“And I’m disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise, and we don’t know what is the cause of her death yet, but because of her history of substance abuse, that somehow she’s forfeited the good things that she did in her life. I just reject that on a human level, when I’ve seen these messages and e-mails that have come to me, you know, disparaging her for her struggles with substance abuse, and what I say to everybody is, there but for the grace of God go I.”
Gov. Chris Christie on the flap that some are making about him lowering the flags at half staff on Saturday to honor New Jersey Native, Whitney Houston.
I have zero patience for people with substance abuse problems. I have seen with my own eyes what it does. I have felt personal sorrow watching it destroy people. But, as a Christian I realize that we all fall short of God's grace. It isn't my place to judge people on their personal failures. I realize that people with problems still have loved ones. As someone who has experience loving a person with substance abuse problems who died too young I also realize that it isn't the totality of who they are.
Here is just a short list of charities that Ms. Houston raised money for:
The Children's Diabetes Foundation
St. Judes Hospital
The United Negro College Fund
The Red Cross
Children's Defense Fund
Her own foundation that did work with children with AIDS and Cancer.
For the people who are making an issue of this, I would just ask where were you when he did the same for another New Jersey native Clarence Clemmons? Was his cause of death more acceptable to you?
Good on you Gov. Christie.
well said.
ReplyDeleteGood points, however we have/had an objective standard, the Federal Flag code, which does not include celebrities, musically great or drug addled. Reserve the honor for those who serve with honor, and I don't think that includes politicians.
ReplyDeleteI went and read the flag code. Politicians are very specifically included in it. It goes as far to say how many days it is lowered depending on the office being held, i.e.10 days for a former/sitting president. It also gives leeway to governors and the DC mayor for others it doesn't specifically list.
ReplyDeleteIt in no way violated the flag code to include her in it. If you would like to change it, that is another debate altogether.
No real argument with the code, and is advisory. But tradition used to stand for something. And then there is respect, and I think it is not showing respect to the men and women who served by doing this is wrong... Soldiers are taught to "respect" the flag as a symbol and it is the thing you fight and die for as a soldier.
ReplyDeleteLower the flag for Whitney is another “knock” against a symbol of greatness. Think of the US Marines in 1945 on Mount Suribachi and the tremendous effort it took to raise and keep the flag raised, versus today and the lack of respect the flag gets. These days you actually have to remind people to stand and take off their hats and show respect. And stars, specifically sports stars on TV could care less for the Anthem and Flag, though those two things are symbols of things that made America great and allows them and Whitney to make millions. Lowering it should be reserved for honoring those who fought and protected freedom.
My point is the US Flag is a great symbol, and lowering it for Whitney just makes it that much smaller, too many already don’t respect it. Look at Arlington and the respect that goes into every placement of a flag on soldier’s grave. Every grave gets a flag! Either the flag is great and used only as a symbol of respect for those who served the USA. Or it just became another we do because we feel like it or think as Gov. Christie erroneous does it’s a nice gesture.
Unfortunately, Whitney used her freedom, not for greatness, but her own destruction; though she had a heck of a great voice.
Anoy:
ReplyDeleteI can live with what you are saying because it isn't based on emotion. You are not specifically objecting to Whitney because of how she died. You are making a good arguement about changes that need to be made in the code.
My main objection is the fact that people are making a big deal of the fact that she had a substance abuse problem and not looking at the totality of her life. Yeah, she did it to herself. Hard to say otherwise. But that doesn't negate everything else she did in her life.
I don't have a problem with high ranking officials getting the flag lowered for them. They serve with honor (well some anyway) as well.