may god be with you always

@ David Pearson.....I loved Whitney Houston, her voice, and I don't care how she died, she was WAY too young and the way she died is horrific for ANYONE. I tend to agree that the flag doesn't need to be at half mast but are you innocent enough to believe that the only people we fly the flag at half mast for are NOT drug users? Don't give me that bull. How many soldiers and/or politicians do you honestly think are completely drug free? I've taught a lot of our brave warriors who are in Iraq and Afghanistan and believe me they were NOT drug free when they left. Your reasoning is crazy and not totally true.

She was amazingly talented, and regardless of how or why she died, it doesn't change all her wonderful contributions to our world... she's indeed remembered for saying it right when talking several years ago about drugs, that "Crack is Whack" however I indeed am positive that, it's not what she remembered for.. And, I have no problem with the State of New Jersey flying their flag at half staff... I don't feel it's appropriate for other states to fly it at half only because, yes she wasn't a soldier or politician..however, she was a wonderful talent that came out of NJ.. She will be missed..

I think Ms Houston was an excellent singer in her day, but I think everyone is going overboard. By no means am I saying her fans should not do what they are doing, but the news is overdoing it. I have lost my mother and I think her daughter should have been respected during this time. It is ok to announce, but I watched the first evening and the news channels were so disrespectful to that family. People making assumptions and comments that, even if it is true, should allow that girl to mourn. I would be ready to sue so many companies at this point. It makes me laugh when people pass away and EVERYONE wants to tell their story and how much they loved the person. I want to say, get somewhere and sit down PLEASE, you look so silly. It would have been great if she could have did a comeback, but I believe in GOD and I feel regardless to what people say, God was ready for her to come home. It's not for us to decide where she went in her spirit, but God knows when we are tired and can't take anymore and he gets us safely outta the way. So Whitney is gone and free from this world, now folks need to get their lives right so they will be prepared when it is their turns.

she was aan enormous talent and a big loss to the music world. It's trajic to loose her at such a young age.

The police should at least give the route (and put up crowd control gates) on the nearby streets Whitney will take to her final resting place (at least for 10 blocks in Newark) so those who could not get close can at least pay respects as the procession passes through the nearby streets.

does anyone know if we, the residents/taxpayers of westfield, are paying for all that orange fence netting being wrapped around the cemetery? or the extra policing? or the 'no parking' signs stapled all over our neighborhood? or is the houston family paying for it?

michelle
I miss my sister ,my friend I grew up listening to her , she will surely be missed

WHY DO YOU NEED SNIPERS AT YOUR FUNERAL?

I would have to say just give one good veteran...a gold hearse and the publicity that surrounds this....maybe a man that gave his life for his country.

Rest in peace ms houston god bless your family

It is a shame that Whitney died so young, but I feel the need to say that her life was a tragedy. The loss to the music world happened as soon as she got married & got lost in addiction to drugs. I remember when Whitney & Bobby Brown got married & everyone thought they would surely make astonishing songs together,....but that never happened. That,& the reason for it, were a tragedy. This, her sudden untimely demise, is a shock. I also want to point out that, I have watched some of the interviews. Maybe it is because it is so sudden & shocking, but people, family & friends are not crying about her sudden death. Maybe it is the shock of it, the suddenness of it, (that happened in our family when 2 Uncles died far too young), I think the people are in disbelief. I expect that as the days, weeks & even for some a couple months go by, the family & friends will suddenly be consumed by a sudden bout of uncontrollable crying. Probably when they see each other again, in a less formal setting. For me & my sister, a couple months after our Uncle died, my sister asked me to give her a ride some where. When I picked her up, as soon as we looked at each other, we burst into tears & cried, uncontrollably all the way to where ever it was that I drove her to. I can't even remember where I drove her that day. But it was a delayed morning, because of the shock of the situation.

May Peace be with you, Whitney.

So glad she's planted,Sorry to see anyone die young, but I couldnt stand seeing it anymore. As for the flag, I think they meant it to be half baked like her. Instead of making her a hero, make her an example of what poor choices do to you.

Houston, she had a problem, and alas, paid the ultimate price. Maybe a reminder we all should try our best to guide others off that same dismal path whenever the chance occurs. I confess feeling the coverage, especially by CNN, was really way too much.

Someone please help me here. She had a great voice but threw everything away to drugs and booze. It was her choice. And now we are honoring here with complete coverage on msnbc, fox, cnn? Seriously? She contributed almost nothing to society and when our troops come home - or better yet, when their bodies come home, it's no where near the recognition that a drug addict receives.

