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Flags Fly At Half-Staff Too Often




If you think Old Glory, the flag of the United States of America, seems to be flying at half-staff a lot recently, you are correct.

Slate, an online pop culture website, reported as of July 12 the U.S. flag has been ordered to half-staff by Barack Obama, U.S. president, for 30 days so far this year.

The website reported the figure is a record, more half-staff orders than by any other president. Compare that to 58 orders by George W. Bush and 50 for Bill Clinton, former presidents.

States can order flags be flown at half-staff as well. For example, John Kasich, Ohio governor, ordered flags flown at half-staff across the state on Thursday, Sept. 22, to honor an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper who was struck and killed while conducting traffic enforcement on Interstate 90 in Cleveland.

Which brings about the question: Does flying the flag at half-staff so often diminish the significance of what is meant to be a national honor?

Indeed, anything special, done too often, isn’t special anymore. If a person grew up only having ice cream a few days a year, it would be a special treat. But if a person gets ice cream every day, it’s not special anymore.

On the other hand, how does a president or a governor say no to a request to order flags lowered to halfstaff? In 2011 Chris Christie, New Jersey governor, ordered flags in his state flown at half-staff in recognition and mourning over the passing of Clarence Clemons, a saxophonist with the E Street Band. Who’s to say his music didn’t bring joy to many?

But the flag, flying at half-staff, is to be a symbol of national sorrow and mourning. Shouldn’t it be reserved only for such occasions?



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