Sadly, we are used to the image of a flag-draped coffin surrounded by a mourning family. We know all too well the accompanying ceremony that ends with solemn words offered “on behalf of the President of the United States … and a grateful nation.”
Looking at the box with Roger Ailes’ corpulent remains you would be forgiven for thinking he was a veteran. While there is nothing in the Flag Code that explicitly states a non-veteran may be denied this honor, a burial flag draping a coffin is customarily identified as a military honor. Exceptions have been made for national leaders, such as presidents.
Roger Ailes may have been a “national leader” in the sense that Jeffrey Dahlmer was a “national celebrity,” but he was no veteran. Roger Ailes was a chickenhawk like Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perl, Glenn Beck, Dan Senor, Ben Ferguson, and Donald Trump. But I doubt even they would have the nerve to flaunt their cowardice and wear it like a badge of honor. OK, Trump and Cheney, maybe. One hopes that common decency would prevail with the rest.
In the end, Ailes (I never realized how appropriate that name sounds until now) was just another Yellow Elephant. I guess you can give him points for consistency. The man died as he lived. Lying.
I’m offended, but not surprised. This cheap act of showmanship is an insult to all those who died in the wars he happily championed. It is an insult to all the families who have had to bear the costs of wars he made a killing promoting. It is an insult to the country. This is a man who was happy to pretend there were no costs to the wars he backed so he could make a killing off the killing. No images of flag draped coffins ever appeared on his Faux News Network. I wonder if they will break that taboo for his benefit.
The man died as he lived. Wrapped in stolen valor. As noted in the comments, he brings a new meaning to “lying in state.”
I could go on, but you will have to excuse me.
Somewhere there is a fresh grave I need to water
with beer filtered through my kidneys.