The presidential order to lower U.S. Flags in memory of the deaths at Newtown is flat-out wrong.
I guess this may not be the time to get mad about something, but Obama is so wrong on this!
The shootings in Newtown, Conn. were horrible, but they are not a national tragedy. Nor was the shooting in the Aurora, Colo. movie theater.
Obama couldn't even speak without notes yesterday in addressing the nation about the shooting. Is it even something that merits the Obama's attention as POTUS? But I don't want to be a rant about Obama and his lack of genuine emotional involvement. Did you watch his face while he read his prepared speech?
This is about his error in ordering the lowering of U.S. Flags to half-staff and about Gov. Quinn's order to follow Obama blindly down that path.
The U.S. Flags should fly at the top of the staff - all the time. We can never let a terrorist or any other criminal have the power to lower our Flag!
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It's about honoring the people. I strongly disagree with you. As a nation we must unite and show solidarity. Flying the fly at half staff is a display of that solidarity.
Glenn,
I understand your concerns, but I have to agree with Gus on this one. Who will determine who is worthy to have The United States morn a death(s). I want the flag flown at half staff when I die, no I should have it..... Who actually is worthy?
Gus, on this issue I don't think you're focusing on the whole picture and you are wasting an opportunity to express outrage and remorse.
I can't stand Obama either, but yesterday he was just as heartbroken as the rest of the parents in this country. Of course he prepared a speech. If he would have went out there and winged it he would have broke down even more than he did.
As you have said the lowering of the flag is very symbolic but I don't think you understand it like many of us do. Children were murder in a government facility yesterday. Just as sailors and soldiers were killed at Pearl Harbor, USS Cole, the Beirut barracks, the Pentagon and dozens of other places were we remember the fallen.
I can think of at least a half dozen observances that we lower the flag for, that don't mean a fraction of what yesterday means to me. (And I am a veteran and I do serve my community as I write this. Soldiers and sailors get paid to protect this country. They took the oath and understand the job. Employees of the government understand the risks, they are adults. We lower the flag for them, and for their days of remembrance.)
Those children were murder in a government building where they should be safe. It was this country's duty to protect them. The lowering of the flag means we failed them and that we are mournful and grief stricken.
We as a nation have guards and police to protect our Forest Preserves, National monuments, politicians, government centers and our money but we have none to protect our children in government facilities known as schools.
Lowering the flag for those children means the world to those effected directly. It means that this country is praying for them and their families.
Instead of writing a post questioning the lowering of the flag, write a post that expresses your regret regarding the horrific events of yesterday.
Write a post demanding that our elected officials protect our children in the government run institutions just like they would themselves or their money.
While your observing the lowered flags around town, questioning the decision, think about the last moments of those children's lives. Think about the parents who are undoubtedly contemplating suicide this very day. Perhaps when they see that flag at half staff it will be enough of a reminder to them that they are not alone, that they don't have to end their lives.
Its not about the flag its about so much more.
Another reader sent this comment via email. He included his name but not permission to publish it, so I won't.
"Some things you should not say out loud! You are insensitive and an idiot to boot. I will never read your blog again... "
mur·der
/ˈmərdər/
Noun
The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.
Verb
Kill (someone) unlawfully and with premeditation.
Synonyms
noun. homicide - assassination - killing - manslaughter
verb. kill - slay - assassinate - slaughter - butcher
Z.S.
Premeditated killing on the children, I do not see that. I feel they were collateral damage. He was after someone.
Gus is completely incorrect regarding the lowering of our flag in this instance. Please refer to the United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1, Paragraph 10 (the final one).
§10. Modification of rules and customs by President
Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, whenever he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation.
As you can plainly see, this paragraph gives wide latitude to the Commander In Chief with respect not just the lowering of the flag, but all "rules and customs" under this Title. Our President, by virtue of the fact of his election, can and should be entrusted with decisions of this nature, and his judgement should be respected.
Finally, Gus' opinion as to the nature of this event not rising to the level of a national tragedy, is just that...his opinion. I am sorely grieved at his expression of this opinion, and point to the global outpouring of shock and grief as a result of these senseless executions. My opinion is that this IS a national tragedy, one of epic proportions. At a time like this, American citizens need to have a common goal; how to end, or at least reduce the instances of this type of violence. I, for one, do not wish to wait until this happens in my community.
