It should be. I’ll have to look around the area to see if any flags are still up full, but I do remember last time that flags were to be flown half staff (when Reagan died, if I remember correctly), we had several prominent flags in the area that were still up full staff.
Comments
Did you read the proclamation? Government buildings, etc. are covered; Bush has no authority to tell me how to fly my flag.
Since President Bush’s proclamation specifies only government buildings, ships, etc., this is not a proclamation to tell me – the private citizen – to fly my flag at half staff.
Regardless of how you feel about Bush (of whom I’m not a big fan, either), shouldn’t you be doing this for the Pope, not because he told you so?
I’m not Catholic. Thank Goodness!
Why? He was just a man like the rest of us. They wouldn’t put up the flag if I died, would they??
G
Greg: I would if you had a positive influence on millions like the Pope did. I’m not a Catholic, not even religious, really, but I do believe he did a great deal of good in this world for a lot of people.
I don’t have any problem with the flag at half-staff for the Pope who was a reigning Head of State. I am curious though if Bush would order flags at half-staff if Tony Major or Vladimir Putin died. How about the Dalai Lama?
I am Catholic. For me, it’s kind of hurtful to see flags not flown at half-staff since the Pope’s died…
To emphasize who this man was, spiritually, Catholics believe the pope is a mediator between God and man. I realize to many that’s laughable, but Catholics really take this notion to heart.
While I don’t feel that anyone should be able to order a private citizen to fly their flag at half-staff, I would hope people would do it in respect of the large base of Americans who are Catholic, if not for the Pope himself.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Do what you will.
Would the vast majority of Americans fly their flags @ half-mast for another Religion or Country? No way. I find it rediculously offensive seeing the flags at half-mast. Every time I see one it reminds me of how hypocritical the government is. I understand that the Pope was a great man and did great things. I don’t want to take that away from him. However, as someone said earlier, when the Dalai Lama goes, will our flags be at half-mast? I don’t think so. And the Dalai Lama has spread a more positive message than the Pope ever did.
Dan: I agree with you. Most Americans wouldn’t, which is sad, because there are a lot of religious and spiritual leaders (the Dalai Lama included) that deserve are respect just as much. It won’t happen, you are right, because of the hypocracy in this country.
OK- sorry to drag this out longer… but I started to look around (Prineville) and found four public schools, two Oregon departments (ODOT and ODF), three flags maintained by the City of Prineville, and one on top of the Crook County Courthouse that were all flying at full-staff. These are government offices and are required to fly them at half-staff. Did they miss the memo?
The thing is… the pope had nothing to do with America. He was not an American. Therefore why do we lower our flags for a non-Citizen?? Who is next?? Someone from the UN dies and we lower the flags again?
G
My favorite…
“Late Pope’s Opposition to Condom Use Obstacle in Fight Against Disease, Say AIDS Advocates”
I am offended by the President’s disregard for our founding fathers who had the wisdom to KNOW that church and state must be separate for a workable government! And over 200 years of history gives a little bit of credibility to this notion. (duh!) I know President Bush doesn’t read newspapers, but did he ever take a history class?
I appreciate and respect the leadership of Pope John Paul II and would be very respectful of private schools, churches or businesses who choose to fly their flags at half-staff in his honor. But when I see the flag at half-staff at the post office and at the museum of a state university I am outraged by the way the president has politicized the death of a respected and beloved religious leader.
It’s in the same ball park as the government involvement with Terri Schiavo. That was a disagreement among family members and the Congress had no “STANDING” in the case. However, that didn’t stop many of them from using the Schiavo family tragedy for their own political means.
If you’re going to come back with the “head of state” argument… did I miss the half-staff decree for Prince Ranier of Monaco?
And, if you’re going to lower the flag for “great leaders” then the flag would always be half-staff. Great leaders are very frequently “normal” people who live everyday lives in communities EVERYDAY. Not just when there is a statement to be made. They live in a way that makes us take note and want to be better people. They touch our lives intentionally, on a personal level that can’t be achieved by a faraway glimpse at a figure on a balcony.
I’m frustrated because the public respect we show our dead and dying is so subjective. Flags fly at half-staff, and rightly so, for our young soldiers who have died recently in Irag. But I can’t help but think much of the celebration of these lives is political. Politicans trying to make amends for the neglect of lives lost in the Viet Nam “conflict” which began 40 years ago.
I went to a funeral yesterday. My uncle enlisted in the US Navy in 1939. He was in the Atlantic when Pearl Harbor was bombed and spent the last two years of the war in the thick of the fighting in the Pacific. He survived the war and came home to live a long and fruitful life in rural Oklahoma. In spite of his quiet life he was a great man and positive example to everyone he met. He would have been the perfect representative for Tom Brokaw’s “greatest generation” but would have been much too humble to accept the designation, and totally dumbstruck by the suggestion. He was buried with military honors in a very touching ceremony.
But in spite of his exemplary life, decades of service in his church, and over twenty years of service to his country, I didn’t see any flags in his community at half-staff in his honor. It was unnecessary. Those that knew him honored him in their own way and didn’t need a decree from an elected official to tell them to honor him. If we don’t respect people when they’re living, it doesn’t matter how many flags we lower after they’re dead. Makes me wonder exactly what the president is trying to be forgiven for.
