South Carolina Sheriff Refusing To Lower Flag in Honor of Mandela

Believes flags should only be lowered for Americans

(CNN) -- A South Carolina sheriff is refusing to lower the American flag in tribute to Nelson Mandela, saying the honor should be reserved for American citizens.

President Barack Obama ordered flags lowered to half-staff for the international icon until sunset Monday.

But Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark says not in his department.

"It's just my simple opinion that the flag should only be lowered to half-staff for Americans who sacrificed for their country," Clark told CNN affiliate WHNS.

(H/T Charles WT)

Comments

[Heroic Mulatto]

Well, Sheriff, despite sympathizing with you since Mandela had no compunction against palling around with murderous psychopaths like Gaddaffi and Arafat, your "simple opinion" counts as much as a hill of beans. The US Flag Code is Federal Legislation and is quite clear that the President has the right to declare that flags across the nation fly at half mast.

Fortunately for you, there are no punitive consequences for violating the Flag Code, mostly because of 1st Ad. Rights. Now, y'all remember that the next time someone shares his "simple opinion" of your police department, of which you don't agree.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Did you notice the comments on CNN? I don't think it'd go too well mentioning some pertinent facts about Mandela as you did. He's a saint pure and simple over them there threads.