New Jersey

[reveldog]

Bush Orders US Flags Lowered in Honor of Bob Hope<br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Voice of America ^ | 29 Jul 2003, 00:23 UTC | VOA News <br style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; ">Posted on Tue Jul 29 2003 02:02:39 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) by yonif

President Bush has ordered U.S. flags lowered in honor of Bob Hope, the legendary entertainer who died Sunday in California of pneumonia. Hope was 100 and had celebrated his birthday just two months earlier.

thanks for bringing it over

[mojack]

You're welcome....................you trouble maker you.

Ha Ha Ha - just keeping the world honest!

[caz1104]

Whitney Houston was a singer(good one) that had multiple hits. But that can be said for many singers. Her career really ended in the decade of the 90's. Should we celerbrate her anymore than anyone else with the same accomplishments,imo no. Sadly she will remembered as much for her personal life as she will be for her voice. But to compare her to music legends like MJ,Frank,Ella Fitz, Dorothy Dandridge,Aretha F,Dionne W. & Elvis would not be right in my opinion.A better comparison would be Judy Garland & Patsy Cline. But if the state of NJ wishes to honor her so be it thats there choice. JMO-Best to all

[Alex38]

I am not trying to put words in your mouth Alex, and forgive me if you don't agree... but I think by your whole comment you might have best got your point across by saying "ONLY"... not "JUST" as follows... But lowering a "flag" ONLY for men and women who serve this country is an outrage.

I respect the military, my dad, one of my brothers, and several uncles all served... I have appreciated everything they do to gain and keep our freedoms. But should the flag be lowered to respect only those who served in the military? Just asking... not trying to offend or anything. Maybe there have been many who contributed to our country in some way or another that have been honored by the flag being lowered when they passed??? I don't know for sure, but what about Martin Luther King, or the Space Shuttle Mission(yes, some of them were military or former military... but there were also teachers, scientist, etc..), and maybe you can think of others.

I do agree that Whitney did contribute a great amount to this country. The hardest thing for me as a human being to digest is the sad reality that her life was consumed for years by drugs, and cut tragically short by the same. What could have been? We will never know... that is the sad part. What was? Both moments of sheer brilliance and times of shocking reality of a person caught up in the worst of addictions.

The flags in New Jersey... that is their call. I'm sure it is to show respect for the loss of one of their own. Are we so narrow minded that we won't let them honor Whitney in their own way? Don't you think that is their call? That doesn't mean we have to agree with it, but to call it an outrage???... might that be taking it a bit too far??? I don't know, and this is only my opinion, which you sure don't have to agree with me.

I for one will miss her, she was in my prayers for years, and it saddens me to lose her when she looked like she was finally getting back on her feet.

I agree.... ONLY would have been better.

[sportfisher]

Ha Ha Ha - just keeping the world honest!

IMHO, ............... more like deceived.

[mojack]

IMHO, ............... more like deceived.

Yeah, you really believe that due to our different views. Glass half full idiom. You can't name a single moment where I presented something without sound information. I'm more optimistic than pessimistic.

[pureau79]

I think its fine that they lowered the flag for her...she is an American and is well loved by many people...I have never served in the military but it's my flag too....our military fights for the rights and freedom of Americans, not just themselves...all deaths are tragic....

I appreciate your sentiment but, if you please, I refer you to the post by JaxinJersey on proper flag ettiquette. It is sentimental to feel that way, but it is errant. The flag code is precisely in place to prevent trivializing our national symbol. I really hate to disagree with a home girl, but I respectfully do in these matters.

[HopefulTxn]

I wonder if there was this much debate about this issue when NJ did this for two other people last year - Clarence Clemons, a saxophonist for Springsteen and Harry Shatel which was a HS baseball coach (granted, he had a GREAT winning percentage)...

I think the original post constricts the definition of 'serving' the country far too narrowly... The US flag is not solely a symbol of our military, and our military is not the sole source of honorable actions that deserve being honored in this manner.

