Flags at Half Mast in New Jersey for Whitney Houston..... LUNACY

I felt a little guilty for thinking the same thing. I realize she was a real person with a real family and a daughter who is now without a mother. But I'm with you- it seems inappropriate to me. Thinking of all of the people who die in NJ (or any other state) that don't receive this honor seems pretty disrespectful. Firefighters, police officers, military personnel, veterans, and the list could go on. Thanks for pointing this out and making me feel better about what I was already thinking!!

My thoughts exactly. Yes she was a great singer but it's not like she did anything for America or for humanity in general. Soliders, I can understand but Whitney Houston? Really?

Does it cost taxpayers anything extra to lower the flags to half mast? If not, I don't care if we were to lower them to honor Mickey Mouse.

Whitney Houston, like it or not, had a huge impact on millions of Americans. While I am not the type of person to go ga-ga over a celebrity, I DID have a special place in my heart for her and her music.

What an insult to those people who lost their lives defending/protecting our country rather than popping pills and drowning in a tub!! Disgraceful, the residents of NJ should revolt.

(By the way I am a big Whitney fan. She had a great voice, but wasted it long, long ago!!)

Why not do this for all the service members who died over in Afghanistan?!

Yes. Whitney had a beautiful voice.
Yes. She had talent.

However, flags should NOT be flown at half-staff/mast for her.

ETA: J. - didn't you see my picture on my FB page from yesterday - the flag draped coffins with the caption "WHITNEY WHO?" under it? I'm truly sad she died. I am. but really - the flag needs to be flown half staff for the ones who died for our freedoms.

A flower for the question, J.! I don't get it either!

No offense to your question, and I'm sure this might upset someone (but that is not my intention)...

I kind of just don't care. Like I really, really don't care.

Meh, couldn't care less what they do in New Jersey.

Added: Oh, and was curious and so just googled it and this is what Gov. Chris Christie said: “Every NJ soldier who has been killed in action during my Adm had the flags lowered in their memory. Learn your facts before accusing.”

I wonder if Bruce Springsteen is upset. I mean, he'll have to call the governor now to make sure he'll get the same honor when the time comes.

(yes - sarcasm. If I'm not mistaken, isn't this supposed to be a tribute reserved to those that have honorably served the country...?)

I think its a travesty. Really that should be reserved for very important things. Whitney Huston is not that important. Only crazed fans would find that endearing.
Was she important? yeah, but not enough to en-mass. Ridiculous

Just food for thought, why the heck didnt they do it for Etta James? Far more importance and she was a great person to boot. Dont think California flew half mast.

Agreed.
1. Disrespectful to the memory of those who gave their lives serving our country.
2. New Jersey has a lot of daughters who go on to do great things -- doctors, teachers, mothers, etc.
3. I don't remember Whitney being a major ambassador for New Jersey the way Bruce Springsteen is.

I am with Kade here. It is beyond disrespectful to those who have died for our country, protecting people or trying to save others. It is a slap in the face to those who did and especially for those who dont receive this honor. Thats what it is, and HONOR. And for a singer no matter how great or not she was doesnt NOT deserve to get this honor.

"Daughter of the State" doesn't render a good enough reason to have the flag half mass. If that were a good enough reason then the flag would be half mass EVERY day, because EVERYONE is a child of a state then. And then it would mean anything at all. It wouldnt have the status that it does, nor again the Honor.

I think this is shameful and should not be happening. Some of us DO care! And to be honest we SHOULD because it is a great disrespect.

I have to agree with you.
The same sort of thing happened when Michael Jackson died.
It was a solid 3 months before news media would shut up about it.
"News Flash!!! Michael Jackson! Dead for 3 months and counting! Film at eleven!".
Apparently nothing was happening in the rest of the world for that whole time.

There are some very talented people - and there's no question about how talented/gifted they are - who seem to burn up very quickly and before their time, and it's tragic.
But flag at half mast for an entertainer is just not appropriate.
Rest in peace but enough already.

