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.

[ByteMercenary]

I follow the same schedule with Old Glory but there is an exception. I fly the Stars and Bars during February (think about it ... you’ll get it).

[Georgia Girl 2]

The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes.

[Coffee... Black... No Sugar]

They are trying to get it ALL THE WAY down, they just do it 1/2 at at time over... and... over!!!

[surrey]

Same here. It’s seems like every day the flag is at half staff in our town. Just saw it down again, this morning, and I have no idea why.

[Redwood71]

Unfortunately, I agree with you. But, according to the US code the final say on when the flag will be flown at half staff falls into the hands of the president. This is why the flag was lowered for Whitney Houston, who had nothing to do with the government, and was not lowered for Shirley Temple Black who was an ambassador to foreign countries after her movie career, and after that, our representative to the UN. Kinda shows where our president's sense of pride in our country falls, doesn't it? red

[NonValueAdded]

I see nothing in 4 U.S. Code §7 (m) that gives POTUS the discretion to do this for anyone other than a government official or foreign dignitary. That decision is left to the Governors of the States.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

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

Yes.

Flags at half staff nationwide are for the death of presidents or former presidents or national tragedies from military style attacks. I will include terrorism but only if it happens in more then one state or to members of the US military. So 9/11 (terror attack in more then one state) or Fort Hood (Attack on US military) gets nationwide half staff but not San Bernidino.

Statewide is determined by the governor but still should be limited to those things, death of a governor or former governor or military style attack. So it is fine for the governor of Florida to have their flags flown at half staff for Orlando, but not nationwide.

[Mr. K]

There are rules for flying the flag

The stupid people from this administration are not aware of them

[Roccus]

I understand, but I’m not sure Old Glory is the one I’d fly.

[longtermmemmory]

symbolism over substance.

The recent terror attack saw the flying of sex fetish flags at the EXCLUSION of American flags YET normal citizens were expected to capitulate to a sex fetish frenzy by flying a flag at half staff. People died on American soil at the hands of terroists (probably plural) that should call for an American flag not a “deadly sex style flag”

[DesertRhino]

Absolutely yes. It started as a way to jab bush in the eye. It shouldn’t be half staff for every soldier. And it really shouldn’t be because a gay moslem shot up a nightclub.
(although I’m sure that really hits home for Obama, he thinks back to man country in Chicago)

[rlmorel]

Yep. Not doing it. Anyone who doesn’t like it can GO POUND SAND.

The flag still, even today, means something to me. I am not going to crap on it by lowering it for the likes of Ted Kennedy or any individual entertainer or news person.

They didn’t lower the flag to half-staff when 150 men were killed in one day in Vietnam. They don’t lower it when a dedicated serviceman loses his life in combat.

Pearl Harbor I get. 9/11 I get. But Ted Kennedy? Whitney Houston?

Nope.

[trisham]

Agreed.

[DesertRhino]

“I see the flag lowered practically every day in some place.
I always ask whomever I am with - why?”

I was with someone who hopefully and innocently asked if maybe Obama had died when he saw the flag at half staff. A few leftist heads exploded nearby.

[rlmorel]

In my neighborhood, there is a house that flies the rainbow flag and the US flag side by side. The US flag is bowed significantly below the rainbow flag.

I drive by it, and my blood pressure spikes. I won’t tear it down, but...it makes me grit my teeth.

[Roccus]

My flag.
I bought it.
I served under it.
So long as it is done with respect, this 71 year old will fly it when and how I wish (see post #15) and no politician will stop me.

[rlmorel]

I tend to agree with some other posters who would think the administration is fully aware of those rules.

[CJ Wolf]

Just think of it while driving by as putting God (rainbow) above country (stars and stripes). Keep your BP down. :-)

[Ketill Frostbeard]

If Obama had died there would have been a man carrying a magnum of champagne and passing out plastic glasses to strangers. An Odinist with a long beard, I suspect ;)

[sargon]

So it is fine for the governor of Florida to have their flags flown at half staff for Orlando, but not nationwide.

Wrong. A terror attack is an attack on us all. Jeez.