To the editor:

I would like to clarify something that Paul Platz wrote about in one of his recent and frequent letters to the editor. It was Paul’s opinion that flags should not be flown at half-staff for a full month in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, because Paul thought President Carter did not do a very good job as our President.

Paul did mention that President Carter was a man of good character, then went on to list a number of what he considered failures of former President Carter and gave those as a reason why the flag should not be flown at half-staff for such a long period.

In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, by proclamation, created a federal law that the US flag will be flown at half-staff for thirty days following the death of ANY current or former president at all federal buildings and grounds in the U.S. and its territories, as well as half-mast on all naval vessels. Typically, states follow these guidelines at their public facilities whenever the death of a President or former President occurs. This law has nothing to do with the President’s record of failures or achievements.

Paul failed to mention any of President Carter’s achievements, such as brokering a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, something that hadn’t been accomplished by previous administrations. President Carter also created the Departments of Energy and Education, both of which have done critical work for all of us. He was also able to negotiate a deal with Iran to bring our American hostages home before he left office.

While some may not view President Carter as one of the most outstanding Presidents in our country’s history, he certainly deserves the respect and honor afforded to all other Presidents who served our country.

I think most people are tired of the blaming, griping and complaining against one political party or another. It’s not going to change anyone’s mind and only creates division among us. Our flag does not belong to one political party. We all share it and it unites us.

Katie Scheurer

Lafayette