It was wrong to lower flags for Mandela

Dear editor:

What does it mean to have the United States' flag at half mast? It is rendering an honor to fallen Americans and heroes. An example would be 11 September when over 3,000 Americans lost their lives in the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

As I did my daily walk through Mountain Home today I had to chuckle at the half mast confusion brought on by political correctness. Many flag poles were at full mast but several were half masted. Just for kicks I inquired why? They said it was for Nelson Mandela. When they were reminded that this man was not an American and was a communist there was a lot of sputtering and excuse making. The best one was, "I was only following orders." We hear that one a Nuremberg.

As a retired Marine I was personally offended by the idea of rendering honors to a man who was not an American, did absolutely nothing for this country and represented a philosophy that murdered untold millions during the 20th century.

I trust the citizens of Mountain Home can do better when Fidel Castro goes to his reward!

-- D.G. Streeter