flag to half mast (a septic firefighters vent)

well, bieng a professional firefighter and government employee i have to lower the flag to half mast whenever that cromagnon president of ours says so, and have just done so for the pope. Now i'm sure he was an alright bloke, but i couldn't help thinking that the flag would stay firmly at the top of the pole if the dali lama died or say...the leader of the muslim faith.
but really this reminded me of the blind fury i felt a while back and knew i could count on you lot for a some sympathy on this subject. here's what happened:
on September 12 2001 we were ordered to lower the flag to half mast in respect for the 343 firefighters and over 3000 others that died on the previous day. the flag stayed at half mast for one week. then...
when Ronald Reagan -the ex polititian and actor died the flag was ordered to half mast for one MONTH! :eek:
this shows you where their priorities lay. I truly felt like throwing up on that day. :mad:



-ryan

Makes you wonder... when big Arnie gets to be president, and eventually dies, you'll have (more or less) a dead ex actor, Polish, catholic, president.

:eek: :eek: :eek:

You may as well just buy a shorter flagpole and be done with it.

Cheers,

P
:D :D :D

I have seen flags flying at half mast today and wondered what was going on.
To me he was/is a nothing, but then I am a heathen. ;)
I agree about giving prefferential treatment to one type of religion, what about all the other religions when their head/leader dies. :confused:

Al, the none religious fanatic :D

Yeah, it is about who is more famous or who is not. A little bit like marketing. Who is more marketable and who is not. (Good point on dali lama). The Catholic Church is one of the richest and most powerful organisations in the world… (Oh I should shut up).

Diana is people’s princess after doing some work in Africa. (Eh she had an affair with a couple guys.) We all love her and respect her. You can still see her on the news and magazines.

On the other hand, Mother Teresa devoted her whole life working for the poor but who would talk about her anymore?

Wongo (a non-believer)

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Originally Posted by Wongo

Diana is people’s princess after doing some work in Africa. (Eh she had an affair with a couple guys.) We all love her and respect her. )

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I don't. Speak for yourself, not others please. :cool:

My favourite is old Charlie postponing his wedding out of respect!

a. One of his ancestors created the Church of England so that he didn't have to do what the Pope told him any more.
b. His reason for doing this was because he wanted to divorce his then wife to marry another one.

Oh, the irony.....

But what about tomorrow or when ever ???? when Chuck places his brand on Cammie?, what level will the flags be flying then?

Ryan, as for you current predicement, all I can say is remember.. george dubbya is a POLITCIAN and as such will always do what is politically advantagous for himself.. could you imagine the backlash if he failed to show anything towards the leader of possible the largest religious group in the world?

for my part most politcians are hypocritical pieces of $^!#

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Originally Posted by bitingmidge

when big Arnie gets to be president...(SNIP)..., a dead ex actor, Polish, catholic, president.

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Arnie is Austrian. So to the Seppos he's an Aussie. :rolleyes:

Dan

The problem is that politicians are making the decisions - and they make those decisions along the line of least resistance (i.e. what will make them look good in the the latest opinion poll). Unlike any other highly paid, high profile, big decision-making job, you dont need to be well educated to be a pollie - you just need friends in high (or low) places, know how to branch stack and how to brown nose the right people. Dont get me wrong, I've met a number of pollies and a few (minority) are intelligent, considerate and genuine people, but you wouldn't feed the rest.

I'm sure that 'W' only ordered the flag at half mast so he would give the appearance of doing the right thing infront of those hypocritical gossip-monger journalists ...

BTW, when we visited the Vatican a couple of years ago I asked at the gift shop for some pope on a rope soap - they didn't have any but I reckon they would have been on a winner there.

Whilst everyone knows that the pope was the Grand Poobah of the catholic church :D it is not as well known that he was also the head of an independant nation. Namely the Vatican City.

As such protocol demands that the flag is lowered as a mark of respect for the funeral of a reigning head of state and not because of any religious reasons. Of course the fact that all catholics will be pleased doesn't harm our pollies when they comply with this protocol.


Peter.

I dont believe that its appropriate to compare situations like these .

The death of a world or church leader or the impact of a major disaster affects us all in one way or another and the emotions remain with individuals long after the flags are raised.

9/11 is an event and a date that will never be forgotten by anyone alive at that time. Its an event that history will show as the start of the fight against world terrorism, hopefully a successful fight, and if our children can live in a world free from such acts of violence in ten or twenty years time then maybe, just maybe, 9/11 will be seen as having some sort of meaning in the grand scheme of things rather than just a waste of so many innocent lives.

I dont think the length of time a flag is lowered is at all relevant and whether or not its a political manoeuver doesnt matter to me. I for one am always saddened by tragedy and the death of great people and loss of innocent lives and I do mourne them all but in my own way and own time. Some I never forget others I probably do but Im sure were all a bit like that.

The fact is that the Pope was a much loved and highly respected church leader who spent his life trying to unite a very troubled world. He was progressive and didnt walk away from confrontation. He spoke his mind and condemned all acts of violence by all countries and their leaders and he cared deeply for everyone regardless of their religion or beliefs. He was in my book a great man. I dont think too many people will be concerned about how long flags are lowered for and Indeed I dont think think they should. That to me is lack of respect in itself and to begin to compare such events and there 'flag lowering worth' is in my mind somewhat puerile.
The last thing we want is a rating scale for world disasters and deaths.
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos9

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Originally Posted by DanP

Arnie is Austrian. So to the Seppos he's an Aussie. :rolleyes:

Dan

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Yeah, I know I was taking a LOT of licence.... my apologies to all the Poles out there (specially flag poles that I've just had shortened), and unless the constitution is altered he can't take on the big job anyway! (Maybe John Malkovich will get that geurnsey!)

As far as lowering the flag goes... really chaps... whatever else he is/was, he was a human being, and if being the leader of the largest religious denomination in the western world doesn't qualify him for a basic tick of respect then what does??

I won't be watching the funeral on tele (couldn't stand the "casket cam" shots), in fact I have no understanding of why one would queue for hours to take a photo of a dead guy with one's mobile phone.
:confused: :confused: :confused:

I hope I don't become so famous that when I cark it they stick me in a red dressing gown for the world to see.

Cheers,

P(But I'd be happy for the Bellingham Fire Dept to lower their flag for the afternoon! :D :D )

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Originally Posted by bitingmidge

in fact I have no understanding of why one would queue for hours to take a photo of a dead guy with one's mobile phone.
:confused: :confused: :confused:

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Let up Midge, to some people mobile phones are their little world. If I was there I would probably put one of my LN's in his coffin and take a photo of him and the plane so what's wrong with the mobile phone in the photo?


Ryan,

It's all just a game played by spoilt control freaks.

I hate it too and I also protest at the double and tranparent standards set by politicians. If world politicians thought so much of the Pope, why didn't they take notice of his advice about the invasions?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brudda

But what about tomorrow or when ever ???? when Chuck places his brand on Cammie?, what level will the flags be flying then?

Ryan, as for you current predicement, all I can say is remember.. george dubbya is a POLITCIAN and as such will always do what is politically advantagous for himself.. could you imagine the backlash if he failed to show anything towards the leader of possible the largest religious group in the world?

for my part most politcians are hypocritical pieces of $^!#

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Don't flatter them, Brudda, they'll get swollen heads.

Someone (maybe on this forum) once said that when a man marries his mistress it leaves a position vacant. :D

On to more WW things....

Wood Borer; were they hand cut dovetails on coffin; or did they use a jig???:rolleyes::D

Ken