Flags at Half Staff?
I must say that this bugs the heck out of me. I hate to see the flags at half staff and not know why. I also think it cheapens the honor of the flag at half-staff when it is that way for days at a time.
I looked it up and we are at Half Staff due to the death of Gerald Ford. WHAT!!! The guy died the day after Christmas and was buried more than 2 weeks ago!
I understand he was a president and they dont die every day. Heck only something like 38 have ever died in 220+ years. But why do we need to “mourn” for a whole month? Is anyone even still in mourning for this guy?
here is the wiki Rules on Half Staff.
* For thirty days after the death of a current or former President.
* For ten days after the death the current Vice-President, Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House of Representatives.
* From the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession
* On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress- i.e. a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
* On Memorial Day until noon
* Upon presidential proclamation, which have included: the remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, the death of Pope John Paul II, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the death of Coretta Scott King
Come on 30 days was almost as long as this guy was in office, he was never elected, I know 2 things about him, he played Football for Michigan and he pardoned Richard Nixon. If he had died while he was speaker of the house he would have gotten 10 days. I like the rule for congressmen in general, 1 day and then raise em back up. I can live with the existing Governors, Justices ex-VP rules of the day you die until the day you are buried. I can even buy a little longer for icons like Ronald Reagan (whatever your politics no one was indifferent about him…Gerald Ford on the other hand…) or for tragedies like an assassination or terrorist attack.
For me I am proud of the country and I think it is a fitting tribute to lower the flag in respect. I just think 30 days for a president who did not do much when he was president and has not done much since is way too long. I think 30 days for the best president ever is way too long. I understand the politics of making it variable, dont die when a member of the other party is president, but can we impose some sane limits that allow for honoring those who should be honored without cheapening the honor by overdoing it?
