John Burri, Father of Fallen Soldier, Burns NJ Flag to Protest Whitney Houston Tribute

Well, it appears that for some, it is how she died that is of concern, not so much all the other positive personal aspect of her life, her accomplishments in her church, her accomplishments in her community, her accomplishments in her public art form, singing, acting, her contributions to charities. The govenor of the State from which she originated, and where much of her family still live, discerned that the positive aspects of one of NJ's own far outweighed the negative and chose to honor her in death for it. Further, I do not believe that "heroics" are the only attributes that can be used to determine who should and/or shouldn't be honored by lowering of a flag?

What I've learned is that we're all just one act away from being seen as good or bad, sometimes we're able to turn that thinking around giving the chance/opportunity, other times, such as with Whitney Houston, that opportunity slips away which leaves it up to each of us to wonder how we are going to be seen after we die? It would appear that it could very well be determined by what others believe/think was our last act while alive? So, since none know the exact time, I would say each of us should be striving to do that which is seen as positive in the eyes of others, meaning although one may be liar, a cheat, a rapist/murderer, however, if your final/last act in life is seen by most as positive, most likely that is what you will be remembered for. Most likely if Ms. Houston's death had resulted from being murdered, or some type of known accident, car/plane crush or even a natural illness(could be the case?), she would still have been a drug addict/abuser, but I doubt the flag lowering would be as much of an issue...

Think about it, we have people who fly under the radar all their lives, then suddenly they pull out a gun and shoot up a mall or a school then kill themselves, and what people usually say is, "they were such a quiet, nice, loving...never hurt a fly", but that is not what they are going to be remembered for by most? Those last acts can make or break people so to speak, to the point where dying alone in a bath tub not harming anyone else is determined from one's own personal point of view and if that view is that what you were doing in your final/last act was bad, then that is what they will remember you by? I realize from certain people, there is nothing good that can be seen, from their perspective, from certain other people, be that as it may? I prefer to leave those in the hole that they dig for themselves.

However, I am okay when some choose to look a little further back then one's last act? Not always, but in most cases, there is something good that can be found; of course, it does work both ways, meaning just because one dies heroically, doesn't necessarily mean one has only done heroic things while alive, which is why when it comes to honoring someone, it's okay to identify that which you are honoring them for, as we do with those who serve in all aspects of the Military. No one goes back and rules them out of being honored because before they died in the Military, they were known back home for abusing drugs, alcohol, their spouse? It is not what one would choose to honor, but I am still okay with honoring that soldier for serving in our military just as I am still okay with NJ honoring Ms. Houston one of it's born/bred citizens, but yes, not for that which we all can determine as bad, but for that which most of us can determine was/is good.