U.S. soldier says flags at half-staff for Virginia Tech; why not for fallen U.S. troops?

[Fridays Child]

U.S. soldier says flags at half-staff for Virginia Tech; why not for fallen U.S. troops?
By Associated Press
Monday, April 23, 2007 - Updated: 11:30 AM EST

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Army sergeant complained in a rare opinion article that the U.S. flag flew at half-staff last week at the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan for those killed at Virginia Tech but the same honor is not given to fallen U.S. troops here and in Iraq.

In the article issued Monday by the public affairs office at Bagram military base north of Kabul, Sgt. Jim Wilt lamented that his comrades’ deaths have become a mere blip on the TV screen, lacking the "shock factor" to be honored by the Stars and Stripes as the deaths at Virginia Tech were.

"I find it ironic that the flags were flown at half-staff for the young men and women who were killed at VT, yet it is never lowered for the death of a U.S. service member," Wilt wrote.

More...

[jaxx]

1. He's right.

The fallen soldiers are being ignored by this country. They are brought home with no public honor, only the silence of Dover. Where is the national pride in these soldiers? Where is the president when his troops fall? Dammit they are more than just a number.

[Fridays Child]

3. What if this story got picked up by the mainstream media?

...and, then, Fridays Child woke up from her nap.

[fooj]

5. KO did a segment on this very thing a few days ago.

Besides him, NOTHING.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Most people don't really care about the troops.

Most people really don't care about VT either, but it's the issue du jour.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Why not leave the flags at half-staff until the assclown is gone?

1.20.09 we can raise them again.

[Fridays Child]

6. A nation in mourning for...take your pick or add your own...

The crimes our leader has perpetrated upon the world
The demise of our democracy
American troops who have died for Bush's lies
The death of the Middle Class


It's a good idea.

[Jim__]

7. Great question! - n/t

[malaise]

8. He's 100% correct

Bushco disconnect or compartmentalization.

[caligirl]

9. Can't even address this, it is so disgusting. Shameful.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. "Suicide Attacker Kills 32." In Iraq: just another day. In the USA: National Tragedy.

The most important facet of this story is this: the Bagrum PA officers wanted it printed.
That's truely amazing.

[Miss Chybil]

11. I thought there used to be strict protocol for when the fly the flag at half mast.

For this very reason... Am I wrong? Did they change it sometime when I wasn't looking? I'm going to have to look it up, but have to run right now.

[Fridays Child]

19. There is...

From Wikipedia:

In the United States, the President can issue an executive order for the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government, and others, as a mark of respect to their memory. When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools and military bases are to fly their flags at half-staff. Under federal law (4 U.S.C. 7(f)), the flags of states, cities, localities, and pennants of societies, shall never be placed above the flag of the United States; thus, all other flags also fly at half-staff when the U.S. flag has been ordered to fly at half-staff.

More

[Miss Chybil]

24. I never knew about the "and others" part.

Thanks for looking that up.

[Fridays Child]

25. Neither did I. We were both probably unaware because, by tradition, the honor is limited to...

...military and civilian leaders. Evidently, however, tradition means nothing to Mr. B*sh.

[SoCalDem]

12. Because they volunteered to die

:sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. So george, what say you? Support the Troops? Yeah right!

[Rex]

14. uh oh, they are starting to ask questions George. Quick get Rove

to do something mean and stupid! Can't let our troops think about what you are doing to them! Hurry and call the M$M together to watch you get your Purple Heart photo op! Surely you can think of something!

[huskerlaw]

15. Because if the flag is continuously at half-mast

people might begin to realize that our soldiers are dying at a rate of more than 1 per day.

Can't be having that, can we?

:sarcasm:

[Cabcere]

17. Or people would become numb to it again...

but at least I guess it would raise awareness for a time. And that may be all we need. :shrug:

Still, though, it is very sad that this even has to be an issue. We shouldn't need to even be talking about flying the flag at half-staff for our fallen soldiers, because our soldiers shouldn't be dying every day, because Bush shouldn't have lied us into war. :( It's a bad situation all around.

[applegrove]

16. the neocons in power in Ottawa did the same thing. They stopped lowering the

flag to half mast just last year. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! But be a politician for a decade, your life was never on the line, then die at an old age after a long healthy life..and half mast is for you. I hate that.

[SpiralHawk]

18. "Sit down and shut up." - Commander AWOL

"Who cares what soldiers and veterans think?"

- Commander AWOL, Five Military Deferments Cheney & Allied Republicon Chickenhawks

[Rex]

21. Did you hear? AWOL Chickenshit is getting a Purple Heart photo op.

Stuff like this shouldn't piss me off anymore, but it still sends me in a rage. :mad:

[trof]

20. Why, indeed. They'd be permanently at half staff.

At least until we get this bunch of goonies out of the White House.

[Shallah Kali]

22. Article on Yahoo - please rate it up!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/ap_on_re_mi_ea/afghanistan_flag_complaint_2

[Fridays Child]

23. Good idea.

[JPZenger]

26. Jerry Ford got 30 days

I don't understand why the flags were half-mast for Jerry Ford for THIRTY DAYS - but the flags are not lowered at all for the 3,000 plus US troops who died.

[kenny blankenship]

27. Because you are indentured servants of the corporate oligarchy, (read the fine print next time)

[deutsey]

28. Well, because people slap magnetic yellow ribbons on their SUVs

Isn't that enough?

:sarcasm:

[misanthrope]

29. Because broadcast news is sensationalist in nature**nm

**

[Supersedeas]

30. Same rationale behind FOX commentator incredulous about WHY Prince Harry is going to Iraq...

On and on and on and on about how crazy it is for the Prince to serve his country in Iraq, and not one bat of the eye about why our boys are dying over there.

Fox News -- they piss and moan, so you are too fed up to decide.

[KamaAina]

31. Indeed. And while we're at it, how come Bush** went to the VT memorial

but has yet to attend a single military funeral. I mean, it's not like he's had a lack of opportunities: over 3,000 so far -- and counting. :(

Way to support the troops, dumbass! :sarcasm: