Rant Warning: Whitney -- Who Cares?

February 15, 2012
Colorado, USA

I do not pay much attention to Hollywood news. What the pathetically rich and shameless do or do not do either bores me to tears or pisses me off. As a result, I try to ignore them and the hideous hype that accompanies what some people think is news. I think the last surviving Hollywood star who gets my attention is Clint Eastwood. And yeah - out of the few commercials I watched during the Super Bowl - Eastwood and the Budweiser Clydesdales were my favorites. Let's call it Brawn and Beer. What can I say - I am an All-American girl.

So when all the hooplah of Whitney Houston's death began to dominate the sometimes-we-forget-we-are-news programs I exercised my right to censorship and simply muted, nuked or selected off on my remote control. Honestly, what I know of Houston is this - she sang the National Anthem pretty damn well once-upon-a-time and she made Costner look good in a movie I barely remember once-upon-a-time. As far as I am concerned neither achievement is enough to cancel out the inexcusable waste of talent or the sorry mess she has made out of her life since then.

Whitney Houston is not a heroic American icon.
Whitney Houston is a freekin' American tragedy.

So... in my half apathetic state regarding the lame-stream-media-idol-status Houston was receiving the last few days - you can imagine my dismay when I logged on this morning and saw the headlines indicating Governor Christie of New Jersey plans to lower flags to half mast in her honor. I have been seeing red ever since.

Knee Jerk Reaction: !!&%$&*$!!&*%$!! This is F'n outrageous! A self-loathing, alcohol/drug-abusing, party-animal, wasted talent prima-donna gets a flag at half staff in NJ!

"[Whitney Houston] was a cultural icon in this state and her accomplishments in her life were a source of great pride for many people in this state and for this state as a whole, Christie said Tuesday. "On that basis, I think she's entitled to have that recognition made for her."

I am reading Christie's comment and wondering what in the hell he is talking about - what accomplishments? Cultural icon my ass - she is not representative of any culture I would be proud of... rampant alcoholism... repeated drug abuse... all night party girl... suffered from low self esteem... repeated victim (by choice) of spouse abuse (she did not ditch the guy after all) and patron saint of numerous rehab clinics. Not only that - it appears she was taking her daughter down the same road of utter self-destruction. Real cultural icons have respect for themselves and those who look up to them. I do not care how much money she threw at charities - Houston most certainly is not a role model I would hold up for my grand kids to emulate. Let's get real here folks - she had a gift-from-the-gods talent, amazing mentors in her corner, the best of everything money could buy and still could not get it right. Charitable donations are tax deductible and I can only assume she got paid to sing the national anthem. All the good intentions in the world cannot make up for a life of wreckage and ruin nor do they warrant sainthood status.

Houston-in-a-glittery-ballgown does not get a picture posted here - that's not who she really was - that glamorous figure was nothing but smoke and mirrors. That person is not a picture of success to me. And her albeit sad but sorry end was anything but noble or triumphant. She does not deserve to decorate my page and in my humble-but-heated opinion she does not deserve half mast status.

And Christie! For all his patriotic posturing about what is and is not good for America has revealed that he is just another neurotic political animal with stars in his eyes... The youth of America do not need Whitney Houston's utter and complete failure to capitalize on success held up to them as a good example. The very idea of it is idiotic.

To every Veteran and Active Duty service person in this country and serving abroad: I am flying my flag at full mast today as I do every day on all my social networks and in my front yard. I fly the flag in honor of you and out of respect for my country. I defy New Jersey's choice to honor the pathetic likes of Whitney Houston on the same level as our country's bravest and finest. There are many men and women who deserve half mast status but a Hollywood wastrel is not one of them.

To the utterly confused and demoralized people who have somehow confused the likes of Houston with true American heroes - I suggest we turn our eyes toward those who have served and are serving this country with honor and dignity and remember our flag is a symbol of all we hold dear. I heartily resent the fact that Houston is awarded a status rarely awarded to our military veterans. I see it as an exercise in disrespect.

This weekend marks the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima which in light of all the Houston-hysteria-hype will get little, if any media attention. In quiet, dignified ceremonies all over the country, my Vietnam Veteran Dad, Veteran Friends, Gold Star Family Friends, patriotic and Veteran riders and American Patriots everywhere will stand flag lines, pause with respect and shake the hands of a group of vanishing American heroes - World War II Veterans aka Real American Heroes - each and every one of them more deserving of our respect and adoration than any Hollywood has-been.

I say fly your flags (full mast) this weekend and every day in honor of those who truly deserve it.

THIS IS A REAL AMERICAN HERO - HE AND HIS VETERAN FRIENDS ARE TRUE CULTURAL ICONS WORTHY OF THE FLAG FLOWN FULL OR HALF MAST IN THEIR HONOR ON ANY DAY - ANY QUESTIONS?