Whitney Houston dead

[CandyMandy]

The reality:

 

[Tiger926]

Eliza, she may have given money to her old City, and for that I applaud her, but how much time did she actually spend there? Was she a "boots on the ground" kind of person or someone who simply signed a check?

Tiger, I honesty haven't been following the whole Whitney funeral saga, but I was under the impression her family chose to bring her back to NJ for her wake and funeral, apparently the same funeral home her father was buried from. Hadn't heard the Atlanta connection, but her family are the ones who made the ultimate decision so this sounds contradictory.

Some family members supposedly said she should be buried in Atlanta as that had been her home for years. The other part of the family said she should be buried in NJ next to her dad.

Read about this on multiple sources. Her death was sudden, so lots of things to consider for the family...

You know...I wonder if any of you would be upset if your sister/cousin/mother/daughter died and they wanted to fly the flag at half mast to honor her? In fact, I think there's a thread right now where someone is not only choosing to do just that but asking others to as well.

My point is, I am okay with honoring the life of someone who contributed so very much to the arts. I'm okay with honoring others too. And I'm sure if I were the person who'd just lost a loved one, I want them to be honored somehow as well, even if it is in my own way...but I certainly wouldn't stop others from honoring them too.

Whitney Houston was more than just a run of the mill celebrity. She was an international superstar. Washed up? Maybe? With many demons? Sure. But it doesn't negate the fact that her music touched millions and she had an impact.

She's not being cannonized. She's being memorialized.

I think flying at half mast for a celebrity is insulting to fallen soldiers or police officers who have died in the line of duty...people who don't do things for money or with their money, but out of a selfless pride to protect and serve others.

Vast difference in those two things, and celebrity doesn't even come close...

I don't disagree with your sentiment but where do you draw the line? Why should the entire State of NJ (government offices) honor her? And if that's the case, should we do the same when the entire cast of Jersey Shore passes? Let's face it, they are probably international superstars too and, whether people want to admit it or not, have brought a ton of business to the Jersey Shore area. Let Newark decide to lower their flags if they want. That's enough. IMHO, she was a poor example of celebrity, apparently right up until the day she died.

Jersey Shore...oh goodness no!!!

There is a difference between hanging a US Flag at half staff for a soldier who was willing to give their life to protect our rights and freedoms in this country, as well as others.

Whitney was a celebrity, that status doesn't make you deserving of the honor of a half staff flag.

For me it doesn't matter how they died, or how they lived their life. IMHO, the US Flag being lowered to half staff for a celebrity is wrong. I don't care if the Governor wants to honor her in some other way, but I believe that the flag being lowered for her is a slap in the face to all those who served our country and that flag, whether that be in the armed forces, or as a politician, or for innocent lives taken by terrorists like on 9/11. I don't believe being a celebrity, even a world celebrity, or someone who was extremely charitable earn you that. I'm not discountiung what she may have done for people, however I don't believe what she did, or who she was makes her worthy of a half staff flag.

Again, it comes down to money. Since she supposedly gave money to others, she is deserving of half mast flags. I have never understood that connection at all.

If it's solely because she was talented, well there are lots of talented people around the world. Was she a good singer? Sure. Still not getting why this is deserving of a half mast flag?

My definition of worth and honour is vastly different than the mayor of NJ...

Tiger

 

[eliza61]

Eliza, she may have given money to her old City, and for that I applaud her, but how much time did she actually spend there? Was she a "boots on the ground" kind of person or someone who simply signed a check?

Tiger, I honesty haven't been following the whole Whitney funeral saga, but I was under the impression her family chose to bring her back to NJ for her wake and funeral, apparently the same funeral home her father was buried from. Hadn't heard the Atlanta connection, but her family are the ones who made the ultimate decision so this sounds contradictory.

Truthfully I don't know PK, but that's too is a difficult situation. I do remember one time when I lived in NYC and we had a well publicized campaign to clean up the parks. It was a favorite of bette Midler, one saturday George clooney showed up and truthfully it was horrible. Fans simply would not let him be and as many times as he graciously tried to say he was there to help in the cleanup I think after a while he realized it was a no go.

