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posted by Blake Ansley in In The News

Michigan man burns flag in protest of Whitney Houston commemoration

February 20, 2012

On Saturday, 60-year-old John Burri burned an American flag on his outdoor grill in protest of Gov. Chris Christie's decision to mark Whitney Houston's death by lowering flags to half-staff in her native state. 

John Burri lost his son in Iraq and believes that the tradition of lowering flags to half-staff should be limited to honoring those who gave their lives for our country, not celebrities. 

Burri recognized Houston as a "great entertainer" with a "great voice," but stated that Houston was "not someone who gave their life and shed their blood for our country."

The governor of New Jersey defended his decision, saying: "I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise — and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet — but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life. I just reject that on a human level."

Still, Burri insists that the governor should have found another way to honor Houston.  "It was a slap in the face for every family out there who has lost a loved one in the war," he said. "It's a watering down of what it means to be a hero."

Source: AP

Do you agree with Governor Christie's decision? Is Burri right to be angered by the display? What do you think justifies being recognized as a hero?

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