-Nick Chirikos
I had read ¶10 in the U.S. Flag Code about the President's authority, as I wrote about about this.
So, it's my feeling that Obama mis-used his authority. He didn't "modify, alter, repeal or make an additional rule" that I know of.
The next part of ¶10 reads "...and any such alteration or additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation." Did he issue a proclamation regarding the U.S. Flag and the Newtown tragedy?
I've not seen it announced anywhere that he did. I think he just ordered the U.S. Flag lowered.
Gus, this has nothing to do with your post, but maybe some "feel-good" posting would be a good idea right about now. Please follow this ling: http://youtu.be/XITpmGqLDkU
This kid is astonishing and could very well be President one day!
Thanks!
Proclamation of the President of the United States December 14, 2012
http://courantblogs.com/capitol-watch/proclamation-by-president-on-newtown-shootings-to-lower-flags-at-all-federal-buildings/
Less thinking and more research, Gus.
Gusomundo is technically correct... as much as I hate to say it.
But trust me, I lower my Union Jack and Jolly Roger every time I drop a bottle of beer and it breaks. DOH!
Thanks, Nick.
Any one besides me find it a huge coincident that the fathers of both the Colorado shooter and the Conn. school shooter are both to be called to testify before Congress re: LIBOR?
Anyone get that? Just find this to be endlessly fascinating.
Here is some info:
In the wake of the mass murders that took place in Newtown, Connecticut on Dec. 14, information on the shooter, and his family, is slowly being discovered by law enforcement other sources. One interesting connection to the tragedy that took place at the Sandy Hook school is that the father of Adam Lanza has a connection to the theater shootings that took place in Aurora earlier this year by James Holmes.
Both fathers of the shooters were allegedly expected to testify in the Libor scandal that rocked the banking world in June.
The father of Newtown Connecticut school shooter Adam Lanza is Peter Lanza who is a VP and Tax Director at GE Financial. The father of Aurora Colorado movie theater shooter James Holmes is Robert Holmes, the lead scientist for the credit score company FICO. Both men were to testify before the US Sentate in the ongoing LIBOR scandal. The London Interbank Offered Rate, known as Libor, is the average interest rate at which banks can borrow from each other. 16 international banks have been implicated in this ongoing scandal, accused of rigging contracts worth trillions of dollars. HSBC has already been fined $1.9 billion and three of their low level traders arrested.
Libor scandal grows as the fathers of two mass murderers were to testify
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a motive and a link. This coincidence is impossible to overlook. Two mass shootings connected to LIBOR. - Fabain4Liberty via Before it's News
Libor is the internal banking interest rate that major financial institutions determine each day for lending purposes between each facility. This rate is then translated to the interest rates used for mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and nearly every interest bearing loan in the world. Manipulation of the Libor rate has resulted in hundreds of billions, if not trillions of dollars in fraudulent payments made by billions of customers throughout the financial world.
For similar events on the magnitude of both Aurora and Newtown to hold a connection to one of the greatest financial scandals in the history of finance is astronomically slim in regards to coincidence. In fact, neither shooter had a history with firearm proficiency, and the outcome of each shooting showed an expertise many trained military personnel could not achieve. This leaves the question of where they got their training, or if there was another plot involved which allowed these young men to perform the actions they did with such precision.
While the coming days will bring forth more pertinent information on the motives, access, and failures of both community and family to diagnose the events leading up to Adam Lanza's killing spree, one thing is becoming disturbingly clear. The connections between the Aurora massacre, and the one that took place in Newtown on Friday, may have far more ramifications to the people involved in the Libor scandal than anyone could imagine.
For more on finance and economics, you can follow Ken Schortgen Jr on Twitter, and listen to the weekly economic roundup segment of the Angel Clark radio show from 6-7 p.m. EST on Friday evenings.
My in box is filled with this info. To bad the main stream media is owned by those that do not want you to know the truth.
the pres should not have said a think. Some nut is sitting at home thinking, wow, if I shoot a bunch of people I can make the Pres cry and be famous.
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