[mojack]

It figures that MOJACK would be in here twisting this, and stirrin' up trouble like usual. Way to go MO :lol: :lol: :lol:

Did Mr. Hope ever serve in the Military?

In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces."

Sorry MOronJACK, you cannot compare what Bob Hope did with Whitney's brief involvement. Good For You

Don't you try and downplay what Bob Hope did.

Very retarded use of my name bonehead... I did not see this before!

[Nakida]

I would have to say that Roseanne Barr also sang at the Super Bowl.......I agree that it should be for the Women and Men that serve the country........also to all Law enforcements. I don't care if she did drugs or not, but that is obsurd to lower the flag for her.

[TPSprayduster]

Mongo, was that post necessary? That is something i expect from some other controversial posters. Whitney Houston was from NJ, Governor Christy did what he thought was right. Until you become Governor, you can make decisions like he did. I think he did the right thing. So don't hate on whitney hate on him. Start a recall vote if you are that upset. No wait are you from NJ?

Mongo, there's so much going wrong with this country and you're upset about this ?

thank you sir for the post.

[Mongo]

Mongo, was that post necessary? That is something i expect from some other controversial posters. Whitney Houston was from NJ, Governor Christy did what he thought was right. Until you become Governor, you can make decisions like he did. I think he did the right thing. So don't hate on whitney hate on him. Start a recall vote if you are that upset. No wait are you from NJ?

thank you sir for the post.

Yes I have lived in Jersey (hills of Homedale)

[Luigi1]

They have over 200,000 signitures to petition a federal holiday honoring WH. I'm not sure how many signitures are needed.

When Michael Jackson died, over 2 million signitures were collected petitioning for a holiday in his honor. Nothing came of it.

[caz1104]

They have over 200,000 signitures to petition a federal holiday honoring WH. I'm not sure how many signitures are needed.

When Michael Jackson died, over 2 million signitures were collected petitioning for a holiday in his honor. Nothing came of it.

A Federal Holiday awwww come on. I'm sorry she passed,but IMO this takes it a little to far.

[krome2ez]

Can the governor order the US flag half-staffed for anyone he or she chooses?

No. Section 7m of the Flag Code authorizes a governor to half-staff the US 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.

The President, by comparison, is authorized to half-staff the US flag by proclamation upon the death of principal figures of the US Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as well as in the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries.

We recommend flying the state flag at half-staff.

•In the News: Governor Wrong to Have Flag Lowered to Half Staff for Celebrities [February 16, 2012]

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 Governor 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.ushistory.org/betsy/faq.htm#q58

Public Law 110-41

One Hundred Tenth Congress

of the

United States of America

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,

the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven

An Act

To amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize the Governor of a State, territory, or possession of the United States to order that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the 'Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. FINDING.

Congress finds that members of the Armed Forces of the United States defend the freedom and security of the United States.

SEC. 3. PROCEDURE FOR NATIONAL FLAG TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES.

Issuance of Proclamation- Subsection (m) of section 7 of title 4, United States Code, is amended in the sixth sentence--

by inserting 'or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty' after 'present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States'; and

by inserting before the period the following: ', and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia'.

Federal Facility Consistency With Proclamation- Such subsection is further amended by inserting after the sixth sentence the following new sentence: 'When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation.'.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/micks.htm

[gatoraces]

war heroes, 9/11 tragedy, whitney houston. one of these things is not like the other.

[HopefulTxn]

Can the governor order the US flag half-staffed for anyone he or she chooses?

No. Section 7m of the Flag Code authorizes a governor to half-staff the US 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.

By this statement, then flying the flag for fallen police officers or firefighters would not be allowed...

The flag code is not law. Whether we like it or not, it is simply a guideline for officially accepted flag etiquette.

No where in the flag code does it list burning the US flag in protest, but whether we agree with the practice or not, it is a practice that has been constitutionally protected as a means of freedom of speech.

