ARE WE OVERUSING THE TRIBUTE OF FLYING FLAG AT HALF-STAFF?

AP ^ | July 1, 2016 | JENNIFER PELTZ

[PROCON]

NEW YORK (AP) -- Nearly every day, somewhere in the country, the Stars and Stripes was lowered to half-staff last year in one of the most significant official gestures of mourning and respect, an Associated Press analysis found.

The centuries-old practice can be a visible, public answer to extraordinary loss, as when more than four dozen people were killed last month at a gay nightclub in Florida.

[PROCON]

The U.S. Flag Code allows presidents and governors to lower flags for officials, military members and certain occasions, though some states have their own broader policies..

The true tradition has been lost.

Lowering the flag to half-staff for Muhammad Ali and the Orlando massacre are meant as political statements.

[Sequoyah101]

YES!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Yes. It’s gotten so it’s down more than up in NYS.

[Resettozero]

Ya think!

[Glad2bnuts]

Yes

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Agreed. Pretty much any tragic event is now cause for the state or federal government to show how much it cares by flying the flag at half-staff.

[PGR88]

I see the flag lowered practically every day in some place.

I always ask whomever I am with - why?

[I want the USA back]

Too much. It should not be done for traitors like Ali or specially-privileged members of a victim group.

[DouglasKC]

Yes. It’s ridiculous. Might as well leave the flag at half staff permanently.

[hemogoblin]

Yes. It used to just be for heads of state, right?

Same thing with standing ovations. These days you can't go to a play or concert of any quality level without everyone jumping to their feet at the end. Standing O has lost all its meaning.

[TADSLOS]

Let’s ask Whitney Houston...oh, wait...

[equaviator]

Stop jerking my flag around...JERKS!

[Hoffer Rand]

YES! Find other ways to honor and pay respect to civilians, but we’re diluting this honor for political reasons.

[Right Brother]

Might as well leave the flag at half staff permanently.

You are right. Every day since the death of America on January 20th, 2009.

[Roccus]

Since 6/12/08 I fly my flag only three days a year.

Memorial Day....half staff sunrise to noon, full staff noon to sunset.
9/11.....................half staff sunrise to sunset
Veteran’s Day.....full staff sunrise to sunset

[kropcke]

Furthermore, it’s never consistent - there is no solidarity and it illustrates a severe lack in leadership.

[Sequoyah101]

It was once a rare and significant event. Now it means little.

[lacrew]

“Lowering the flag to half-staff for Muhammad Ali...”

Wow...

[Vaquero]

The flag has needed to be flown upside down for the past 7+ years.

[Liberty Ship]

We should never lower our flag as a result or enemy or criminal action. It only gives incentive to enemy and criminal activity. Lower it for natural deaths of remarkable people only. I think it’s been at half staff half the time this year! Obama likes it that way.