Flags are at half-staff

[K6BBC]

In my little hamlet, from the schools to the gas stations to the firehouse, the flags have all been lowered to half-staff. Unless I am unaware of a president dying, I assume this show of nation mourning is on behalf of the murders at Virginia Tech. I’m sorry to say this, but this is just a load of nanny state political correct crap. Since when does this nation go into national mourning over what can be simply stated as a crime? Nobody will argue this mass murder was horrible – but it was a crime none-the-less, where the victims were average citizens – school kids.

Every week, young men and woman die for our country fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. They all made a decision to be part of something greater than themselves. They are all selfless heroes who gave everything to you and me. Where is the national mourning for these fine people?

I am offended that the “big story” raises itself to this national prominence due to the impact of numbers. In the United States last year there were and average of 35 murders per day. Perhaps all flagpoles should be cut in half as a sign of national outrage.

K6BBC

[KC0VWU]

I somewhat agree. I would never lower a flag because a president died but I would lower it if the local gas station clerk was shot.

[K3XR]

The President and Governors can order the flag be flown at half staff. #He did, it is, end of story.

http://www.gettysburgflag.com/FlyFlagHalfMast.php

[w3bny]

BBC...Why do you hate America?

[KC4HGH]

Did they lower the flag for Columbine?

It ought to be for the guy who was killed at Johnson Space Center- which, incidentally, barely made a blip on the news screen....

[N5NPO]

This may have something to do with the Blue Angel pilot crashing.

[kl7aj]

Perhaps we should have them at 3/4 staff. That should make everyone happy.

[KC0W]

I remember growing up only a handful of time the flag being at half mast. (half staff)

On the rare occasion that this did happen, someone REALLY BIG had died. These days one can almost count on the national flag being at half mast 4+ times per year.

It's kinda strange that when some of the first Minnesotans were killed in Iraq, our governor ordered all state, county & city's to lower the flag to half mast..........Now when a soldier from Minnesota dies, it is no longer done.

Complacency?


Tom kcØw

[W3MIV]

Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 23 2007,11:38)]In my little hamlet, from the schools to the gas stations to the firehouse, the flags have all been lowered to half-staff. #Unless I am unaware of a president dying, I assume this show of nation mourning is on behalf of the murders at Virginia Tech. #I’m sorry to say this, but this is just a load of nanny state political correct crap. #Since when does this nation go into national mourning over what can be simply stated as a crime? #Nobody will argue this mass murder was horrible – but it was a crime none-the-less, where the victims were average citizens – school kids.

Every week, young men and woman die for our country fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. #They all made a decision to be part of something greater than themselves. #They are all selfless heroes who gave everything to you and me. #Where is the national mourning for these fine people?

I am offended that the “big story” raises itself to this national prominence due to the impact of numbers. #In the United States last year there were and average of 35 murders per day. #Perhaps all flagpoles should be cut in half as a sign of national outrage.

K6BBC
Golly gee whillikers, Anthony, here is yet another post on which we share the same viewpoint.

Should one of us be getting worried?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[K6BBC]

Quote[/b] (W3MIV @ April 23 2007,11:11)]Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 23 2007,11:38)]In my little hamlet, from the schools to the gas stations to the firehouse, the flags have all been lowered to half-staff. Unless I am unaware of a president dying, I assume this show of nation mourning is on behalf of the murders at Virginia Tech. I’m sorry to say this, but this is just a load of nanny state political correct crap. Since when does this nation go into national mourning over what can be simply stated as a crime? Nobody will argue this mass murder was horrible – but it was a crime none-the-less, where the victims were average citizens – school kids.

Every week, young men and woman die for our country fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. They all made a decision to be part of something greater than themselves. They are all selfless heroes who gave everything to you and me. Where is the national mourning for these fine people?

I am offended that the “big story” raises itself to this national prominence due to the impact of numbers. In the United States last year there were and average of 35 murders per day. Perhaps all flagpoles should be cut in half as a sign of national outrage.

K6BBC
Golly gee whillikers, Anthony, here is yet another post on which we share the same viewpoint.

Should one of us be getting worried?

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
You all peg me as a wide-eyed, hybrid driving, liberal.

And BTW, it's Tony - I hate that other name.

K6BBC

[KB5FSV]

The day of the massacre Bush ordered all flags at Half Mast until Sunday the 22nd. If they're still at half mast, I personally don't know the reason. Someone said the Blue Angels pilot who died Saturday, that could be. Maybe the people in your area forgot to raise them back up today?

Personally I think they should remain at half mast until the damn war is over because every day someone is dying "over there."

[KB9YCO]

XR is correct, the presidente can order it anytime, though I thought that traditionally it was reserved for dignitaries, etc. Personally I could care less (probably not a popular opinion) what they do with the height of the flag, it is purely symbolic and effects me in no way, though I can see why some people would want it to remain as a select thing in order for the signifigance to be effective and so on. Seems like a non-story to me.