Just a quick note. I’ve read all of your comments and I have to say…. everyone has a good and valid point. Here’s my two cents.
We, as American citizens have the “right” to fjy our private flags at half-staff or not. If you wish to show respect for the person who passed whether it be the Pope or the Dali Lama, please…. lower your flag.
You have every right to do so.
And, be sure to show the living that you respect them as well. Never miss the opportunity to let those you love know that you love them. Life is short. Live it well.
How come we don’t fly the flag at half mast for every American soldier killed?
I am no longer a Catholic, but I’m with Michelle who posted to say she felt it was hurtful to her to not see the flag at half mast.
There should be some some sort of uniformity on this matter. I can remember the year that Henry Ford II died 1987, and various Ford dealerships flew their US flags at half-mast. I felt this was very inappropriate as Ford was a Nazi sympathatizer in life.
Yet, I was told that private entities can fly the flag any way they want.
So I suppose if someone doesn’t want to show respect (not deference, there is a difference) to the Pope that is their choice…but do they need to show hatred toward Catholics in general with some of the attitudes I see posted here? What a shame.
Jake: The pope was hardly a man to honor. He fought AGAINST women’s rights, fought AGAINST birth control* and did absolutely nothing about all of the child molestation going on in HIS church.
Not a man to honor.
*The missionaries sent to africa encouraged the people there to NOT use any form of birth control which has led to an increase in the spread of AIDS. Yes, love the pope. He was a great man.
Michelle, re: government bdgs. with flag not lowered:
The decree ordered flags at federal gov’t bdgs. to be lowered, it said nothing about city or state bdgs, whish are the ones you mentioned.
I am sorry that some people are offended by my not flying my flag at half-mast, but that isn’t my issue. I’m not Catholic and disagree with much of what the Pope stood for. Still, it’s fine with me if you choose to fly your flag at half-mast. What bothers me is that the president ordered GOVERNMENT agencies to lower the flag. The government should never take any action that can be construed as placing one religion above another. With this order, it has taken such an actiono
Question:
Catholics, this one is for you to answer…
Will Catholics be offended when Bush orders government buildings fly flags at half mast (and thus paying homage) when Louis Farrakhan dies?
Comparisons: The pope has done his share of civil good-works, but so has Farrakhan (if you don’t believe me read up on him). The pope has also done some “not-so-honorable” things, and so has Farrahkan. The pope is not everyone’s leader, neither is Farrakhan. Farrakhan offended masses of people in his day, but ah…so has the pope.
I think Catholics would be outraged if they walked into a post-office to see a flag at half mass in honor of Farrakhan. Places that are supposed to be for all Americans should not be bias to any. I know several former Catholics who were sexually abused by priests and clergy who now despise the Catholic religion for allowing the injustices to begin and then continue. Should these people have to walk into a post office and honor the man who allowed turned a blind eye to these rapes and then gets credit for being a saint? Is that fair? It’s not more fair than white people having to walk into a post office and honor a man that called all white people devils?
But you know what…I just don’t think Catholics would not draw the parallelisms and would not understand why they should have to honor a Farrakhan or another religios leader, yet they are so adamant about other people honoring their leader, despite what he meant or did not mean to non-Catholics.
But here’s the thing…I am not against flying the flag at half mast for the pope, I’m actually for it…as long as we will do the same for Farrakhan, and other major religions/political leaders despite their flaws/opposers. No person is all evil or all good. Belive it or not the pope was a sinner! But he was a man, a man, I repeat, who did good things for a lot of people. Anyone who does good for a lot of people should be honored. Unfortunatly the concept of “doing good” is too subjective for the government to have a say in the matter. So we should limit the lowering of OUR public flags to those who affect OUR country, the USA, politically, scientifically, economically, etc. And we should fly our private flags low if were touched indirectly or directly by the pope, but don’t hesistate to do the same for Johnny Cochran.
To those of you who are confused about religion/separation of church and state, and flag etiquette.
First regarding flag etiquette, it is NOT proper for a company to decide to fly the flag at half staff to honor the death of an employee. Please Click Here. The president or a state governor may order flags to be lowered to half staff. Refer to Section 7m of the Flag Code for other reasons that a flag is lowered.
Next regarding religion, many of our founding fathers referenced God in there statements. I think even “all men are CREATED equal” is a reference to a higher being. The term separation of church and state is meant to ensure that ONE Church will not be in charge (as it is in Iran).
The president is respecting the MAN, not the Catholic Religion. (Lets face it, the Catholics have been as persecuted as much as any other religion in the country, they are specifically targeted by the KKK!). So anybody who thinks this is an infringenment of church over state, get over it – you are wrong.
If you are not religious, so be it.
If you are religious, follow your heart and your faith.
If you want to fly your flag at half-mast then that is your right, but I don’t think the government should tell you to do so for the pope who isn’t even a US citizen.
how long does the flag stay up at half mass