New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Wrong on Ordering Flags at Half Staff for Whitney Houston

I'm no different from millions of people when it comes to Whitney Houston. Her music soothed the soul and lifted spirits. By all accounts she was not only beautiful,  she had a heart to match. Miss Houston was a great entertainer, a very good person. She had many qualities we seek to find in our children and frankly within ourselves.

When New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced his directive of lowering the flags in New Jersey to half staff my charitable side agreed. If the order had been for the City of Newark to confer such an honor for one of its most noteworthy citizens on the day of her funeral it would have been a great honor to match the positive side of her life. 

We should judge those who have passed on by a different standard than we apply to the living. The words of Mark Antony at the funeral of Julius Caesar:

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar.

Certainly whatever negatives which surrounded the living Whitney Houston should be buried with her bones today once and forever more. Then again there will be those who focus on her failings.

Fans will remember her for her angelic voice with its great range. She also possessed beautiful looks. If she were a an athlete we would say she was the complete package. a performer she was in many ways larger than life. In her personal life it is reported she was charitable to all those she had contact with.

Whitney Houston had one fatal flaw, Bobby Brown.  Her inability to sever her relationship for her and her daughter's benefit caused her to remain his captive. A large part of Houston's life was defined by her relationship with Brown. The hope is their daughter can immerse herself in her mother's family. Because of rights to Whitney's works is worth tens of millions, all of which should the property of Bobbi Kristina Brown.

The lowering of the American Flag in New Jersey is perversion of what such an honor is reserved for.

Remember Whitney Houston for what she was, a fine entertainer and in all likelihood a decent person. The lowering of the flag to half staff is reserved for our heroes for contributions to public life.

May we honor Whitney Houston's life for the fine deeds.  May her mistakes be interred with her bones.

More tomorrow.

Ciao.......Moe Lauzier