Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

[popgun]

I am always curious, and therefore I continue to learn.

I usually agree with what our President of the United States does, however I do not agree with flying the American Flag at half-mast today.

***********************************************************************

Flying the flag at half-staff is governed by

United States law.

The Statute (4 U.S.C. 7(m)) The President of the United States may order the honor:

upon the death of “principal figures of the United States Government

and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of

respect to their memory”;

In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries,

the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential

instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or

practices not inconsistent with law.

STATE GOVERNORS also have authority under the United States Code: “In

the event of the death of a present or former official of the

government of any State . . . the Governor of that State . . .may

proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff.”

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The President of the United States ordered the honor of having all the flags flying at half-mast today in honor of the funeral of the pope.

This is the code that gives the President that right:

“In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries,

the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential

instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or

practices not inconsistent with law.”

************************************************************************

The pope was a leader of his own country, the Vatican, and the Catholic Church.

The pope was very much against the United States involvement in the middle-east.

The Vatican was very much against our participation in WWII.

During WWII we were at war with Italy, just as we were with Germany and Japan.

The pope has done very little to help the American causes.

The United States should not dip or lower our Grand Flag for any leader of a foreign nation.

Not the pope, Prince Rainier of Monaco, or anyone outside the United States or our Territories.

If he ordered the American Flag lowered to half-mast in memory of the Soldiers, Marines, or any Americans killed in the recent helicopter crash, I would be in favor of that.

Did anyone fly their flags yesterday? Yesterday April 6th, was Army Day.

I realize there are a lot of members here of the Catholic Faith, and my intentions are not to start a Holy War.

Do you think the President made the right decision?

…..popgun

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I think it was the right thing to do. Regardless of the Pope's religious stature, he's also the Head of State of the Vatican, which is technically another country. We even have certain treaties with the Vatican, just like we would with Canada or Mexico.

And I'm not Catholic either.

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

WOW What a question. Well, I of course am going to say NO. You all know how I feel about our troops. Call me crazy or "twisted" all you want but my heart is with the troops.

So I guess that leads me to the next question that although a question, it should answer yours Popgun..... DO WE FLY THE FLAG AT HALF MAST WHEN OUR TROOPS DIE IN COMBAT ??? I don't think you all really need me to answer that.

Like I said, I don't really know anything about being catholic or the Pope. From what I read, he was a good man. But when we don't fly the flag at half mast for our troops paying the ultimate sacrifice, then I say no.

[carbonhunter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

[ QUOTE ]

WOW What a question. Well, I of course am going to say NO. You all know how I feel about our troops. Call me crazy or "twisted" all you want but my heart is with the troops.

So I guess that leads me to the next question that although a question, it should answer yours Popgun..... DO WE FLY THE FLAG AT HALF MAST WHEN OUR TROOPS DIE IN COMBAT ??? I don't think you all really need me to answer that.

Like I said, I don't really know anything about being catholic or the Pope. From what I read, he was a good man. But when we don't fly the flag at half mast for our troops paying the ultimate sacrifice, then I say no.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to agree with Mike here, Our troops are die'ing everyday, the least we could do is give them the same honor we give a Governor.

As for the pope....I agree with popgun, though he has done much to promote world peace he hasnt done much to help us in the past.

[popgun]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

[ QUOTE ]

So I guess that leads me to the next question that although a question, it should answer yours Popgun..... DO WE FLY THE FLAG AT HALF MAST WHEN OUR TROOPS DIE IN COMBAT ??? I don't think you all really need me to answer that.

[/ QUOTE ]

TSBH:

I would much rather see our flags fly at half mast every day that even one of our troops meets his maker, but......I know that If I were the Soldier, Sailor, or Marine who died, I would rather know that "Our American Flag" is waving high in the breeze, and the reason it is, in part, is because I was willing to make that ultimate sacrifice. I think most of them feel the same way.

CH: See?....We can agree on some things. .....popgun

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Good words Popgun

[Norm Sauceman]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Instead of flying the flag at half mast, the President offers this "other" tribute...or do we forget that... EVERY YEAR ....

President lays wreath at Tomb of Unknowns

By Deb Riechmann

Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Va. - President Bush led the nation Monday in remembering those who have died in war, noting particularly "recent loss and recent courage" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Today we honor the men and women who have worn the nation’s uniform and were last seen on duty for the battles of Iraq and Afghanistan," Bush said. "Today, we recall that liberty is always the achievement of courage and today we remember all who have died, all who are still missing and all who mourn."

