The world received the shocking news that musical icon and New Jersey native Whitney Houston was dead on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Her body had been found partially submerged in a bathtub after consuming a cocktail of Valium, Xanax and alcohol in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
After Houston’s death however, society seemed to split between those who wished to grieve for her passing and others who, for lack of better word, were not all that surprised, primarily because of the fact that Houston’s past was laced with drug and alcohol abuse. The controversy grew more volatile when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made the announcement that he would be lowering the flags to honor the New Jersey native.
Professor Mezey, Associate Professor and Director of the Sociology program here at the University, says that she respects Governor Christie’s decision to lower the flag for Houston. “My understanding is that he based his decision on his conviction that Whitney Houston made an important cultural impact during her life and because she was born and raised in New Jersey,” states Mezey.
Freshman Gina Colasurdo was a little less than enthused about Christie’s choice in lowering the flag. “A person very close to me lost someone very close to them in their lives. His friend was in Afghanistan and was shot, but he didn’t get the recognition he should have. In fact, many soldiers that have been killed in the local area do not get nearly as much recognition as Whitney Houston gets for abusing prescription drugs. So Governor Christie chooses to lower the flag to a known drug abuser over a person who is out there supporting the United States and fighting for our country. How fair does that sound?” asked Colasurdo.
Many people share the same viewpoint as Colasurdo, and believe that the lowering of the flags should remain reserved for military and police personnel killed on duty only. As stated in the New York Daily News on February 21, a man by the name of John Borri, who had lost his son in Iraq, was so enraged over Christie’s decision in lowering the flags for Houston that he burned an American flag in protest.
This is not the first time that Governor Christie has lowered the flags for individuals other than those in the military and law enforcement. In fact, according to an article in the Star Ledger on February 21, Christie has ordered the flags to be lowered for 31 servicemen and women, two first responders, six public officials, the anniversary of September 11, Morristown High School baseball coach Harry Shatel and most recently, Clarence Clemons and Whitney Houston. Bringing Christie’s grand total of drawing the flags at half-staff to 42.
Despite the high number of Christie’s flag count and the large controversy it sparked, it can be said that his intentions are pure for him wanting to pay tribute to Whitney Houston. Some believe another outlet should be utilized in the commemorating of those outside of the armed services.
Jessica Costello, a freshman, believes other outlets should be used in such remembrances. “I do not think the flag should be lowered for a celebrity that died. A simple memorial to honor entertainers would be perfectly suitable.”
Mezey, on the other hand, believes that such lines should not be drawn as to how such a person is remembered or not. “I don’t think we need a blanket decision to honor or not honor a particular group of people. The decision to lower the flag for anyone who has passed away should be based on the positive contributions that person has made to the lives of others, and on the social and cultural meaning that person has for the group of people paying homage,” Mezey decides.
All in all, the world lost a Grammy winning singer. While a tragedy, it must not be forgotten what the lowering of the flag stands for. Whether Houston deserved it or not is up for debate. The United States flag’s meaning is stated in the Flag Code. There it states, “The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing.” This should be considered in situations like this.
