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In online postings, there were two main arguments against the honor for the Grammy Award winner who died over the weekend in California at age 48: One was that it should be reserved for members of the military, first responders and elected officials. The other was that it's wrong to honor a drug addict.
Christie said he was not saying that Houston, who was born in Newark and was raised in nearby East Orange, is a role model. Instead, he said, Houston deserves the honor because of her huge cultural impact and as "a daughter of New Jersey."
"I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise - and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet - but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life," said the governor during a briefing in northern New Jersey. "I just reject that on a human level."
The governor noted he has ordered flags flown at half-staff for all 31 fallen New Jersey soldiers and every fallen police officer during his time in office. He also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
The cause of Houston's death at a Beverly Hills hotel has not been determined, and the results of toxicology tests are pending.
Gov. Christie Defends Lowering Flags to Half-Staff For Whitney Houston
Article Source: CBS News
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- Public Discussion (12)
Funny, these arguments for not lowering the flag were not made so apparent when it came to Clarence Clemons or Joe Paterno... and the list of many other celebrities that this has been done for...
- 2 votes
#1 - Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:04 PM ESTPresident Bush has ordered U.S. flags lowered in honor of Bob Hope...
Mr. Bush said in a proclamation Monday that as a mark of respect for Hope's memory, flags will be lowered at the White House, public buildings, and U.S. posts and military installations worldwide on the day of his burial. Flags are also to be flown at half-mast on U.S. ships that day. President Bush praised the comedian, saying he "made us laugh and lifted our spirits". - Source
Curiously... if you read the comments on that article... no critics... only supporters of lowering the flags "worldwide" for an entertainer
- 1 vote
Bob Hope wasn't a drunk or an addict. Besides look what he did for our military! Personally, I believe no flag should be lowered for any other person than a person who has served in our military, police, or fire department.
- 3 votes
Amazing how we put some people above reproach...
Everyone has their flaws... including the "English-born" Bob Hope and Clarence Clemons
In 1918, at the age of 15, Hope was admitted (as Lester Hope) to the Boys Industrial School in Lancaster, Ohio.[11] Formerly known as the Ohio Reform School, this was one of the more innovative, progressive institutions for juvenile offenders.
Hope's "endless extramarital flings had been an open secret in Hollywood for years... Hope paid her off to end the affair quietly. Payton later revealed the affair with a tell-all printed in July 1956 in Confidential. "Hope was...at times a mean-spirited individual with the ability to respond with a ruthless vengeance when sufficiently provoked.
According to Arthur Marx's Hope biography "The Secret Life of Bob Hope," Hope's subsequent long-term affair with actress Marilyn Maxwell was so open that the Hollywood community routinely referred to her as "Mrs. Bob Hope." - Source
Clemons comments about his own drug use:
ON NO LONGER USING DRUGS: “There comes a point in life where you want to see the real you. It’s not that drugs made me a bad person. I just don’t do it anymore. Now I can move past it, and see my life a lot clearer. - Source
- 1 vote
@ news, as the Pastor says in church when he knows he is about to tell the truth, "its gone get quiet in here" with you post 1.3
- 1 vote
Governor Christie, I take back the things I said about you in the past. You are OK in my book.
Rest In Peace, Whitney.<3
- 2 votes
#2 - Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:40 AM ESTI find myself agreeing in part with Christie's decision although part of me also accepts the not memoralizing someine who did good things and then threw away her God given talent on drugs. I have no problem lowering the flags for Clarence Clemons and will have to problem doing it when Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen die. All three are ambassadors of the Jersey sounds. I didn't even know Whitney was from NJ.
- 2 votes
I feel that the Governor was out of line. Houston was a good entertainer once, but then she chose to become a drug addict and died like an addict. She rates no special honors that require state or national flags be flown at half mast.
#3 - Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:44 PM ESTAnd what "special honors that require state or national flags be flown at half mast" did Clarence Clemons have... b/c I don't remember this conversation when he died...
died like an addict
FYI: I think the conclusion so far is Whitney died in the bathtub. I've yet to read an official report that stated she died under the influence of anything. The media being what it is did highlight the fact that there were prescription drugs in her room, but no amount of any significance... I think a lot of people have prescription drugs.
- 1 vote
I could care less about Clemons, didn't know who he was until about 5 minutes ago. This is about Houston however. She was an entertainer, nothing more nothing less. She wasn't an elected official, first responder, a great humanitarian, or a member of the military. She never discoverd the cure for cancer or solved the world hunger. So how does she rate the honor?
A solider that dies in the line of duty or a firefighter that runs into a burning house to make sure no one is still in there has more entitlement for that honor then that junkie. So by the Governor doing this shows a huge amount of disrespect to for all those that have died in the line of duty. Even if its only state and local govenrment flags she still doesn't rate it. Thank God Govener Christie hasn't any say on the notional flag.
That's my opinion about it. You don't like it or agree with it, I don't care.
I could care less about Clemons, didn't know who he was until about 5 minutes ago. This is about Houston however.
That is the point... no one seemed to care when it was simply "a member for Bruce Springsteen's band" they lowered the same flag... someone the average person may or may not even have ever known about... then one of the biggest and arguably the best singer in the world, probably more famous for history making version of the National Anthem, who is also from New Jersey leads to a controversy
"The Star Spangled Banner" is a charity single recorded by American singer Whitney Houston to raise funds for soldiers and families of those involved in the Persian Gulf War...
Traditionally performed at sports games in the U.S., "The Star Spangled Banner" was performed by Houston at Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Houston donated her portion of the proceeds.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Arista Records re-released Houston's "The Star Spangled Banner". She once again donated her share of the royalties, as did Arista Records, towards the firefighters and victims of the terrorist attacks. This time the single peaked at #6 on the US Hot 100, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. - Source
But when it all is said and done... There is no requirement that she fit your standard... "She wasn't an elected official, first responder, a great humanitarian, or a member of the military. It done simply at the discretion of the governor.
And with that said, I'll conclude the same as you....
That's my opinion about it. You don't like it or agree with it, I don't care
- 1 vote
But she was a great humanitarian in the state of New Jersey. Because of her donations, her old elementary school is named after her. There is a wing of a hosptial in Jersey named after her because of her donations.....
- 1 vote
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