Bush was joined by his wife, first lady Laura Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for the annual memorial rite under overcast skies.

"All of the good people we honor today were willing to die in the service of their country and the service of their cause," he said. "May God keep us ever grateful."

[WIwhitetailhunter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Here's one for you...When Reggie White passed away, the Gov. of Wisconsin ordered the US flag to fly at half mast in his honor.

Sure, Reggie was a great football player...but half mast for him????? What's next? The waterboy for the farm team of some major league team's brothers sisters cousin that passed away????

No doubt about it. The pope was a great man. But with all the issues involving church and state, I personally do not feel that flying the flag half mast for the pope is warrented.

[Ravin R10 man]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Mr. Bush has the right to order the flags. It was his call, I'll stand by it. I dont agree, I thought this was for US Dignatarys (sp) and the like...

[Strut_Buster]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I agree. The pope was a freedom figheter, and a great teacher for everyone in the world. I'm not catholic, but i feel we need to respect this man as a nation for all the miracles and great things he has done throughout the world.

[slugshooter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I agree with the decision. Pope John Paul II was one of the most influential voices against communism, who knows, without him communism might still be rampant. Veterans die every day, when there is a war troops die almost daily, are we to fly the flag at half staff every day of the year. Flying the flag at half staff has a special symbolic meaning. I think that the honors bestowed upon a fallen soldier during wartime at his funeral are better than flying a flag at half staff.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Think it was the right thing to do popgun. Flying the flag at half mast in his honor with all the catholics and religious people of this country seems like the right thing to do to me.

[dg]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

We have Memorial Day every year. Give the Pope a week and be done. It's also part of politics with the world unfortunately.

[LifeNRA]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

[ QUOTE ]

We have Memorial Day every year. Give the Pope a week and be done. It's also part of politics with the world unfortunately.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it was our way of saying, "Look we still care whats going on in the world!" I kind of agree with dg here as well. We still have to be friends with the world no matter what they think or do. But I also feel our troops need more attention than the pope, and I am catholic too.

[horst]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

Frankly flying the post at half mast for the pope just about pisses me off.Theres guys getting killed everyday in Iraq and the media wont give them more than a couple seconds of mention.Meantime the popes death has been on for days, and now the flags been lowered for him.Its got nothing to do with our country unless you happen to be a Catholic in the United states.He was a good man but so were all the others that wont ever get the recognition they deserve.

[slugshooter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

[ QUOTE ]

Its got nothing to do with our country unless you happen to be a Catholic in the United states.He was a good man but so were all the others that wont ever get the recognition they deserve.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wonder what the attitude would be if say, there were 1 Billion Baptists in the world and Billy Graham died. I am pretty sure that when Billy Graham passes, there will be a very large outpouring of grief in this country and I wouldn't be surprised if the flags go to half staff for him, seeing as how he has been ministering to Presidents since Eisenhower, maybe even Truman, can't remember the first time he went to the White House. The Catholic Church and the Pope extend beyond borders to virtually every country in the world. The Pope is probably the most influential spiritual leader in the world and can influence many people, including world leaders, with his thoughts and beliefs. Where would we be in this world with communism without him, would the Soviet Union still exist, maybe, maybe not. It was bound to collapse eventually I'm sure, but the Pope definitely had some influence in that matter.

Just because the Pope's death means nothing to you does not mean that it means so much more to the 1 Billion people in this world that are Catholic. I dare say that if the President of the Southern Baptists or the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Cleveland, TN were responsible for the oversight of 1 Billion believers and thousands of churches the responses would be different.

[horst]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I dont care how many Catholics there are in the world.I dont care how many Baptists there are in the world.I dont care how many Presidents he met with.I dont care if he single handedly stopped communism.He had nothing to do with the security, or the leadership of this country, and IMO those are the people the flag should be lowered for.Ever hear of the seperation of church and state.It might apply here.

[OJR]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I agree with Horst! I think it is a disgrace to the people in the military who died for that flag!

[stevebeilgard]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

the lowered flag was a sign of respect. we can give respect to our worst enemies, without regard for right or wrong. i say lower the flag for a day, and give respect. whether you love or hate the man, he was a world figgure

[Norm Sauceman]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

It was the RIGHT thing to do.

[slugshooter]

Re: Flying the American Flag at half-staff:

I take it Horst doesn't agree with lowering the flag for the Pope. I wonder if he'll gripe this hard when Clinton dies and they lower the flag.