[NA4BH]

Be thankful you and your family are alive and well.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ April 23 2007,12:46)]It's kinda strange that when some of the first Minnesotans were killed in Iraq, our governor ordered all state, county & city's to lower the flag to half mast..........Now when a soldier from Minnesota dies, it is no longer done.

Complacency?


Tom kcØw
Do you want them to lower the flag every week?

[K6BBC]

Quote[/b] (NA4BH @ April 23 2007,12:00)]Be thankful you and your family are alive and well.
I think you missed the point. 35 murders per day in the USA.

[W3MIV]

The sad thing about it is that it is a cheap and cynical political ploy. While it is easy to put the onus on Bush, alone, it is the kind of thing that all of them do now.

This is what our political system has given us in the modern age. The thousands who gave their lives in the Revolution, the half-million who died horribly in the Civil War and the hundred thousands more who struggled and died in two World Wars have their heritage cheapened by such shallow gestures. Worse, the families of those who died at the hands of the lunatic in VT's halls are made the butt of a tawdry gesture for little more than points in a poll.

This is the depth to which we have sunk. Is it any wonder that so few bother to vote?

[NA4BH]

Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 23 2007,12:06)]Quote[/b] (NA4BH @ April 23 2007,12:00)]Be thankful you and your family are alive and well.
I think you missed the point. #35 murders per day in the USA.
No Sir, I got your point. It is done out of honor and respect. Let me ask you a question, "Do you pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession is approaching"?

[n0jaa]

If you want to protest, you could always fly your flag upside down.

[K6BBC]

Quote[/b] (NA4BH @ April 23 2007,12:12)]Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 23 2007,12:06)]Quote[/b] (NA4BH @ April 23 2007,12:00)]Be thankful you and your family are alive and well.
I think you missed the point. 35 murders per day in the USA.
No Sir, I got your point. It is done out of honor and respect. Let me ask you a question, "Do you pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession is approaching"?
Then I guess the flag should be flown at half-staff every day by your logic.

[KE5FRF]

I have mixed feelings about it. Yes, as Albert says it does seem to "cheapen" the gesture when we do it too often, and it does seem to be more a political vote-grap than anything else.

On the other hand, I am sure the families of the victims appreciate it and feel honored. Events like this don't just touch the victims, they touch the national psyche. I remember the flag at half mast for the space shuttle tragedies. I felt proud to be American and honor our heroes in that way.

Should these kinds of things be reserved for only "important" people (whatever that means) or for any time a tragedy touches us all? Are the deaths of common murder victims on American streets less mourned because we choose to honor the victims of a larger event? I don't know.

I guess in the end, it really doesn't matter. Especially if someone is comforted by it.

[k4kyv]

The proper word is half-staff. Half mast refers to the flag flown on a ship at sea.

I think flying it at half-staff for the V-T victims was appropriate.

Besides the obvious showing of respect for the victims, maybe just one kid somewhere at a school saw that flag, and realised that he is NOT immortal after all, and he may decide not to engage in some risky behaviour, or to report something to school authorities that they should be aware of.

Who knows. One of the V-T victims might have lived to some day become President or other important public figure.

Remember, we lose 40,000 to 50,000 people to traffic deaths in this country every year, yet hardly anyone takes notice unless it happens to someone they know personally. But that apparently hasn't affected car sales.

[K8MHZ]

I have seen the flag flown half staff so often lately that I don't even pay attention to it anymore.

[N4AUD]

I think the one here at the courthouse is on permanent half mast (or staff). Kind of loses its meaning when it's overdone, IMHO. I agree with BBC in general on this.

[N4AUD]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274805/

[N4AUD]

The Army noticed this too... (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274805/)

[WA3WDR]

America cares when something like Columbine, or like the VA Tech shootings, or like 9/11, happens. #But the truth is that as far as America is concerned, the Iraq War is nothing but a dirty bit of politics that nobody really cares about.

All this talk about supporting the troops, when we don't remember them at all, do we. #Who needs hippies or those crazy fanatics from that God-Hates-Gays church to curse at the wounded soldiers - we massively screw them for their service all by ourselves. #Are we proud yet?

When are people going to wake up? #The Iraq War IS a dirty little bit of politics. #America DOESN'T care about it. #What we need to do is ADMIT that we don't care, and pull our troops OUT of there.

As for those killed at VA Tech, that was a darn shame.

[K6BBC]

Quote[/b] (n4aud @ April 23 2007,15:36)]The Army noticed this too... (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274805/)
I never considered flags on our military bases. What a slap in the face.

bbc

[KC2ESD]

The Flags are at Half-Staff for the Victims of the VT Murders.
God bless theirsouls and may Cho burn in Hell.

[kf6rdn]

Quote[/b] (K3XR @ April 23 2007,08:44)]The President and Governors can order the flag be flown at half staff. He did, it is, end of story.

http://www.gettysburgflag.com/FlyFlagHalfMast.php
Quote[/b] ]When is it permitted to half-staff the U.S. flag?

Only the president of the United States or the governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure.


