Flying flags at half-staff does not make "perpetual victimhood".
The day I took this picture, April 13, 2012, Illinois was flying their flags at half-staff for two days to honor CPL Alex Martinez, of the United States Marine Corps, killed in Afghanistan the previous week. Martinez was 21.
I agree with you on the Whitney Houston thing, but in most cases it's justified.
Just to be clear-I did not say that flying flags at half-staff makes perpetual victimhood...I DID say that flying flags at Half-staff DOES impart a perception of perpetual victimhood.
I have no issues with circumstances surrounding our military killed in action.