New Jersey shouldn't have flown flags at half staff for Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston is the one of the all time best singers, you can't get any better, and she received honors for it in the music industry where it's appropriate and deserved; she earned it. She deserves recognition for her humanitarian achievements too; maybe there's some award that can be bestowed in her honor for that, she should get it. I'm sure there were many good qualities about her that we will never know. But she shouldn't get the flag at half mast. They would have to fly it every day then for everyone else that sings well and does charity.

Sad commentary on our politically correct celebrity worshiping culture. I agree that Christie did it for political gain and not because he's a bleeding heart.

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in the future.

It's my belief that the Gov. should not have ordered the flag lowered today. There were many other ways the Gov. could have shown Ms. Houston respect, without showing disrespect to the flag and all those that the half-staff act is reserved for. You wish to fight the good fight for one individual, and I respect that. I wish to fight the good fight for something that is bigger than any one person. And any ass kicking you can do will not deter me, or anyone else that feels like I do from wavering from what's right and what's wrong for the greater good of the flag of the United States of America. Far too many have already given their lives defending the flag in the name of freedom.... the same freedom that allows us to speak openly for what we believe in.

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like giving it to. It's because of the sacred flag lowering gesture for these people being so revered, that others believe it's what should be done to honor other people believed to have done great things also. This is were the trouble started, and it's been allowed to fester for so long, that the act is now out of control. How many times do you see the flag at half staff and not even know why? Not so long ago, when you saw the flag lowered to half-staff, you knew why it was that way. Today you see it at half staff and never give it a second thought, and that's sad.

The act of lowering of the flag should not have been done for Clarence Clemons. It should not have been done for Joe Paterno, and most recently, it should not have been done for Ms. Houston. I am sure there is a long list of those who it should not have been done for, but these are the most recent that stand out. I think the Governor needs to seriously reconsider who will receive this hon

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towards her, in fact, I've asked people to not speak of her or her struggles with substance abuse, because that has nothing to do with the reason the flag should not have been lowered for her. I cringe every time someone tries to defend the argument about the flag not being flown at half staff by using her struggles as being a reason why she didn't qualify for the honor. When I read those comments, I know those people also don't get the real reason for my objection. In fact, it angers me when she is spoken of that way. There is only one person she has to answer to about her struggles in life, and no one reading this is qualified to speak about those troubles, and that is a topic of discussion I don't care to get involved with.

The issue at hand is that over the years, our government leaders have taken a time-tested act of respect and honor, reserved for very specific people, by law, and have diluted it down to something they do for whomever they fee

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should not even be mentioned in the same argument.

This is how I explained to someone else...

I believe you are confusing two issues here. Showing respect to Ms Houston has nothing to do with laws governing the lowering of the American flag. One has nothing to do with the other, and that's my point.

I have nothing bad to say about WH. NOTHING! She was a wonderfully talented woman. I love her music. I wasn't aware she came from Newark, but it's nice that her family chose to return her to her roots for her final farewell. I am able to separate her troubles from the reason I like her. If my schedule would have allowed, I may have traveled to Newark to photograph the event. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do that. None of my argument has anything to do with her, but everything to go with our Governor and the poor choice he made.

If you've followed by posts regarding this issue, you would know I have not condoned any negative comments towards he

Tim Wynkoop e-mailed me this response to my blog:

agree they Gov. should not have flown the flag for Ms. Houston, however, I have to tell you your reasoning why is wrong.

There are two separate issues. One is the laws that govern the flag being flown at half staff and half mast. The other, which had nothing to do with the time-honored act of lowering the American flag, was her struggle with substance abuse.

The laws that dictate when the flag should be lowered, does not include someone who has achieved great fame and fortune, who has done great things to help the less fortunate or any other honorable lifestyle or contribution to society. Nothing about Ms. Houston's life, nor Clarence Clemons nor Joe Paterno lives merit the sacred lowering of the American flag. It doesn't matter how well or how poorly anyone lives their lives, if they don't meet the criteria of the law, they shouldn't receive the honor.

The issue of how she lived her live and the struggles she ha

I hope someone in that family can help the daughter avoid the problems her mother had. Eighteen is young to lose her mother.

I think the Governor want's votes the next election cycle, so he's winning favor with her fans. There's really no reason to do a half mast. Lot's of people do worthy charitable projects and spend their entire lives making a difference. Did anybody fly the flag at half mast for Mother Teresa? I don't know maybe they did.

Many people have a great singing voice but only a chosen few reach fame. To lower the flag for her was just plain wrong. Houston was a drug addict. Some here state she was their hero. Lets hope you don't follow your hero to YOUR death on drugs. No doubt Houston's daughter will follow in her footsteps. She has already been hospitalized twice and no doubt is now on prescription drugs for depression and stress. How long will it take before we read about her overdosing and dying. Kids need to pick better heroes.. Seems the people you choose as your heroes are really famous drug addicts ..with a good voice or an ability to act.

Education for some: The term is "Half-Mast" or Half-Staff". "Half-Mass" as some of you say is when only half of the church is full.

Anyway, celebrity or not, she was a drug addict and did not deserve to bring our flag to half-mast for. Did she do some good things with charity, etc? Maybe, but who hasn't?

I would like to believe the flag flying at half mast was Christie's silent cry to all the gay couples he blocked from being happily married...

But on a more realistic note...

(This is really hard to research right now while this is in the news.)

There have been a whole lot of Governors that haven't done a whole lot during office (yet get the 'reward' of a half mast flag when they die) whilst Whitney Houston did have some charity contributions/work and humanitarian works so in that respect she did surely "shine" above them.

IMO it is a waste of resources to go after this after-the-fact (and perhaps erroneous) than it is worth. I understand the premises, Andrea, but it is such a rare circumstance that it is more of a hassle (waste) than it is worth.

I agree that NJ Gov. Christie flying the flag at half staff for celebrities like Whitney Houston is not in line with the true purpose of flying the flag at half staff.

It is typically done in mourning for national tragedies and to honor Americans who have served their fellow country men and women or who have tragically lost their lives in a national tragedy.

Gov. Christie has the authority as governor of NJ to declare by executive order anyone in his discretion he feels is worthy of bring honored by ordering flags be flown at half staff but I think when celebrities are afforded this honor it not only sends the wrong message but it takes away from the distinction of having the flag flown at half staff.

You know it makes me mad as heck to see such triffling jealous hearted people in the world today!!! I am happy they half massed the flags because to a lot of us Whitney was a hero, she gave a lot of people hope, strength, courage and most of all the ability to dream that we could be somebody. What about all the soldiers on drugs? Yes they fight for our country but they are still junkies. I applaud them and respect and love them for their courage and strength, but who is God to say one is better than the other. Grow up people and face it we ALL have skeletons in our closet. No one sin is any bigger or better than another one!!!! My Bible says that a sin is a sin is a sin so who the heck are we to judge. I respect others opinions so all I ask is that you all respect mine. We love you Whitney and they gave you a most proper homecoming. Rest in peace love.

that ******me off they put the flag at half mass for whitney houston.....that is a tradition that is for all our service men and womenwho died for our country ..she was a great artist but she was also a drug addict...