Honoring Whitney Houston by lowering flag

[DSM4Life]

Gov. Chris Christie sparked a national controversy with his decision to lower flags to half-staff in honor of pop singer Whitney Houston, who died Feb. 11.

This week Associated Press reported a Michigan man set the New Jersey flag on fire in protest of the governor's decision.
Christie's office told the AP that the governor has ordered flags to be lowered for 31 servi***en and women, two first responders, six public officials and the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The other two times were for Morristown High School baseball coach Harry Shatel and E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons, bringing the number of times the governor has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to 42.

The Star-Ledger editorialized last week that Whitney Houston deserved at least the same recognition as Clarence Clemons, who died last year, and that the flag should be lowered in her honor. Numerous readers have expressed views on both sides of the issue. Two of those letters are reproduced below.
Share your thoughts: Did the governor make the right choice ordering the flag to be lowered in honor of Whitney Houston?
Honor her loss
It is very sad that we lost the great singer Whitney Houston. Her tragic death saddens millions of people in the United States and around the world. Whitney Houston is a native of New Jersey. I personally support Gov. Chris Christie's decision to lower the U.S. flag in honor of this great singer from our own state.
Taj Ahmad, Parlin
Don’t lower the flag
Gov. Chris Christie, who I support, is totally wrong to ask for our flag to be flown at half-staff for Whitney Houston. She was blessed with one of the best voices ever and we all loved her music, but she went down a path that we should not honor by illegally flying our flag. Please read below, taken from the rules of flag use at www.ushistory.org/betsy/faq.htm
"Section 7m of the Flag Code authorizes a governor to half-staff the U.S. flag upon the death of a present or former official of the government of the state, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that state who dies while serving on active duty."
A recent change allows governors to order the flag to half-staff to honor fallen soldiers from their state (see Public Law 110-41). The change was the result of governor proclamations, like this one from Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan.
Some object to this extension of a governor's authority because they feel half-staffing the flag for every fallen soldier can be seen as anti-war. Some feel that overuse cheapens the symbolic power of half-staffing the flag, traditionally reserved for political leaders.

http://www.nj.com/njvoices/index.ssf...ton_by_lo.html




I think he was 100% WRONG in doing this.

[jasc]

That fatass just wanted the publicity....
I agree 100%.. it was wrong

[djdizzy]

I think he was 100% WRONG in doing this.

Yup. as the article states: Some feel that overuse cheapens the symbolic power of half-staffing the flag, traditionally reserved for political leaders. I wish he could be fined for this dumb shit action.

[gbrice75]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous. She was a great singer, yes, absolutely. But she didn't change the world. And her death most likely had to do with drugs, i.e. she's no hero. I can understand this type of reaction for the death of John Lennon - somebody who DID change the world (or at least tried), and was assassinated.

PS - I grew up in Elizabeth, literally 15 mins from her hometown and the church she used to sing at in Newark. So I DO understand the local 'heroism', just not on a national (international?) level.

[Times Roman]

she doesn't get any more honor from me than anyone else I don't know.

she had an incredible voice. period.

[HitIt]

she's been killing herself for 20 years with various drugs...and no one gave a shit about that until she was dead...and then when she croaks everyone loves her...silly...you can thank bobby brown

[supersize me]

He should be publicly reprimanded for this. May as well lower it for every crackhead that dies because that's all she was.

[bobawpsol]

Shes been using her entire life, dont feel sorry for her.

[tcw]

As much as i loved WH...this honor should only be reserved for those who fought and died for this country.

RIP Whitney

Gov Christie ? ? ? (...well what do you expect?)

[canadian-bacon]

[gixxerboy1]

lmao

[tcw]

How do you feel sorry for someone who's dead?

Shes been using her entire life, dont feel sorry for her.

[xelnaga]

RIP Whitney

[JohnnyVegas]

she's been killing herself for 20 years with various drugs...and no one gave a shit about that until she was dead...and then when she croaks everyone loves her...silly...you can thank bobby brown

I am not intending to start an argument by saying that plenty of people gave a shit. Fans, friends and family. More people than would care if any of us had an addiction. She was surrounded by people that tried to help.

Kennedy, MLK, John Lennon, Cobain, Hendrix, Morrison - they all had flaws, but also had an emotional effect on people. Certainly we all have public figures that we would take notice of if they died. The whole nation seemed to get upset when Gabby Giffords was shot...but they didn't know her, many had never heard of her, they just thought it was horrible.

I think it is OK to be saddened by a public figure AND soldiers dying. We can feel bad, for a few seconds, for all their friends and family that have to deal with the loss while we just read the headlines.

My attitudes are probably shaped by the fact that my father died recently. All death is painful to someone, and I feel bad for them.

[xelnaga]

Sorry about your pops JohnyV.

[wmaousley]

Great, so lets not lower our flags for the soldiers, sailors, marines & Airmen KIA in Iraq & Afghanistan and lower it for a cokehead who likely died from some form of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Damn shame our politicians have clouded priorities.

[xelnaga]

Great, so lets not lower our flags for the soldiers, sailors, marines & Airmen KIA in Iraq & Afghanistan and lower it for a cokehead who likely died from some form of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Damn shame our politicians have clouded priorities.

It was confirmed tonight that she died of a combination of xanax , valium, and alcohol.

[wmaousley]

Well I wasnt too far off base now was I ? Not surprised one bit.

