# Bush orders flag at half staff for tsunami victims. WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 2, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617 "2005-01-02T02:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/121 "2005-01-03T02:43:12Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > Why don’t you go outside and fuck yourself, you heartless cocklicker? You forgot to say ‘poopy-head’. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/122 "2005-01-03T06:24:10Z")
I still want to know what organization tood “goods” from you, Chefguy. I couldn’t find any. Again, not calling you a liar at all, I just want to know who I missed when I was calling around. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/123 "2005-01-03T06:39:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I know that the president can authorize half-staff for whatever reason he deems appropriate. My contention was that this occasion was not appropriate. It simply boggles my mind that anyone could deem this inappropriate. I’m trying to understand. I’m really trying. wHat’s wrong with our country mourning the loss of lives in another country? Why is that bad? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/124 "2005-01-03T10:13:26Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > It simply boggles my mind that anyone could deem this inappropriate. I’m trying to understand. I’m really trying. wHat’s wrong with our country mourning the loss of lives in another country? Why is that bad? Aside from which, thousands of the dead and missing are Americans. I’m not a fan of the rah-rah rag, but if it means something to people, then let them do their thing. ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/125 "2005-01-03T13:35:48Z")
and in news from an alternate universe — Americans from all political corners call for President Bush to step down after his inexplicably cold refusal to join the rest of the world and fly flags at half staff in a show of mourning for 150,000 dead human beings. Perhaps this lost opportunity is what’s really chapping your ass? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/126 "2005-01-03T13:56:46Z")
Acc. to Stone Phillips, today is a global day of mourning and countries around the world will fly their flags at half mast to honor the victims of the tsunami. Not sure if all countries complied, but I’d imagine all the U.N. countries lowered their flags at half mast. On a side note, anyone else see Dateline last night? Stone Phillips looked like someone shook him up, dilated his eyes, and threw him on the Dateline set. I wonder whether the tsunami coverage pierced his heart or whether he partied way too hard on New Year’s Eve. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/127 "2005-01-03T15:45:57Z")
I am glad we have made the gesture–but that is what it is, a gesture. Maybe it’ll help someone like the above post–very moving. I also question Bush’s touting of this–he doesn’t have a great track record on caring about people other than his base. No “cite”–just my opinion. Whether that hints at my level of distrust/dislike for the man and his admin or if future events will show the pandering, remains to be seen. I can’t shake the instinct that he did it to look good, not b/c he truly cares. It’s exellent marketing for him and Co. I am truly glad that people–of all countries-- are just pouring money at Indonesia etc–sent my contribution to Doctors w/o Borders. (note: can one pour money at something? It’s early here… 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/128 "2005-01-03T16:37:29Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > I still want to know what organization tood “goods” from you, Chefguy. I couldn’t find any. Again, not calling you a liar at all, I just want to know who I missed when I was calling around. We didn’t ask; just dropped off a bag of clothing and a check for $5,000. They seemed to be happy to get both, but then I’m just a heartless bastard. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/129 "2005-01-03T17:32:41Z")
We flew our flags half-staff here for the Tsunami victims just as we did on and after 9/11 and whenever we want to ‘make a gesture’. Incidentally, we lost about 10 times more people (per capita than the US did on that fateful day) in an avalanche here in 1995 and didn’t even get a letter from the US. If we had, I’m sure Chefguy would have objected. Man… it’s hard to feel sorry for people like you, Chef, but I do nonetheless. Poopy-head. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/130 "2005-01-03T18:25:28Z")
I couldn’t be farther away from **Chefguy** on this issue (wipe your ass with the flag for all I care), but even I can see he doesn’t lack compassion towards the victims. He just feels that particular display is for other things. Accusing him of heartlessness is either a misunderstanding of his position or a cheap way to try and score debate points. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/131 "2005-01-03T19:33:31Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I couldn’t be farther away from **Chefguy** on this issue (wipe your ass with the flag for all I care), but even I can see he doesn’t lack compassion towards the victims. He just feels that particular display is for other things. Accusing him of heartlessness is either a misunderstanding of his position or a cheap way to try and score debate points. Well, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell. My apologies to all who were offended by my criticizing this action. I’m not going to offer up a lot of self-serving information, but suffice it to say that my wife and I do our part (at least) in helping those who are less fortunate. Damned liberals and all that. I think this thread has run its course. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/132 "2005-01-04T02:02:01Z")
You guys don’t get it. We’ve used up one of our half-masts for the year. What are we gonna do if someone really important dies? ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/133 "2005-01-04T06:35:38Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > Why don’t you go outside and fuck yourself, you heartless cocklicker? Man, fun how even when I agree with Bruce\_Daddy’s general points, I always end up hating him a little more when I read one of his posts. What a fucking jerk. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617/134 "2005-01-04T08:29:57Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > **Chefguy** , apart from commemorating dead dignitaries, are there any circumstances when you _would_ consider it appropriate to lower the flag? I’m still curious about this though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-orders-flag-at-half-staff-for-tsunami-victims-wtf/282617.md?page=6)