Once again not defending her lifestyle but even if she only wrote a check and a bunch of inner city kids got to go to college, then I will stand up for philantrophy.

I in no kind of way understand the price of celebrity but i do think that many of the things we take for granted like going out to dinner with my family is not as easy as it sounds.

So now I'll turn the question back around to you. Is supporting a cause not as "worthy" if you only write a check? Barbara streisand is also reported to be very generous. Is her generousity only acceptable if it follows certain condititons. She has to actual go to Africa in order to support pediatric aids in developing countries? I dare say the children who survive from the medicine that her gifts purchased are darn happy that she "wrote a check".

My problem is these supposedly "conditions" place on someones value. So if the service member turns out to be a wife beating jerk does he still get some special honor simply because he enlisted of his own free will?

Does the police officer who turns out to be a racist idiot any better than my son simply because his job has inherent risk?

Whtiney contributed to society with the gifts she was blessed with. That does not make her any less "worthy" than anyone else.

While my definition of honor maybe different, I am happy to say it is consistent. If you display those characteristic whether you are doctor, lawyer, solider, singer or Indian Chief, then you are equally as deserving.

 

[eliza61]

The reality:

Really, the National Enquirer is what you would call a reliable source????

Didn't they have a 3 headed baby on the cover at one time?

 

[Wadecool]

Really, the National Enquirer is what you would call a reliable source????

Didn't they have a 3 headed baby on the cover at one time?

The Enquirer used to have an "alien baby" reputation, but they have been on target in recent years. Just ask John Edwards or Tiger Woods about the Enquirer's ability to break stories...

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I certainly didn't like her music. But I'd have to have just crawled out from under a rock not to understand her music inspired many, including Nelson Mandela. Lots of people love her. She certainly was actively against apartheid, she certainly did give back to her community. So I have no problem with the governor of New Jersey ordering the flags there to half mast. As for her sins, she is dead. She's paid that which was owed. So I don't think it's any problem to remember her good deeds or lower the flag in New Jersey when she was loved by so many. Would those radio hosts that called her a crack ho rather be remembered for being a couple of jerks when they die? Or would they rather be remembered for the good they did? I dare say the latter. So is it too much to ask they extend the courtesy of putting in a kind word or at bare minimum, keep their traps shut if they can't? I guess it is. Well that says more about them than anything else. And it doesn't speak well of them.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Truthfully I don't know PK, but that's too is a difficult situation. I do remember one time when I lived in NYC and we had a well publicized campaign to clean up the parks. It was a favorite of bette Midler, one saturday George clooney showed up and truthfully it was horrible. Fans simply would not let him be and as many times as he graciously tried to say he was there to help in the cleanup I think after a while he realized it was a no go.

Once again not defending her lifestyle but even if she only wrote a check and a bunch of inner city kids got to go to college, then I will stand up for philantrophy.

I in no kind of way understand the price of celebrity but i do think that many of the things we take for granted like going out to dinner with my family is not as easy as it sounds.

So now I'll turn the question back around to you. Is supporting a cause not as "worthy" if you only write a check? Barbara streisand is also reported to be very generous. Is her generousity only acceptable if it follows certain condititons. She has to actual go to Africa in order to support pediatric aids in developing countries? I dare say the children who survive from the medicine that her gifts purchased are darn happy that she "wrote a check".

My problem is these supposedly "conditions" place on someones value. So if the service member turns out to be a wife beating jerk does he still get some special honor simply because he enlisted of his own free will?

Does the police officer who turns out to be a racist idiot any better than my son simply because his job has inherent risk?

Whtiney contributed to society with the gifts she was blessed with. That does not make her any less "worthy" than anyone else.

While my definition of honor maybe different, I am happy to say it is consistent. If you display those characteristic whether you are doctor, lawyer, solider, singer or Indian Chief, then you are equally as deserving.