From your link (The bolding mine)

[kc7jty]

Quote[/b] (KC2ESD @ April 23 2007,15:49)]The Flags are at Half-Staff for the Victims of the VT Murders.
God bless theirsouls and may Cho burn in Hell.
I'm sure your outlook on the subject will insure a similar tragedy will never occur again.

[al2i]

Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 23 2007,14:47)]Quote[/b] (n4aud @ April 23 2007,15:36)]The Army noticed this too... (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18274805/)
I never considered flags on our military bases. What a slap in the face.

bbc
Good point.

We have had much larger fatalities during major airliner disasters. Was the flag flown at half mast after those incidents?

[kc7jty]

They were acts of God.

[ka5piu]

Quote[/b] (WA3WDR @ April 23 2007,15:47)]America cares when something like Columbine, or like the VA Tech shootings, or like 9/11, happens. #But the truth is that as far as America is concerned, the Iraq War is nothing but a dirty bit of politics that nobody really cares about.
Hello.

That is correct.
Most people could care less what happens in Iraq.
All most Americans see is another Vietnam.
And, just like Vietnam, the vets are on the short end of the stick.
There will never be a heros welcome, as the public sees no heros.
And, once this is all over the vets are going to have to "Get over it".

[kc7jty]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ April 23 2007,23:57)]And, once this is all over the vets are going to have to "Get over it".
I beg to differ but this one will NEVER be over. It's NOT another Viet Nam. As long as Oscar keeps swating the hornets' nests the nightmare will continue, and I can assure you Oscar will not stop.

http://www.fff.org/comment/ed1201b.asp

this is my favorite part:
A gasp and a hush immediately swept across the room. Suddenly, one man screamed, "The boy is supporting the hornets!" Another yelled, "He’s saying that they were justified in attacking the village." A woman weighed in: "He’s suggesting that we got what we deserved!" "Unpatriotic!" "Treason!"

[n2ize]

Quote[/b] (kb5fsv @ April 23 2007,11:17)]The day of the massacre Bush ordered all flags at Half Mast until Sunday the 22nd. If they're still at half mast, I personally don't know the reason. Someone said the Blue Angels pilot who died Saturday, that could be. Maybe the people in your area forgot to raise them back up today?

Personally I think they should remain at half mast until the damn war is over because every day someone is dying "over there."
Good point. Whether your for or against the war the flags should remain at half mast for the duration to remind everyone of the men and women who have died over there.

[n2ize]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ April 23 2007,23:57)]Quote[/b] (WA3WDR @ April 23 2007,15:47)]America cares when something like Columbine, or like the VA Tech shootings, or like 9/11, happens. #But the truth is that as far as America is concerned, the Iraq War is nothing but a dirty bit of politics that nobody really cares about.
Hello.

That is correct.
Most people could care less what happens in Iraq.
All most Americans see is another Vietnam.
And, just like Vietnam, the vets are on the short end of the stick.
There will never be a heros welcome, as the public sees no heros.
And, once this is all over the vets are going to have to "Get over it".
it's hard for many people to see hero's when the war is corrupt, immoral, wrong, and perpetrated on lies. This was the situation with Vietnam. That is why I consider three separate groups of hero's of the Vietnam war...

1) The guys who went and fought there
2) The guys who resisted and did not go
3) call them hippies or whatever but those who demonstrated and protested and drew awarenes to the corrupt nature of the war and the need to bring it to an end.

All three groups are the hero's of Vietnam as far as I am concerned.

I see this Iraq war similarly. How many different groups of hero's will emerge before it is all over ?

[K6BBC]

Quote[/b] (kc7jty @ April 23 2007,23:57)]They were acts of God.
Are you really returning from the dark side Bill?

bbc

[K6BBC]

So it appears mostly we can agree the flag issue is, once again, being used for political pandering. It clearly is a sign your government cares and feels your pain. Frankly, I’m surprised the flag did not get lowered for the death of Anna Nicole – she REALLY dominated the news for weeks. I suppose if they every find that rich blond girl’s body – you remember, the one who “disappeared” on vacation – the flags will definitely be lowered for her.

In the meantime, in California, we celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday and no longer celebrate Washington’s or Lincoln’s. Are things f*(%@ed-up or what?

K6BBC

[kc7jty]

The flags at half staff are just another drop in the politically correct bucket of endless crapola.

[nx6d]

Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 24 2007,06:37)]In the meantime, in California, we celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday and no longer celebrate Washington’s or Lincoln’s. #Are things f*(%@ed-up or what?
What are you talking about?

Chavez's birthday isn't "celebrated" up here in Siskiyou/Modoc...

[kc7jty]

Quote[/b] (nx6d @ April 24 2007,17:29)]Quote[/b] (k6bbc @ April 24 2007,06:37)]In the meantime, in California, we celebrate Cesar Chavez’s birthday and no longer celebrate Washington’s or Lincoln’s. #Are things f*(%@ed-up or what?
What are you talking about?

Chavez's birthday isn't "celebrated" up here in Siskiyou/Modoc...
No Sh*t!! I thought it was an official STATE holiday. I'm learning something here. A multi-county thing eh?