South Carolina Sheriff Refuses To Lower Flag For Nelson Mandela

South Carolina Sheriff Refuses To Lower Flag For Nelson Mandela

As is common practice to honor fallen leaders, influential political figures and others, President Barack Obama ordered all American flags in the U.S. be flown at half-staff following the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela earlier this week.

While the rare gesture seemed appropriate to most, one South Carolina sheriff felt otherwise.

via News One

Rick Clark, the sheriff of Pickens County, South Carolina, is refusing to lower the flag to half-staff to honor the life of Nelson Mandela, publicly defying the orders of President Barack Obama.

After Mandela died on December 5 at the age of 95-years-old, Obama issued a declaration ordering all U.S. flags—from the White House to government buildings and military outposts—to be flown at half-staff through sunset on Monday, December 9. A rare honor for a foreign dignitary that Clark doesn’t feel Madiba deserves.

Despite all that Mandela did for global peace and democracy, because he wasn’t American, Clark feels that only South Africa should honor him.

The Sheriff took to his Facebook Page with this message:

We personally think this is bogus and blatantly disrespectful to not only the legacy of Nelson Mandela but to President Obama as well. This sheriff obviously needs to educate himself and realize the massive impact of what Mandela did for “his country” had on the rest of the world, America specifically.

What are your thoughts on this, Bossp fam?