Fly the US flag at half-mast during Trump’s inauguration
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Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk. When a US president dies, flags are lowered to half-mast for 30 days as a mark of respect ("Jimmy Carter funeral live: Former president to be honored in DC today with Trump set to attend", Thursday 9 January).
Following the death of President Carter, this will coincide with the second inauguration of President Trump, who has stated: "Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it.". This is insulting, and a complete misread of the average American citizen’s wishes.
He has also stated that this occurrence is the "first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President". However, it happened when LBJ was sworn in after the assassination of President Kennedy, and when Nixon was sworn in for his second term after the death of President Truman. History books and Google will confirm this.
There are odd quirks that occur as a result of this half-mast. This includes the opening scene of Gilligan’s Island, showing all of the boat flags at half-mast. The show featured a loud buffoon of a captain and a second mate who caused more havoc than most do. This is surely no reflection on the incoming administration?.
Keep the flag at half mast and honour those that have served their country. Dennis Fitzgerald. Melbourne, Australia. Will Donald Trump be visiting the devastated residents of California? Only a man of his intelligence could deny that global warming is a significant factor in the changing weather pattern that is destroying so much ("The causes of the California wildfires are closer to home than you think", Thursday 9 January).