My question would be, if it is constitutionally protected to burn the flag as a means of protest, why would it not be legal/acceptable for any governor of a US state to fly the flag at half staff in honor of a citizen of their state that they feel has done enough to warrant such an honor?

[pureau79]

By this statement, then flying the flag for fallen police officers or firefighters would not be allowed...

The flag code is not law. Whether we like it or not, it is simply a guideline for officially accepted flag etiquette.

No where in the flag code does it list burning the US flag in protest, but whether we agree with the practice or not, it is a practice that has been constitutionally protected as a means of freedom of speech.

My question would be, if it is constitutionally protected to burn the flag as a means of protest, why would it not be legal/acceptable for any governor of a US state to fly the flag at half staff in honor of a citizen of their state that they feel has done enough to warrant such an honor?

If the designated acceptable "ettiquette" is not adhered to, it becomes as fodder and is thereby rendered meaningless. As with all traditions it becomes perverted and saturates to the extent that everyone feels a legitimate service has been rendered and the next thing you know, hero dogs will be honored in this way. Then come the horses and all manner of beasts. The neighborhood butcher was a hero and must also be recognized. Let us not forget the bus drivers, taxi drivers and volunteer firefighters. The list goes on and on. This is the reason for laws, ordinances and ettiquette. There MUST be be guidelines for a free and civil society and we must voluntarily comply in order for such a noble idea to succeed. America is not perfect by a long shot but our Constitution and Bill Of Rights is the best of the best. Don't tread on Liberty or it will be your liberty in the end. Stand for freedom. Honor our founders idea of self governed society. Honor the ettiquette.

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

NOT 1/2 mast

1/2 STAFF.

Now that we got that cleared up...

this is an insult to every truly great American who ever lived and died.

Honoring a crack head who endangered her own child every day

or the family that couldn't (wouldn't) control their little money-maker's problem is despicable.

[mojack]

***///

NOT 1/2 mast

1/2 STAFF.

Now that we got that cleared up...

this is an insult to every truly great American who ever lived and died.

Honoring a crack head who endangered her own child every day

or the family that couldn't (wouldn't) control their little money-maker's problem is despicable.

I think they were honoring a person they appreciated very much - not a crackhead.

[dog53]

Well I read all 4 pages and all I can say is WoW

RIP whitney Houston

[GI_Jane]

Although the protocol is wrong,I don't have a problem with it.People serve their country in all kinds of ways and I think Whitney played her role well.So I'll give this a pass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupsPg5H6aE

That was AWESOME! Whitney sure could sing. Tragic loss of a very young woman who had so much more to give. RIP girl!

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

I think they were honoring a person they appreciated very much - not a crackhead.

***///

She squandered her God-given gift which in itself is extemely disrespectful.

Any contribution she may have made to this world was sullied by her lack of respect for her child

and her country.

She set a bad example for those who falsely admired her.

Hypocritical at best.

[TPSprayduster]

***///

She squandered her God-given gift which in itself is extemely disrespectful.

Any contribution she may have made to this world was sullied by her lack of respect for her child

and her country.

She set a bad example for those who falsely admired her.

Hypocritical at best.

Sir, you have nothing else better to do than to try and force your opinion on others. If you dislike whitney houston that's fine, but this waste of talent or drug use everyone has issues and instead of trying to help you bash. Lack of respect for her child. At least her child hoping and praying is not travelling down the same path. Maybe you should watch you tube and see how and where our youth is going. People make choices and you choose to voice your opinion point taken. Millions loved her music and probably won't pay attention to your ranting and raving. NUFF SAID.

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

Never said her talent wasn't clearly evident.

But what I said is true, she squandered it and denied the world her gift from here on out.

That IS a bad thing... a SAD thing.

And my concern for her child comes from the heart,

I'm part of that young ladie's village and it's up to me as a fellow human being to pray for her

and hope she can escape the road her own Mother put her on.

If everyone envelopes her and denies her mother's truth, they do her a grave injustice.

Edited February 23, 2012 by SgtFuryUSCZ