Are you down with NJ flying the flag at half-mast for Whitney Houston?

[Dennis S]

I heard some people discussing it today. I don't know what the precedence is, but it doesn't bother me. You know they'll do it when the Boss dies. Did they do it for Sinatra?

[decay]

no way.

[OWC Jamie]

Wonderful tribute for someone who gave back to the community in so many ways including charity work and causes support.

[mattkime]

why does it matter?

i have more important things to worry about. like the ice cream i'm eating at the moment.

[$tevie]

I don't have a problem with it.

[Black]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it either, but I can't say it makes a whole lot of sense to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-staff

[mattkime]

Black wrote:
I'm not going to lose any sleep over it either, but I can't say it makes a whole lot of sense to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-staff

Governors of the several U.S. states or territories are authorized by federal law to order all U.S. and state flags in their jurisdiction flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for a state official or resident who has died. Since a governor's executive order affects only his or her state, not the entire country, these orders are distinguished from presidential proclamations.

[Ombligo]

I don't really care as I'm not a flag waving patriot (actually my patriotic beliefs are generally called treasonous by the flag wavers)

However my gut reaction is this further diminishes the honor of those who truly deserve recognition. Like calling every fireman a hero - I appreciate what they all do, but only a select few deserve to be called heroes.

Being famous does not make you important.

[Mac-A-Matic]

Ombligo wrote:
Being famous does not make you important.

Oh yeah, tell Snookie and The Situation that.



!

[Grace62]

"(Gov. Christie) also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band."

Once you do that, may as well leave the flag lowered all the time. He's changed the meaning of this time-honored tradition. That's too bad, but whatever.
Lowering the flag is at the discretion of local officials, and it sounds as though some are already pushing back on this latest declaration.