WTH? Flags at half staff for Whitney Houston? Really??

I realize that Whitney Houston was a great icon but really, the American Flag at half staff?? Really?? That just pisses me off! You all see that little widget over there on the right that tells everyone when the Flag should be flown at half staff and you know what, today Saturday February 18th it says it should be flown at FULL staff!!

I knew that the New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had talked about lowering the Flag but I didn't think that he would really do it? But today, I saw a post by a friend on Facebook talking about it and all I could think was, what the heck is he thinking?

So I thought I would do a little digging and this is what I found:

Feb. 15, 2012, New Jersey Governor Christie issued an Executive order to half-staff the US flag and state flag at all state facilities in honor of Whitney Houston (pictured). Section 7m authorizes the President, the Governor, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to half-staff the US flag in certain circumstances. Can the governor order the US flag to half-mast?

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.

So with that information, exactly what the heck is he thinking?? I personally think that it is disgraceful to the American Flag! So are my thoughts absolutely wrong or are you all on the same page that I am?

You can see other Flag code violations Here.

In case any of you don't know the rules of the American Flag, you can read them HERE.

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