I was driving my son to school this morning when we passed a fire station that had the American flag flying at half mast. He asked me, "Is the flag flying at half mast because of the Pope dying?"
I said, "Yes. Sometimes the President orders the flags to lowered as a sign of respect for someone who died. Usually it's for Americans, like other Presidents."
He then said, "But the Pope isn't American so why did we lower it for him?"
And you know what, that is a great question.
-- Thinking after the fold --
The Pope was both a religious figure AND the head of state. As a head of state, I really don't remember our flags being lowered to half-mast when other countries lost their leader, regardless of how important or significant that leader was in the US.
As a religious figure, it struck me as "odd" that America would lower the flag when the head of the Catholic Church passes away.
The whole "separation of church and state" issue is part of it, but also when do we "draw" the line over heads of other religious institutions passing.
As a Buddhist, when the Dali Lama passes that will be as significant for the millions of Buddhists (both here and abroad) as the passing of the Pope. Will the flag be lowered for him, or will he be seen as some "unchristian" heathen?
What about leaders of the Muslim faith, both here and "over seas", or the Nation of Islam? Some may not like Louis Farrakan, but he has a large following in the US. And so do the Reverends Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson.
And what will happen when Jerry Farwell passes, or any of those other TV shysters - I mean - men of God die? National services? Laying in state in the capitol?
And, God forbid, when Pastordan is called home? We subscribers we be grief stricken.
I can't help feeling that another line has been crossed by Bushco, or maybe an unveiling of the secret (not so) connection between the far right and the Catholic Church to undermine the liberty and rights of Americans, all in the name of a "Life Agenda."
Regardless of how you feel about the Catholic Church and the Pope, this flag business and the ramifications of it should give you pause. We at Kos like to think we think, but sometimes it takes a 10 year old to bring a jolt to synapses.