Olive Branch, Mississippi Mayor Ken Adams has issued a statement explaining his decision not to lower the American flag to half-staff for Dolly Parton. In the statement, he says Parton was a great person who brought happiness to millions, but that he believes lowering the flag should be reserved for military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, and events with a tremendous impact on the country. He also cites Mississippi’s Home Rule doctrine, arguing that local governments have the ability to use their own judgment on these decisions rather than simply following state or federal leaders.
Same. Every once and a while we get a weird half-staff death, we’ve had more than a few weird ones under Trump, Charlie Kirk obviously comes to mind. Tim Curry died a few days later, and I found him to be a much more noteworthy celebrity in my lifetime, so why does Dolly get a half-staff? The system necessarily means you’re ranking people’s value, and requires that you draw a line somewhere.