What Angers Me About President's Day?

With all of the recent hubbub over the flag at half-mast for Whitney Houston, I am shocked that there is not a bigger stink about today. After all, I have read countless articles and blogs about how this right should be reserved for fallen soldiers and presidents.

This is President's Day, a federal holiday, yet barely recognized by americans at large. We are the same group that refers to "Independence Day" as "The Fourth of July". Not serious you say? I am a youth pastor and have heard from many teens who do not know the origin behind the "4th".

Our schools are out for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but not President's Day (although the schools in my area were, but as a teacher work day). This is a complete shame. Don't get me wrong, I think they should be out for MLK, Jr Day, but more so for today.

This day commemorates all of our presidents who have lead us bravely and wisely in this freedom experiment known as the United States of America. Of all of the liberties we hold so dear none is as important to me as our freedom of religion. I am not sure how long we will have this one. We owe it to our presidents (especially the first few), who dared to defy a corrupt, overbearing monarchy to protect our God given inalienable rights. Happy President's Day!


(By the way this is my 150th post. Thanks for reading!)

Should the Flag be Lowered for Whitney Houston?

Today Governor Christie of New Jersey decided to fly the American flag at half-mast in honor of Whitney Houston all over his state. People are outraged. Why are they outraged? Because Whitney had a history of drug abuse and because they feel that the only people worth honoring are soldiers.

I must say that I am outraged by the outrage. I am going to get gut level honest with you, you may be offended and may even stop reading my blog. That is okay with me.

How dare we throw stones at someone who struggled to overcome a vice, while we have vices of our own. How dare we assume what does or doesn't apply as adding to a society. Music is part of our culture and heritage. The most pride I have ever felt hearing our national anthem was from the voice of Whitney Houston.

So, she didn't fight (when she was of age to do so women could not be in combat anyway). In many ways she leveled the playing field in regards to race in the music industry. I can only hope that when Andy Griffith passes to the next life here in North Carolina that we will honor him in the same way. Why because of the contribution they both made to society.

And now to our nation's obsession with fighting for "our" freedom. We have not declared war since World War II. We have been global cop for the past 50 years. We have to stop assuming that every action we take is to defend our freedom. We are forcing our way of life on others and calling it defending our country. (AHEM! Iraq anyone?)

 Don't get me wrong I love our troops and admire them for their bravery. I am deeply thankful for those who went to war and put their lives at risque after our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001. It is not their fault they were left to do nation building.

Would you be less outraged if Governor Christie had lowered the flag every single time a soldier from New Jersey has been killed. What about every police officer and fire fighter since he has been in office. Well, he has. FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! I think we the people should do our homework before posting willy nilly on Facebook.

We should check our own lives before tearing down Whitney. How many people are lining up to rip into Elvis and Michael Jackson because of drug use. These were tortured and hurting people who enriched our lives way more than we enriched theirs. We sit around waiting for celebrities to fail rather than praying for them and shunning the gossip the media churns out.

So how about it America? Can we only honor those that keep us safe or do we have enough class to extend honor to those who inspire?


Also Read:
Whitney Houston Dies at Age 48

Whitney Houston Dies at the Age of 48

Tomorrow the Grammy awards will be held, celebrating the best musicians of today. There was perhaps none better and more influential than Whitney Houston who has died at the age of 48. Stars like Mariah Carey and Christiana Aguilera owe much of their career to the influence of the late pop icon.

Her career was far from over. She was getting ready for the release of her upcoming onscreen musical, Sparkle and it was rumored that she would possibly join Simon Cowell on the X Factor. I remember Simon giving extremely bad feedback to any artist on American Idol who dared to try to sing a Whitney Houston song.

I always admired how she kept her music and image cleaner than most pop singer in the sexual realm. Even when she married Bobby Brown, got involved in drugs and behaved erratically she still maintained the respect of singers and fans everywhere.

Her God given gifts were remarkable. It is very fitting that her last public performance this passed Thursday was to sing Jesus Loves Me. A gift like she had seems rarely bestowed and is not to be taken lightly. But, then again neither are the gifts God has given you. When your life is over will we be able to say why you were here? Will we know without a doubt what your purpose was? Get out there and use your gifts, because there was only one Whitney and there is only one you.

Also Read:
Should the Flag be Lowered for Whitney Houston?
Other Memorials:
Patrick Swayze Dies
Saying Goodbye to Brittany Murphy
James Arness Dies: What Can We Learn from Old Westerns?
Osama Bin Laden is Dead!