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Whitney Houston is NOT a dignitary, nor is she a war hero. I'm sorry she died. But Chrispie is totally out of line here. It shows total disrespect for the people who DO deserve for the flag to be flown at half staff.
WH is not a "fallen hero" as most people would define it, and IMO, Christie is out of line, even tho he is legally within his rights to order the flag to be flown at half staff. It takes away from the glory of the people who do deserve it, yet are not honored as such.
AMEN, Ellie!!!
I'm sorry. I had to look at the article to see if there was really a person named Chrispie Creme. Yes, I live on the other coast. ;) But I agree......while she was very talented, she was not a "hero".
Well, New Jersey residents can vote him out of office next time, if they remember. There's no law about who gets honored that way and who doesn't.
Yes - Chris Christie is a rather "large" man to put it tactfully, and he got his donut nickname because of that. His adoring public wanted him to run in the Republican primary, but there was a lot of flack that he wouldn't fare well because of his size, but he said he declined to run because he wanted to continue to serve NJ. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Taz_Zoee
All the forums I've gone on people were FLIPPING about this (not saying you guys are because this is the most civil thread I've seen about it today!), and in the process insulting people from New Jersey as well. And again, I am NOT talking about this thread whatsoever. But just so everyone is aware, we're not all fist-pumping orange low-lives who go out to clubs and fight people every night...JUST saying. ;)
As for the flag issue, I don't see the big deal in it. It's not effecting my life in anyway, that's for sure. It's not killing anyone. Christie has always been respectful in flying the flag at half mast when soldiers from NJ (31 I think the # is now), cops in the line of duty, firefighters died. I didn't mind him until he said he was going to veto the gay marriage bill, which was...what this week? Not the mention..Kayleigh's law. :rolleyes:
I just don't see the big deal with people getting so angry over it. Whitney Houston DID influence the country after all. She may not have did it by the same standards as soldiers but I think in her own way she deserves it. I guess what I'm saying is I'm indifferent to it. No matter how much you do to honor someone unfortunately it doesn't bring them back :( While the half mast is an honor, it doesn't change anything, it doesn't do anything, it's just a tribute to someone.
And maybe this offends some people but it's just my opinion, I come from a long line of military men and I do understand the whole having family in a war zone situation. I DO understand what it feels like not knowing whether your brother is dead or alive because you just heard on the news that a bomb blew up in the camp he was in, so I do "get it". But I still stand by my opinion, it's just a tribute and it doesn't change anything.
I agree with everything Alysser said, people get offended too easily.
Alysser - I for one, am not offended by anything you said, and I'm not personally offended by the flag issue either. I just don't think it's appropriate in this case.
However, I'm certain that most families of especially the war heroes that never received any recognition or a thank you, probably view it as a slap in the face. How many thousands gave their lives in numerous wars for our freedom, and their passing was treated as just another casualty, and received no recognition for their service? The 31 or so that Christie acknowledged is a tiny, miniscule amount. What about all the others? They were just as deserving, yet somehow missed out. That's what I find so sad about this whole thing. I married in to a large career military family, so I understand the feelings behind this. But life being what it is, in another month, this whole issue will probably be forgotten.
From "The Trentonian" Friday, February 17:
"Flag Flap
A governor would be smart upon taking office to policy parameters establishing when the flag should be lowered to half staff. Which is to say, also, when it should not be.
This would spare a governor the agony of making discomforting denials of requests on sad occasions which don't quite merit the honor. Not to mention that this also might spare the governor needless controversy on top of that which unavoidably comes with the office.
If the honor of lowering the flag is to have any meaning at all, it obviously must be limited.
Offhand we can think of several worthy candidates for the honor. The death of a Congressional Medal of Honor winner from the state. The passing of a top public figure, a governor, for example, maybe certain others such as a Supreme Court justice. Perhaps the victims of a major tragedy with significant implications such as 9/11. A saintly humanitarian, a philanthropist, a scientist whose discovery relieved suffering on a great scale. There are no doubt other candidates worthy of consideration we haven't thought of.
But with all due respect to Gov. Christie, Whitney Houston doesn't make our cut. Neither would other entertainers, excepting perhaps ones who put their fame and fortune to work in extraordinary uplifting altruistic efforts - disaster relief, education for the poor, and such.
This is not in any way intended to slight Whitney Houston, an amazing talent who came out of modest circumstances to live the American dream, before succumbing in the end to the all too familiar American tragedy of performers who find themselves unable to cope with the pressures of spectacular success, who fall prey to the demons of addiction.
The decision has been rendered in her case. Let the lowered flag this time serve as a sad, cautionary tale. And may this lady of phenominal voice finally rest in peace."
Donna, Krispy Kreme is one of the "nicer" names we have around here for that arrogant bully in our state house.
This was a stupid move by Chrispie Creme, not all that big a deal in the ultimate scheme of things.
I just hope it doesn't set a precedent!
I did vote him out last time but others voted for him. Christie is terrible but we are stuck with him...for now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
A week after the fact, the Lord of the Ring Dings is still getting a lot of criticism over this. When I started in my current profession some 30 years ago, my first supervisor was a retired lieutenant colonel (spelling?) from the Army. There was a question about the flag flying at half staff and he said there is a definite protocol for it.
There may be in the military, but there's no established one I could find for the whole US.Quote:
Originally Posted by momcat
It's time to get over this and move on.
OMG - that is a riot. I've never heard him called that before, but it fits the bill! :D:D Good one, Eileen.Quote:
Originally Posted by momcat
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by caseysmom
I really don't see the BIG deal over it.
Hubby was military and of the military people I know... most of them dont' WANT the flag at half staff for them. To them they are just people doing a job... most don't think of themselves as heros and many don't want the special recognition, the parades, the fanfare. I doubt most of them even noticed the flag at half staff for Whitney and if they did I think most of them have bigger things to worry about then who they do and do not fly the flag at half staff for. If they did fly it at half staff for every soldier lost... the flag would be at half staff every single day and then people would just not notice it anymore and THEN it would have lost all meaning. I'm not saying soldiers aren't deserving of it... they are... but many dont' want it.
I think this was more just a way to excuse childish name calling. Do you call all fat people names or just the ones you don't like?
end point... I really don't see the big outrage. don't we have bigger problems than how the flag is flown and for whom?
I believe that politicians are fair game for what people care to throw at them - whether it be because they are over weight, over sexed, over bearing, or over anything! Afterall - just look at what they throw at us and we have to sit back and take it as long as they are in office. :eek: I guess I'm just being childish for saying that tho. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by sparks19
As a person who is admittedly guilty of childish name calling in the past.... Yes, the people making fun of Governor Christie's weight ARE being childish. You people can't have it both ways.Quote:
Originally Posted by pomtzu