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In reply to the discussion: I have a suggestion [View all]

pat_k

(11,738 posts)
18. Great minds think alike
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 02:46 PM
Thursday

Yours is more concise than my WTF response to hearing Whitmer and some other Democratic governors had ordered flags flown at half staff.

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WTF

He wasn't a federal or state government official or military member, so one can't claim either of those as a reason for ordering flags flown at half-staff. Flags are also flown at half-staff to mark a national tragedy.

The only national tragedy I see here is that the per capita number of gun deaths in America is more than 10 TIMES that of comparable high-income countries. And that number is primarily driven by a gun homicide rate that is 25 TIMES that of comparable high-income countries.

THAT is the national tragedy.

Perhaps every governor who gives a shit about the intolerable number of PREVENTABLE gun deaths in America should order flags to be flown at half-staff until this nation passes meaningful gun control and puts big money into interventions and community-based programs that are PROVEN to reduce gun violence.

The gun death of a man who has dedicated himself to ensuring we DO NOTHING to reduce the number of gun deaths in this nation is absolutely NOT a national tragedy.

I am appalled that any governor who claims to stand strong for REAL American values -- values like human-rights, rule of law, religious freedom, and self-governance, and the thinking underlying those values, among them rationality, compassion as a moral imperative, and scientific inquiry -- would compromise our collective values to honor this man who was hellbent on destroying anything that was halfway decent about this country.

Sure, if you've ordered flags to be flown at half-staff every year on Sept 11 as remembrance, then certainly, do it again. But make the reason CRYSTAL CLEAR. For goodness sake, don't elevate this horrible man with ANY honors.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I have a suggestion [View all] Aviation Pro Thursday OP
Fair point A.P. JustAnotherGen Thursday #1
I suggested that earlier today EYESORE 9001 Thursday #2
Great minds and all that... pat_k Thursday #19
Why even make the poles full length. twodogsbarking Thursday #3
Nice koan. Harker Thursday #4
Is the glass half empty or half full? Bernardo de La Paz Thursday #5
Wife says "just drink and shut up". twodogsbarking Thursday #6
Thirsty layman drinks it without philosophizing. Harker Thursday #11
My cup runneth over. Drinking in the dark. twodogsbarking Thursday #16
Same thoughts here. joanbarnes Thursday #7
It should be a law. littlemissmartypants Thursday #8
Better still: Let's fly our flag upside down everywhere now. . . . cer7711 Thursday #9
I'd love to see a bunch of upside-down flags flown in front of Alito's house. erronis Thursday #10
The only reason popsdenver Thursday #17
Let's sent the National Guard, the FBI, and ICE to Idaho! Sancho Thursday #12
also, just for this traitor being in the White House LymphocyteLover Thursday #13
Good idea surfered Thursday #14
I Agree 100%+ BurnDoubt Thursday #15
Great minds think alike pat_k Thursday #18
This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles Thursday #20
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