[Julz_W]

Kennedy, MLK, John Lennon, Cobain, Hendrix, Morrison - they all had flaws, but also had an emotional effect on people. Certainly we all have public figures that we would take notice of if they died. The whole nation seemed to get upset when Gabby Giffords was shot...but they didn't know her, many had never heard of her, they just thought it was horrible.

I think it is OK to be saddened by a public figure AND soldiers dying. We can feel bad, for a few seconds, for all their friends and family that have to deal with the loss while we just read the headlines.

A loss anywhere is a loss. She may not have been an impressive role model, but her life didn't lack contribution like some other celebs (*Cough* Snookie *Cough*) but maybe that might be a bit much for a person who could've died via OD without anyone being THAT surprised. That being said, nobody is harmed by the gesture, so let it go.

just my 2c.

My sympathies JV.

[Julz_W]

Great, so lets not lower our flags for the soldiers, sailors, marines & Airmen KIA in Iraq & Afghanistan and lower it for a cokehead who likely died from some form of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Damn shame our politicians have clouded priorities.

I think there may be a political motivator behind it also - looking to be "empathic" with those who feel affected by the loss maybe?

[Gaspari1255]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous. She was a great singer, yes, absolutely. But she didn't change the world. And her death most likely had to do with drugs, i.e. she's no hero. I can understand this type of reaction for the death of John Lennon - somebody who DID change the world (or at least tried), and was assassinated.

PS - I grew up in Elizabeth, literally 15 mins from her hometown and the church she used to sing at in Newark. So I DO understand the local 'heroism', just not on a national (international?) level.

It's not too hard to look like a hero in Newark..all you have to do is avoid committing a felony and you're in like flinn!

[gbrice75]

It's not too hard to look like a hero in Newark..all you have to do is avoid committing a felony and you're in like flinn!

Lmfao! So true bro... stay outta jail = hero!!!

[gixxerboy1]

Lmfao! So true bro... stay outta jail = hero!!!

Sad but very true

[Gaspari1255]

Lmfao! So true bro... stay outta jail = hero!!!

Paterson has even low standards- as long as you're not a child molester or serial killer- you're a swell guy.

[JohnnyVegas]

Great, so lets not lower our flags for the soldiers, sailors, marines & Airmen KIA in Iraq & Afghanistan and lower it for a cokehead who likely died from some form of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Damn shame our politicians have clouded priorities.

You might have missed this part of the article:

Christie's office told the AP that the governor has ordered flags to be lowered for 31 servi***en and women, two first responders, six public officials and the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

[gixxerboy1]

Paterson has even low standards- as long as you're not a child molester or serial killer- you're a swell guy.

no in paterson you can be one and be a good guy. Just not both.
I lived in the next town over. I hated to drive through that dump

[jimmyinkedup]

WTF is this country coming too?

I just saw on the news a guy in NH came home to find his house had been robbed. He looked out and saw the burgular climbing out of his neighbors window after robbing them. He got a gun , went out , fired it into the ground, held the guy at gunpoint till the cops arrived. He was arrested and charged. Are you kidding me???

Apparently now we now put the flag at half mast when a pop star dies.

There are some messed up ideals and priorities in this country. Its scary.....

[jimmyinkedup]

Great, so lets not lower our flags for the soldiers, sailors, marines & Airmen KIA in Iraq & Afghanistan and lower it for a cokehead who likely died from some form of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Damn shame our politicians have clouded priorities.

Im not quite sure what your on about but we have a National Holiday called Memorial Day - which honor all the men who have died in service of this country. Its an annual holiday ...the flags are all at half mast.

Im all for honoring our servi***en and I have nothing but respect for them and their sacrifices. However I notice on here lately that there seems to be this "we should kiss their ass they served in the middle east" mentalitiy. First of all they were in the service by choice - its their job. Second of all what the hell do you think the WW2 vets would say about all this pandering by former and current service men demanding recognition? How about the vietnam vets that recieved true disrespect when they returned home? Gimme a break. Instead of the US Marines maybe we should call them the US Martyrs ?

I agree about WH - its ridiculous - and a disgrace tro those that truely deserve the honor.
However lets be real about what respect is paid for our fallen servi***en.

[Flagg]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous. She was a great singer, yes, absolutely. But she didn't change the world. And her death most likely had to do with drugs, i.e. she's no hero. I can understand this type of reaction for the death of John Lennon - somebody who DID change the world (or at least tried), and was assassinated.

PS - I grew up in Elizabeth, literally 15 mins from her hometown and the church she used to sing at in Newark. So I DO understand the local 'heroism', just not on a national (international?) level.

I agree.

The world these celebrities live in and the dumb people that follow them (mostly women that read shit like Heat, Tatler, etc) are completely self absorbed and removed from the rest of reality.

Why should these surprise any of you, when you only have to look at a newspaper and see that wannabes from the pop or reality TV show, dominate the headlines over real world issues.

[tcw]

The shooter was a Republican...the perp was a Democrat. You can't shoot at a Democrat in NH...its the Law!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/23...lleged-robber/

WTF is this country coming too?

I just saw on the news a guy in NH came home to find his house had been robbed. He looked out and saw the burgular climbing out of his neighbors window after robbing them. He got a gun , went out , fired it into the ground, held the guy at gunpoint till the cops arrived. He was arrested and charged. Are you kidding me???

Apparently now we now put the flag at half mast when a pop star dies.

There are some messed up ideals and priorities in this country. Its scary.....