Dear Editor:
In response to the AP story which ran in the News Tribune on "Are we overusing the tribute of flying flag at half-staff?," my response is yes.
Even prior to the Orlando shooting, when I would see flags flying at half-staff in our community, I would have to stop and think, what is the reason today? At what point does this become mundane. I had to agree with Commissioner Hoelscher, he was simply following the rules that are currently in place. If someone (including Leonard Steinman) does not like the current flag etiquette rules, change them, but he or anyone else should not approach the courthouse flag and begin to lower it because of what he may believe to be a right or wrong decision.
The actions of elected officials regarding lowering the flag to half-staff replicate the "trophy-for-everyone" ideology, and soon nothing becomes important because everything and everyone is seen as important. I'm sure there is someone in this state who dies every single day and who may deserve to have a flag flown at half-staff in their memory, but let us not lose sight of the significance behind the lowering of the flag, but preserve the message of this gesture.
While I agree that the Orlando shooting was a terrible tragedy and I do not believe anyone would disagree to fly the flag at half-staff, whether the victims were gay or straight, black or white, but in the world we currently live in, isn't it only a matter of time before we are not even flying the flag at full staff in its intended glory.
When did our United States flag becomes a symbol of political correctness, versus a symbol of respect, honor and dignity, i.e., flying half-staff when a police dog dies, when a state official kills himself, when a road worker dies.
Every life is important, but when we lower the flag for every random act, at what point does it lessen the lives of our veterans, and our state and nation's elected and appointed officials.
At what point do we say, enough is enough. However, at the very least, follow the rules or change the rules, but please let's not become a society that ignores the rules.