Half staff
I have a bone to pick with our government, but then what’s new.
Over the past several days all of the flags on federal property have been flown at half mast. Many civilian flags have also been displayed this way. I understand the reason for this is because of the death of the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II.
Though the Pope’s death is a loss to the religious community, it has no place in the affairs of this country. The rules for our flag give no provision for such a display for anyone other than a head of state.
Yes, the Pope is the head of the church and they do have massive political power, but they are NOT a sovereign nation. This country has been in a battle over the display of generic religious symbols. Why would our government condone the display for one religion?
What will be next? Will we give the same display for the head Rabbi of Israel, the head of the Church of England or the Dali lama?
The Ten Commandments do have a place in our government, they are the foundations of our laws. This nation was not founded for the betterment or further glorification of one religion or religious group. That was one of the reasons for the separation of church and state. No one religious institution has a place in our governmental mind, they all do.
As a general rule, all religions support the betterment of human kind and most hold the same basic principles as truths. To set one up as a standard this way is to try and nullify all others.
I do morn the loss of the Pope as I do any religious leader. The whole world will feel the loss in one form or another, but that does not mean our government should accord this honor on his behalf.
Ed Williams
©
Over the past several days all of the flags on federal property have been flown at half mast. Many civilian flags have also been displayed this way. I understand the reason for this is because of the death of the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II.
Though the Pope’s death is a loss to the religious community, it has no place in the affairs of this country. The rules for our flag give no provision for such a display for anyone other than a head of state.
Yes, the Pope is the head of the church and they do have massive political power, but they are NOT a sovereign nation. This country has been in a battle over the display of generic religious symbols. Why would our government condone the display for one religion?
What will be next? Will we give the same display for the head Rabbi of Israel, the head of the Church of England or the Dali lama?
The Ten Commandments do have a place in our government, they are the foundations of our laws. This nation was not founded for the betterment or further glorification of one religion or religious group. That was one of the reasons for the separation of church and state. No one religious institution has a place in our governmental mind, they all do.
As a general rule, all religions support the betterment of human kind and most hold the same basic principles as truths. To set one up as a standard this way is to try and nullify all others.
I do morn the loss of the Pope as I do any religious leader. The whole world will feel the loss in one form or another, but that does not mean our government should accord this honor on his behalf.
Ed Williams
©
posted by Ed | 15:29
1 Comments:
It seems that the US choose to have the flags at half staff as a token of respect for the person, as well as the religious leader. The Pope is sovereign of the smallest nation in the world, the Vatican. But just as importatnly he is a symbol of the Christian faith and a great man in his own right. We have on more than one occasion, reqested flags at half staff for people of importance, rather than a political leader. One that comes to mind immediately was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Who is to say when our flags go to half mast? Sometimes we do it when there is a great tragedy such as 911, sometimes it is the death of an ex president or great leader? It is a token of greif and respect and Pope John Paul is certainly worthy of both.
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