EH, I see no reason for it. Nor any reason against - it just is.

In the grand scheme of things, for me, I am far more worried about the outcome of the presidential primaries; the ongoing issue that Iran and Israel are becoming; the national deficit and budget negotiations; not to mention other actions around the world in which our country is involved.

I'm with you on that! It just shouldn't be legal...but I don't know all the rules surrounding the American flag...flying at half mast. She was an American..and an icon...so I am sure it is legal if the governor ordered it. They should have flown it at half mast the day my son went to Iraq....because it killed me.

I loved Whitney Houston, and am so sorry for her family. And I'm really sorry she couldn't beat the pain in her heart that must have been there to be so needful of those prescription drugs and other substances. She was such an amazing talent, and just beautiful in her day.

My son sings, and he works hard to sound good. Talent like Whitney's doesn't come along every day. Many people would go to great lengths to have her vocal ability, much less her looks.

That being said, I agree with Alexis R. 100%. We really need to look at our priorities in this country. We are way too celeb-obsessed.

Perhaps we should take it as a comment on this country's priorities - love affairs with celebrities, wanna be celebrities, sports starts and others of their ilk. Perhaps we should spend less time watching the boob tube and reading trash magazines/blogs/”news” and more time living our real lives with our real friends and families. Perhaps.

Why are you so speechless? Did she not contribute any value to our society, or are you so hard-hearted that you think because she was an addict, her life, talent, amazing voice, and all the gifts she gave us through her music don't deserve to be honored? Does someone's flaws make them unable to receive accolades posthumously for the good they DID contribute? Are you going to say that we don't honor vets and those who have given their lives for our country but we do honor celebrities, how dare we, awful American culture, etc.? A few years ago, we lost serveral young men (in the town I work in) in the line of duty, and flags were flown at half mast for them for weeks. They were not perfect people, they did some hard partying in high school, they had flaws. But we honored their service and their selflessness. Now, before you come back at me and call me clueless, I know a celebrity is not necessarily selfless and is clearly NOT giving his/her life for the rest of us to be safe and free, but I see the connection being a life that was valued and important to the greater society as being honored, hence, the flag at half mast. I don't see anything wrong with it. Maybe it's my age, but I grew up with Whitney's anthems and I am saddened by her VERY untimely passing. I look outside of the box enough to know that she had worth, even if she was addicted to substance.

I really don't care what the governor of NJ does, I live in California.
This country has much bigger problems to worry about than how people choose to mourn dead celebrities.
Wasting time getting upset about these trivial symbolic acts does nothing but distract us from our real issues, I find THAT unbelievable :(

J., I think it's time for a hobby. Or maybe a new hobby. :)

It is a symbol of respect for a dead woman, her family, friends and fans. It doesn't cost you anything (by which I don't mean money) to fly the flags at half-mast. If you weren't a fan, then nevermind--the flag will be back to normal tomorrow.

Honor and respect are not a zero-sum game; no one is taking anything away from anyone else who deserves respect by showing it to Whitney Houston. You may not have cared for her, but she left behind a daughter and other family and people who loved her. I imagine that this gesture by the governor means something to them.

There are so many things that are worth being speechless about. I just don't think this makes the list.

I don't know...solidarity?

It seems silly, but maybe anything that brings people together is a good thing.

To me s kind of weird because many actors/singers (some good some not) are from NJ, and haven't hear this happening for them, perhaps he was a really fan of her?

Why are you in this woman's online group? Things are done for whatever reason. You can join this group. New Jersey can half mass their flags.

It just proves how much importance is put on celebrities and not on the true heros - our military, especially those who paid with their lives to protect us. It's sad to realize that if you were to ask people (esp the younger generation), who the vice president is, they have no clue but if you ask who Britney Spears is, they know and can probably tell you everything about her. Just plain sad.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.......my goodness, you vented for me and so I thank you. ( smile )

I totally agree. Its crazy.

I agree with you 100%. Seriously? It's really sad that her life ended prematurely and my heart really goes out to her kid(s). However, that's not right. She is an entertainer.

