Discussion: Whitney vs. US Military

ChapStick

so... earlier this morning i got into a bit of an argument on facebook with a former friend who "hates" whitney houston, shaded the importance of her legendary vocals, and was complaining about people wanting to fly their flags at half staff for her. here's how the conversation went:

Quote:

Originally posted by former friend's facebook status

Seriously!? They want to fly flags half-staff for Whitney Houston!?
That's ********!!

Quote:

Originally posted by me

her rendition of the national anthem is widely regarded as one of the best renditions ever sang. she really did love this country. if people want to fly flags at half staff for her they should be able to. it'd odd, but i don't think it's inappropriate.

Quote:

Originally posted by former friend

Yeah, I saw it. I believe what I believe and you can too, I really don't care. She honestly wasn't that great. So she could sing, so what. She does not deserve to have the flag flown half-staff. The soldiers and officers who defend this country do. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

Quote:

Originally posted by me

i respect your opinion. my opinion, however, is that we shouldn't use deaths in the military to discredit the life and death of someone who touched the world in the way she got the opportunity to do so. not everyone is fit to be a soldier. some people serve, some people sing, some write, some just go about their days influencing only the people in their own families. everyone has a purpose.

given that... the media has nearly desensitized us to military deaths because of their frequency, so if anything it's the media's fault. they make military deaths seem "common" whereas the death of a famous person is singled out and sensationalized. either way, our fellow people are dying, and they all deserve our respect. to spit on the memory of the deceased in the name of the memory of others seems to be tarnishing the honor of all of them.

Quote:

Originally posted by former friend

Not at all, but whatever you say. I'll come right out and say it, I hate Whitney Houston. She is getting unnecessary recognition. The media is way over the top with her death. She did nothing for this country compared to what others give and/or sacrifice. The flag flying half-staff for her is a slap in the face to military and officers who have lost and sacrificed. Complete ******** in my eyes. All she did was sing. I mean, cool they want to say a few things in her honor but dragging it out the way it has been is ridiculous. Can't ever turn the tv on without hearing about her. It's unnecessary.

i didn't even bother responding to this troubled child after that...

so, what do YOU think...?

PopBoi

Iuno, but I deleted this idiot who posted a status saying she deserved to die because she took drugs. Celebrity deaths bring out the worst in people on facebook, I'm considering getting rid of it.

DeathRevisited

Gov. Christie said he's doing it because of Whitney's impact.
I love it. I think it's befitting.
Just realized that there aren't many Superstars of her caliber left.

shenzi

There was a collage of 8 pictures depicting US marines going around fb and this was the caption:

Quote:

Whitney Houston died today, sad, sure. But the entire world doesn't need to stop spinning for her. Do you know who else passed these last few weeks that nobody will give a second thought about? ... These outstanding men who fought and sweat and suffered and died, so that you all could live peacefully. She met her own fate curled up in a Beverly Hills hotel nursing her selfish drug addictions, Not protecting your freedom as these Marines did. Semper Fidelis

Stuff like this really annoys me. I can't help it if I feel more of a connection to a person I've heard on the radio, seen in media, etc., all the way back to my early childhood than someone I've never seen before in my life. Music is an important part of life for so many people; it keeps them going. I'm sure there are people who decided to keep living because of Whitney's music, so to say she did nothing but sing is ridiculous. No one is devaluing the lives of these soldiers and what they did for the country, and I'm sure many of the people who liked the fb didn't give a single **** about the deaths of these men before Whitney's death. Whatever, I'm just rambling now.