking for the people of New Jersey and not the whole United States.That Governor overstepped his Legal Boundaries.He is a Governor of the State,not the whole United States.That's one of the problems with politicians now.The think they can do whatever they want.He had NO right.

 

[Capvin]

You are out of your mind.He did not have the right to lower the flag for her.He did have the right to lower the State flag.He should have been speaking for the people of New Jersey and not the whole United States.That Governor overstepped his Legal Boundaries.He is a Governor of the State,not the whole United States.That's one of the problems with politicians now.The think they can do whatever they want.He had NO right.

Another legal authority!!! Yes, read some of the comments above...he did have the right, authority and the law is on his side. You may disagree with what he did, which you obviously do, but to make a legal argument is out of your paygrade. And yes, you may be right and I may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic youre looking for.

 

[Capvin]

Of course he did...because following the crowd is such a wise choice in these matters. One wouldn't want to have a principle and actually stand upon it.

Please tell me, what crowd was he following and what principle did he violate.

 

[chickened]

You know what Christie did was not appropriate but was it wrong maybe maybe not that area is a shade of gray. I know one thing it is disrespectful to those that hold the flag at a higher plane than others and I understand their point. Now is it worth getting your panties in a wad over? hardly but it was distasteful.

Please tell me, what crowd was he following and what principle did he violate.

 

[redhen]

 


Another legal authority!!!  Yes, read some of the comments above...he did have the right, authority and the law is on his side.  You may disagree with what he did, which you obviously do, but to make a legal argument is out of your paygrade.  And yes, you may be right and I may be crazy, but it just may be a lunatic youre looking for.

good song...

 

[Beekissed]

Quote: The crowd? The others he followed...as you have written. The principles? I don't know the man personally and I'd hesitate to judge his moral code but his actions are in question in this matter. I'm sure he was just following the crowd and doing what is PC these days, but one hopes that a man elected to govern a state might respect the flag of our nation and only lower his own state's flag if he wished to pay homage to a former citizen. One hopes that ALL those governors who use the flag of the United States in such a manner would stop this practice and try to reserve it for those who truly upheld all that it stands for and gave life or life service to protect what that flag represents.

I know it's not real popular to have true patriotism and respect for the nation and the principles on which it was founded but some of us still feel a deep, abiding respect for how many lives have been lost to protect the freedoms represented by that flag, freedom not just for our own countrymen but for those in foreign lands. My father fought in the Korean War and I have a son in the army today and I would hope that they didn't waste their time fighting for a country~and for you personally as a citizen of the US~ that holds no more regard for the symbol of their people than to dip it for celebrities when they pass.

Even from a young age we are taught to never let that flag touch the ground, as to do so is a desecration. To dip it half mast for just anyone who dies that held fame that had nothing to do with the flag, our freedom, or service to either is like dragging it on the ground.

Just because "the other Governor's used the order" doesn't make it right.

 

[Matthew3590]

There is more than one way to be a hero and not everyone is allowed to be in the military. You do not have to die in combat to deserve the flag to be at half mast for you.