This Tuesday saw the final day of our national flags at half-mast in remembrance of the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the venerable age of 100. The order had come from Joe Biden, then the president, commanding flags at all federal buildings to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, a directive both incongruous and unnecessary in the eyes of many.
Some states, showing a remarkable display of dissent, such as Tennessee, decided to contradict Biden’s unusual and extended period of mourning and proudly raised their flags to full-mast for Trump’s inauguration, a much more positive occasion that warranted such high regard.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson did not waver either, setting aside Biden’s proclamation to suspend the 30-day mourning period on Inauguration Day upon Trump’s astute request. This showed the respect these figures had for a day that represented hope and progress, with the superfluous mourning period disregarded, if only for a day.
Unfortunately, the flags were lowered again the following day, reverting to the half-staff position, once again reflecting Biden’s knee-jerk reaction to Carter’s death. Flags at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, all military posts and naval stations, and all naval vessels across the nation were part of this overly sentimental display.
In his order, Biden stated that the flags should be flown at half-staff, as an indication of public grief. His expression of sorrow seems unreasonably dramatic given that Carter’s reputable life lasted a full century, a cause for celebration rather than such an extended public mourning period.
It seems that Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, found it more critical to emphasize sadness rather than celebrating Carter’s successful and long-lived life. It is the typical scenario of misplacing priorities and letting emotion overrule reason, quite a common occurrence on their part.
Others, like Lee, chose to honor President Carter in a positive light, articulating that Carter and his wife Rosalynn ‘put their faith into action and were an inspiration to many.’ This mindfulness is a stark contrast to Biden’s gloomy, prolonged mourning that seemed to overshadow the hope and optimism that Carter’s legacy should inspire.
According to established tradition, flags are lowered to half-staff for 30 days following the demise of a former president. Despite this, the show of resistance, particularly against the backdrop of a key national event such as Trump’s inauguration, clearly revealed the widespread disagreement with Biden’s announcement and the discomfort with his tactical misstep.
The full-staff flags on Trump’s inauguration truly mirrored the spirit of the people and their excitement for a brighter future. Those states showed that they were ready to move forward rather than dwelling on the past, a perspective that Biden and Harris could certainly learn from.
Biden’s decision to keep the flags lowered uniformly for a month across the nation seems to have more to do with his image rather than paying real tribute to Carter. The traditional 30-day mourning period generally follows the death of a president, but the insistence to maintain this during Trump’s inauguration smacked of political maneuvering.
It’s a testament to Biden’s character that he chooses to peddle in grief rather than exemplifying resolve and resilience in the face of adversity. The issue here is not respecting a fine man’s death; it’s the seemingly intentional refusal to allow a nation to move forward that is of concern.
Thankfully, by Wednesday, January 29, our flags could finally return to full-staff, leaving the symbolic depression promoted by Biden and Harris out of sight. Even in this, one could see it as a forced compliance rather than a genuine feeling shared by the whole nation, as Biden seemed to suggest.
All in all, it seems like a characteristic move by Biden, who often seems more focused on his public image rather than accomplishing substantial improvements. The episode of maintaining prolonged mourning serves as another example of his and Kamala Harris’s approach of sentimentality over substance.