Whitney Houston, was an entertainer period.

How about flying the flag at half staff each time one of our military personnel is killed? That makes more sense.

The Gov. Must have had a brain fart.

I know very well they lower it for the dead military, Thais why I am appalled tha he thinks it is equivalent for doing the same for Whitney Houston.

I think it takes away some of the honor when you lower the American Flag, because you think an entertainer needs some sort of recognition.

Whitney Houston has won her grammy's etc. the American Flag needs to be used to honor heros.

Please raise your children to have good character and moral values. This is an elected official making these entertainment memorials. I think Whitney Houston her self would say something along the lines of " BOBBY whatsthatmanthinkin?"

End times.
Ridiculous!

Once again we minimize the horrors of drugs to our youth in the name of being polite or politically correct.

She was a very famous person from that state, so I don't think it's strange or out of place at all. If it was nation-wide, now I think that would be silly, but I don't see the problem in paying tribute to a famous person from a state when they die.

I don't see a problem with it. She IS a daughter of the state and TX would do the same for any famous Texan.
To those saying we should honor a druggie, no one knows yet how she died, so let her have the decency of a private funeral and honorable burial.
Stop the judgement, people.

It's almost like nobody ever died before she did. Sheesh. I try to switch channels when her story comes on.... but every other channel has it too so I'm screwed.

I actually couldn't care less what they do with their flags in New Jersey. There are other more important things on my radar right now that upset me.

No at all there are many people that die everyday that do wonderful things for our nation, community and so on and don't get the same respect what is really going on? Stop the madness I say

Exactly what QueenoftheCastle said, I Concur! Whitney must have had a special place in his heart as well. Her voice was amazing!

Talent is so shifty and man made these days, I really appreciate the originals...

I think it's stupid. Yes she was great, yes people are sad, but the flags should only be flown when the White House does so. What about our soldiers? Do we fly them for them? No. Firemen, policemen? No. So celebrities should not get that honor.

I think there are rules set up for this. She was a great singer and I love her music the same as I did for Michael Jackson and Elvis. But they all died under circumstances that were not honorable. I don't even think they did this for Sonny Bono and he was a singer and government official and his death was not due to a dishonorable lifestyle!
The main problem is respect for the Flag and what it stands for. By doing this, it sets a precedent they may not be able to get out of. And what will we all say when they want to do this for any of the cast of Jersey Shores when/if any of them pass away??

Really? Why do you care? Why do you see this as an issue? What do you think is wrong with it?

She was a great singer, and a New Jersey native. I'm sure they are also going to lower them when Bruce Springstein dies (however you spell his last name). It is a nice gesture that is all. I'm all for doing nice things that cost almost nothing, and this is one of them.

I don't see the harm in it. If you are opposed to it, don't look at the flags.

I chalked it up to it being Jersey. I am sure there are flag protocols that are being breached but all states have the right to do something different I suppose. I always thought it should be reserved for America's heroes, American lives lost or heads of state, etc. If we were going to fly a flag half mast for Ms Houston (who was a gifted singer) then I think they should have done it for Michael Jackson. It seems that America celebrates the "jacked" up people more than the good examples. It is sad.

I can see a city and state recognizing this talent's passing, but not the
country. I think she humbled herself on national tv and admitted to her
demons, recognizing them. It is the first step.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_###-###-####_should-american-fl...

To answer the question of when you are to do it - yes, mostly for government official reasons like the death of a president or other high governmetn official - there are rules for it but if you look at it just right the governor can choose to do it when they feel the state is or should be in mourning. Do I agree, no but I am also not from the state of New Jersey and from the way NJ is portrayed on TV this seems like a very Jersy thing to do. Do I believe that all Jersey is like what I see on tv, no I am not stupid but obviously there is enough of the needed mentality to consistantly portray it - so based on the guidlines for flying at half mast and what I think of the New Jersey Culture it seems appropriate - I still do not agree with the choice - she did nothing for this country but sing pretty and add to the drug problem in America.