I don't discredit whatever philanthropic efforts she made and applaud her for them. However, something about the situation rubs me like Jennifer Lopez-a/k/a Jennie from the Block who likes to talk about how she remembers where she's from and sells cars by driving through her old 'hood, which turns out to be LA instead of the Bronx. If you're going to let the press know ahead of time that you'll be somewhere doing your community work, of course people will mob you, particularly if you only show up for the free press. Take a look at Jon Bon Jovi and all the charitable work he does. Outside of the band, he spends a lot of his time working for the benefit of others. When he needs the press to raise money, he'll let them know, but so much of what he does is behind the scenes.

As for military/police/firemen they put their lives on the line every day. Not at all the same as a singer/entertainer. Never will be even close. As for their personal lives (beating spouses, racism, drinking, etc.) I have mixed feelings. While I don't condone any of that, if they die in the line of duty I believe they do deserve a certain amount of respect/appreciation from their communities because they do the job that most of us would never want to do. Everyone has skeletons in their closets. Where do we draw the line on who is bestowed this honor? There are plenty of everyday people in my community who I believe are far better examples of humanity than Whitney Houston was. Why aren't they honored? Because they're not a "celebrity". I believe the flag lowering should be reserved for those with a history of serving their communities and their humanitarian efforts, not because someone can sing. I guess it's a matter of where your line is. I would understand Bob Hope (USO tours), Liz Taylor (AIDS), even Angelina Jolie (homewrecker/humanitarian). I don't see Whitney as even being in the same ballpark as those others. (And I'm not an Angelina Jolie fan -- definitely on Team Aniston).

 

[PaulaSB12]

You know...I wonder if any of you would be upset if your sister/cousin/mother/daughter died and they wanted to fly the flag at half mast to honor her? In fact, I think there's a thread right now where someone is not only choosing to do just that but asking others to as well.

My point is, I am okay with honoring the life of someone who contributed so very much to the arts. I'm okay with honoring others too. And I'm sure if I were the person who'd just lost a loved one, I want them to be honored somehow as well, even if it is in my own way...but I certainly wouldn't stop others from honoring them too.

Whitney Houston was more than just a run of the mill celebrity. She was an international superstar. Washed up? Maybe? With many demons? Sure. But it doesn't negate the fact that her music touched millions and she had an impact.

She's not being cannonized. She's being memorialized.

I lost my mother 2 weeks ago and I know she would have hated such a display she was such a private person.

 

[DebbieB]

Really, the National Enquirer is what you would call a reliable source????

Didn't they have a 3 headed baby on the cover at one time?

The National Enquirer doesn't usually have the bizarre "3 headed baby" stories.

All I know is the National Enquirer issue that hit the stands the day BEFORE Whitney Houston died said something like "Whitney Houston collapses, she is in worse shape than anyone knows". They were spot on for that story. I know alot of stuff they publish isn't true but sometimes they are. I don't think anyone disputes that Whitney Houston had addiction issues and most likely died from them. I don't see where she deserves an honor of half staff flags.

 

[happygirl]

Is anyone going to watch the funeral today?

 

[mefordis]

Is anyone going to watch the funeral today?

I am going to check in on it.

 

[happygirl]

I wish they guys would stop talking. So we could hear the choir

 

[happygirl]

Is that her family sitting right behind the pastor?

 

[mefordis]

Is that her family sitting right behind the pastor?

Yeah, I recognize Cissy and her daughter.

 

[happygirl]

Yeah, I recognize Cissy and her daughter.

If I was them there is no way I would sit so the camera could see me

 

[mefordis]

I wonder who is supposed to sit in those front chairs, and also where is Bobby Brown?

 

[happygirl]

I wonder who is supposed to sit in those front chairs, and also where is Bobby Brown?

I wouldn't expect him to be there. They had been divorced for a while.

 

[Dee77]

Wasn't Whitney Catholic? I thought she said that in an interview with Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer..

 

[happygirl]

Wasn't Whitney Catholic? I thought she said that in an interview with Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer..

She was baptist

 

[mefordis]

I wouldn't expect him to be there. They had been divorced for a while.

I read the family invited him and he accepted.