COMMENTARY | According to an article by the Associated Press, Gov. Chris Christie is defending his decision to lower New Jersey flags to half-staff on Saturday for the funeral of Whitney Houston.

Since Gov. Christie announced his decision to lower the flags, his offices have been receiving emails and calls criticizing the decision. The two social media giants, Facebook and Twitter, were buzzing on Wednesday with the public's negative reaction to the news.

Many people feel that the honor of having flags at half-staff is a gesture for heroes -- not drug addicts.

I agree.

I will be the first to admit that I felt sad when I heard the news on Saturday that Whitney Houston had died. I'm 29 years old -- I grew up listening to Whitney. Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey were the heavy-hitting vocalists of my generation. No one can sing like Whitney Houston. I remember getting into a lot of trouble when I was 15 for blowing the speakers out on my parents' $2,000 floor stereo, playing Houston's hit "I Will Always Love You." Her voice was that powerful.

Even though the world loves Whitney Houston and is saddened by her untimely death, flags shouldn't fly half-staff for a drug addict, and according to a poll taken by msnbc.com, 87.5 percent of people agree with me.

Gov. Christie defends his position, asserting that Houston is "a cultural icon" of the state.

Half-mast flags are an honor that should be reserved for government officials and heroes. The very symbol of the American flag represents patriotism and heroism. This honor shouldn't be expanded to include American celebrities. Those who are in favor of lowering the flags for Houston cite Houston's famous rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the 1991 Super Bowl as an endearing act of patriotism. Well, how many of us have poured our hearts out in the shower to the National Anthem? This hardly warrants lowering flags at half-staff when we die.

Many a soldier has died protecting this country and America's flags fly high still the same because the fallen soldier was not a celebrity. No flag flew at half-staff when my grandfather, a highly decorated POW of WWII, died, so it definitely shouldn't be lowered for a celebrity singer who struggled publicly with drug abuse for years.

She was just a singer. A great one but still just a singer. I heard all the governmental buildings are going to be named after her. I think that is ludicrous.

Why should I care? In a month everthing will be forgotten. It's funny that 2 weeks ago nobody cared about Whitney Houston and now that she died suddenly she is the greatest ever?

True.
Michael Jackson has been worm bait for a few years now and I believe, two topics came up about him when he died.
One great thing about Whitney. She wasn't a child molester.

Much ado about nothing.

Exactly. This isn't something I'd waste energy on being offended because of it.

when your looking for something to be offended about..
this is as good an excuse as any

Some people are always finding something to be offended by.

she could not be the greatest ever.

No one can ever be that but during the time they are.

Yet...

When some researcher is sittin back muchin on whatever qualifies for a sandwich in the 53rd and a half century.

Reading all your posts so he can cataloge an ancient ancestor...

He just might be listening to Whitney on his music tool.

round files might exist there also.

no biggie

either way

One. Phuck Facebook and wtf ever they think.

Two. Phuck Twitter and wtf ever they think.

They are both dumb and should have no say in anything.

Three.

2 Emmys. 6 Grammys. 30 Billboards. 22 AMA.
415 total career awards.
Sold over 170 million albums.
In the Guiness Book of World Records.
Charted 7-Number One Hits.

She made songs for the Troops.
Performed for the Troops.

An icon across the world.

And you, Twitter and FB keep referring solely to her as a 'Drug Addict'. This fact alone makes me want to lower my own flag due to the arrogance portrayed.

She's done plenty for our troops outside of picking up a rifle herself.

Outside of that.

You said that this honor is for: 'government officials and heroes'.

She was a hero.
To many.

If the flags will be lowered for George Bush when he dies, you're flipping right they can and should be lowered for a person like Whitney; because she IS and WAS a hero.

Do I think it should have been done for your grandfather?
Hellz yes. Just like it should have been for mine.

I commemorated my grandfather the best way I could.
As I'm sure you did.

But to criticize someone else for them commemorating their hero is sad.

Final note.

Of all the things Americans could get a b**** fest about, with the way this world is now, the fact that they blow up his phones over his choice to honor someone is pathetic and retarded. Seriously.

Blowing up phone lines and titter all over this issue? Please.

If you have twitter and FB, do me a favor, tell them to STFU.

There are for more demanding issues that they should voice an opinion about.

Not someone's choice to honor their hero whatever that way may be.

So, seriously, f*** them.

Do you Christie. Do you.

Whitney didn't write her own material, nor could she play an instrument. She was like the Monkees sans the talent! She certainly was no hero either, that's just preposterous.

Too you.
Too me.
Yes.

To think she wasn't too someone, like oh idk Christie..
..that's preposterous.

Who cares if she couldn't write.
She's the opposite of me.

It all makes perfect sense to me. After all that flag doesn't seem to mean much anymore. It may as well be used as the crowning send off of what has become the kind of icon that the American public can actually wrap it's atrophied brains around.

Ie Christie but im scratching my head on this.

But they did this with Jackson too. One minute they are calling hi a pedophile and the next after he dies congressmen were trying to pass resolutions for recognition.