Flags at half mast here in Illinois

[skepticscott]

for the victims at VT. Is it like that everywhere, and is anyone besides me bothered by this? Not that these deaths weren't tragic, but a lot of people die tragically and unexpectedly every single day of the year and for the most part get little if any attention and no public recognition. More people than died at VT are killed just in alcohol-related traffic accidents every 24 hrs. Where are the flags flying for them? We've basically allowed the media to assign differing values to people's lives and to dictate how deserving they are of memorial based on how much news coverage they can squeeze out of their deaths, which is a pretty sick state of affairs.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Like KO said: they should be at 1/2 mast every day.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. I'm not going to say flags at half mast is inappropriate...

But there is a sort of phony quasi-9-11 "everything's different now" weird sentimental vibe going around.

I didn't see any flags at half mast last month when there was a campus shooting at the University of Washington.

[MadMaddie]

5. And we didn't see flags at half mast after the drowning of the

Gulf Coast...

Tragedy all around....

[orpupilofnature57]

6. Rove & Shrub to solicit sympathy for youth in harms way ,Everything

is usable.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. It's not Rove and Shrub.

It's regular people.

[live love laugh]

13. No it's not regular people, Bush ordered flags flown at half staff.

Sheer propoganda.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6565125,00.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. And you think they did it because he ordered them too?

You think the media's doing this shit because Rove put them up to it?

No, the regular people it this stuff up.

[orpupilofnature57]

18. I'm not saying an order to fly flags at half mast ,Soliciting EMOTIONS..

...IN A USEFUL WAY, to currie favor and prejudice, how the fuck do you think they got where they are!!,brilliance and for sight?

[orpupilofnature57]

22. Regular people? Rove, the traitor has a network of ways to" put them up to it "

the Media put Shrub in the whitehouse ,why because they were covering ideas and facts?

[orpupilofnature57]

19. And thats apparent on the street ,I'm talking about, the non-stop distractions

and using the American ,tragedies ,holidays and flag as if it's owned by ' The Good Old Boy Network '

[skepticscott]

11. Not surprising

I didn't see any flags at half mast last month when there was a campus shooting at the University of Washington.


No doubt because the national media couldn't get a ratings boost from it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I noticed one at the Post Office here (MN) when I mailed my tax stuff.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. Hey. I live in Illinois. but, this does not bother me. I think it's nice. but,

I can see where you are coming from. Many people die. But, I think it's that the people who died were so young and it was so unexpected and so many. However, we have know for a long time that violence in schools are happening and no one has seriously done anything to address it and the guns just keep on coming.
by the way, where in Illinois do you live?
I live in Rockford

[skepticscott]

12. Downers Grove here n/t

[nemo137]

15. Rockford? Me too.

n/t

[msongs]

8. no half mast flags for the 100,000's iraqis the us military has murdered however.. nt

[Erika]

10. Don't blame the military, blame W's generals and policies

W doesn't think of those brown skinned Muslims as truly human or he would stop this "war".

I am bitter also that VTech, as muchs as they truly suffered, gets presidential recognition but New Orleans,
or military, and Muslims are over looked and even scoffed at.

[TwilightGardener]

9. They put flags at half-mast also in Nebraska today-- I tend to think

this is overreaction. We love to wallow in disaster, and make symbolic gestures. Flags at half-staff are appropriate for elected officials and national mourning. NOT for big, tragic killing sprees of civilians, as horrific as it was. It seems like the excessive TV coverage lends to this sort of "we've got to do something" sensation that sweeps the nation, so everyone can feel like they're a part of the big story. I hate this stuff--it's Princess Diana, 9/11 and Columbine all over again. We can acknowledge a shocking and sad story, and pray for those involved, without rolling in it.

[lonestarnot]

16. weeny, I'm with you.

[TwilightGardener]

17. Thanks, was almost afraid to say it, for being flamed.

[orpupilofnature57]

20. Why ? it's a free country still ,isn't it?

[lonestarnot]

21. No need to fear flames here. It's bound to happen sooner or later. Heh