New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sparked a controversy when he ordered the flags in the state flown at half mast in honor of the late Whitney Houston whose cause of death is uncertain. The diva's funeral will be Saturday in the state. Despite the controversy, Christie stood by his decision.
The Governor said that Whitney Houston is a "daughter of New Jersey" and she should be honored in this manner. He also said, "What I would say to everybody is there but for the grace of God go I." This is true. Everyone has made mistakes and done things that they wish they hadn't. Not everybody ended up paying with their lives like the "I Will Always Love You" singer recently did.
Part of the reason that people are angry is because they believe that Houston is no hero, and they would like the soldiers who gave their lives for this country to be honored. However, Christie had the flags flown at half mast for N.J. soldiers who died serving the U.S. as well.
Just because Houston had a well documented struggle with substance abuse does not erase everything positive she did in her life. Yes, she had struggles. Who doesn't? Didn't Jesus himself say, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone?" That quote applies here as well. The heartbreakingly beautiful singer deserves some grace and forgiveness in her death. While Whitney Houston's cause of death has not been made official, it hasn't stopped people from suggesting it was because of drugs or alcohol or a combination. It may well have been, but that does not erase who she was.
Like this article? See more by Kate James at Gather.com
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