Olive Branch, Mississippi Mayor Ken Adams has issued a statement explaining his decision not to lower the American flag to half-staff for Dolly Parton. In the statement, he says Parton was a great person who brought happiness to millions, but that he believes lowering the flag should be reserved for military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, and events with a tremendous impact on the country. He also cites Mississippi’s Home Rule doctrine, arguing that local governments have the ability to use their own judgment on these decisions rather than simply following state or federal leaders.
Did he lower it for Charlie Kirk?
Can I ask why everyone seems to love dolly? Like, I am not into that kind of music, I know nothing of her besides for her having outrageously large implants, which I consider in bad taste. All implants are in bad taste but these huge ones especially.
Dolly Parton was a major philanthropist, she did a lot of work in children’s literacy.
There are lots of reasons people love her for who she was as a person, from her genuine compassion to her “be true to yourself” attitude. If you’re looking for other more tangible positive influences she had on the world, Variety has an article listing a few examples.
For me? Mostly that she was a caring, compassionate, human and she spearheaded a foundation to give free books to kids. https://imaginationlibrary.com/
I don’t particularly like her music either but I’ve never heard a bad thing about her… But lots of good she did. Which is saying something and I personally find most “famous” people to be shit bags.
Edit : I also love her quote “it costs a lot of money to look this cheap”
dolly had a hell of a lot more impact on a country than the military, world leaders, or presidents.
also i’m fairly certain that if you went back you would find that he lowered the flag for charlie fucking kirk
Did they lower it for Charlie Kirk?
It would appear that they did. The governor ordered flag lowering for both, but the mayor only speaks up about this now.
This seems like exactly the right question to ask. If yes, then why not for Dolly, if no, then I can get behind this argument.
You can get behind not lowering it because a person who spent their entire life helping people and encouraging and enabling others to do the same is somehow comparable to a racist bigoted piece of shit?
I think you forgot conspiracy nut, antisemite, misogynist, homophobe… and a bunch more.
I think he would be in the mayor’s ‘fallen heroes’ category. Unfortunately!
Symbols are for the symbol minded
-George Carlin
This mayor is a fool for thinking his flag-staffs are important. Getting outraged over this makes the same mistake.
Mayor wants flags lowered when they die, and want to make sure it’ll be special for them.
I think the Mayor’s points are perfectly valid.
No, they’re not. You know what actually “lessens the meaning of the gesture”? Doing it for every grifting politician and shitty soldier instead of someone who’s actually tried to make the world a better place.
As long as this is the legitimate reason and not just the cleaned up politically correct reason
As long as it’s not “she supported the transgender” or some bullshit in other words
I might get a lot of downvotes for this, but in a perfectly working democracy “she supported the transgender” can be a legitimate reason not to honor them with a flag at half pole. But usually in a perfectly working democracy the ruling parties dont need a scapegoat, nor would there be much reason to incite so much prejudice that supporting trans rights is a bad thing. But still, i’d argue if a majority doesn’t want trans people to have human rights, the leader of that majority would have a democratically legitimate reason for that bullshit. Not saying that is the right thing, but we can’t only persue democracy if we like the results - if we fifight for it, we should also accept the bad.
You seem fun at parties /s
People don’t invite me for the fun
I mean… that would make him a shitty person but it would not invalidate his points.
They could be if not for the blatant hypocrisy of lowering it for the neck breather on the governors order and not this time.
Sooo… I’m going with him being a shitheel from the south.
What’s a neck breather?
You and the 33%
Who are the 33%?
If I flew a flag, I wouldn’t personally lower it for Dolly Parton.
But I also wouldn’t be upset if someone else did (or if someone else chose not to do so).
I also wouldn’t lower such a personal flag for Donald Trump’s death, and US Flag Code does specify it on the death of people who have served as president. I don’t feel that he’s earned a salute of respect from me. That being said, I understand and would expect federal institutions and such that do follow US Flag Code to do so.
So only for people who serve the state, not for people who served their neighbors without official capacity.
Translates to “not for people we could not control” pretty readily.
I am not American, and I cannot surely appreciate the importance of a figure like Dolly Parton. For sure I know her name even if do not live in the USA and am no American, so she must have been well known.
Bit the flag at half mast is something that you reserve to high officials and military and other onorific people. If she was such, then all for it. Of she was just a show woman, musician, and maybe also the best ever… Why?
What groups persons would be considered honorific? Only people that work for the government (army, politicians etc)? Esteemed business men too? Nobel price winners? Esteemed scientists? It’s a slippery slope either way. I’d argue that it’s not up to the government to when it is allowed and when it is not, I’d argue every individual and every governmental body gets to decide for themselves.
This mayor probably doesn’t mind if a private person lowers their flag for a country singer. He only seems to care for a flag in front of eg the city hall. That’s how I interpret the text.