My point is she was a person w a gift - who decided other things in her life were more important to her family, friends and those who admired her. She gave almost nothing back to society and we as a people treat her like she was something special. She had a voice - and that was all.

I want to say first is that my prayers goes out to the Family of Whitney. She was a awesome singer and she fall of track, who haven't fall. This people who is saying what happen, need to stop judging and let her rest in peace. To miss cissy houston and bobbie kristian and the rest of the family, to be absent from the body, is to be present with the lord. Thank God for a talent person, a person that touch many hearts. I want to thank you for giving us a awesome singer, a awesome person, and a child of the king. Whatever took place in that hotel or what to place at the time is her and God's Business. NOT THE WORLD, THE WORLD PUTS EVERYBODY DOWN. I pray that it will be told, to her family what happen to a daughter, a mother, cousin, niece. I pray and ask you all to respect their family and stop trying to find out what happen. God knew her heart and only God. So for me and my family, are prayers goes out to her family and Whitney Rest in Peace. God Bless you

I don't care if the flag was half mass or not, that is still a person. And so what if she was on drugs, its a lot of people do a lot of things. So why don't you sit back and be quiet. And RESPECT HER FAMILY. I KNOW HOW IT IS TO LOSE A LOVE ONE, AND GOD WILL COMFORT this Family and that 18 year girl shouldn't hear bad things about her mom, she needs to mourn. So sit down and shut up. Keep the flag half mass, respect the family and the singer... long as she asked God to forgive her, its done.. just saying have Respect for her and her family.

"Her daughter shouldn't hear bad things about her mom"? Maybe mom should have had more respect for her daughter as opposed to selfishly taking her own life and leaving her daughter behind. Enough coverage on Whitney. Let's move on.

I agree with kjy and the others who said good things,there is to much hate in the world as it is we all lose people we love,stop judging only God can do that!

First I need to point out that Bobby Brown is 3rd from the left. He is in the grey leather suit. He's not 3rd from the right as we look at the photo. Second, Chaka Kahn and Jennifer Holiday both confessed during an HLN interview that Whitney was doing drugs long before she met Bobby Brown, as both Chaka Kahn and Jennfier Holiday did drugs with Whiteny. Third, Whitney's brother (backup singer) Gary, was in rehab twice before Whitney met Bobby Brown. Gary had since cleaned up his act. Whitney should have done the same thing and especially for her daughter, clean up her act!! I for one love Whitney's voice, music and what she contributed to the world of music. Along with her selfless acts of kindness to so many people around the entire world who were in need, even when she really didn't have it to give. Everyone is quick to judge her good deeds because the media circus jumps on her mideeds with drug addiction. WE did not live in her shoes nor would I wanted to have lived in her shoes. She was responsible for her own behavior but sometimes those who are addicted as she was, even though she went to rehab 3 times, just can't overcome the substance abuse they created. I will not judge Whitney Houston, I pitied her weakness which most people have for one thing or another.

Did Christie do the right thing by calling for flags to fly at half staff? Absolutely NOT!!!! Christie is looking for brownie points and nothing more. Instead he received flack from the majority of towns in the state of N.J. Whitney did wonderful deeds for so many but she DID NOT fight a war, she was NOT in the Military nor was she ever a first responder or government official who is entitled to receive a flag flown at half staff. Mayor Booker had the right (according to the laws under who is deserving of a flay flown at half staff, to call for the city of Newark to fly the flag at half staff for a citizen who contributed much to the city she grew up in. But, for Christie to call for half staff on the entire state of N.J. was totally inappropriate at best!! Read the rules of flying flags at half staff and see if Christie did the right thing for the entire state of N.J. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-staff#United_States

I find it interesting how all of these people who "loved" her so much and were her "friends" did nothing apparently to help someone who was a train wreck seems fairly hypocritical.

She, like sall of us have been blessed with gifts. Some are easier to see and easier to acknowledge. Some are simple and others are complex. Some are common and some are unique. We are all guilty of taking them for granted, squandering them, and forgetting our grounded roots. Do not judge. Do not assume you can get inside the heads of others or that you know everything that goes on behind people's doors or in their private lives.

Whitney was and always be a gift from God.As fans we should honor who she was and not who the media portrayed her to be.As for the media, you should be held accountable for nails you have placed in so many coffins.Please be mindful of the things you report, think of lives your stories rather true or not could ruin.Your stories can't hurt Whitney she is safe God' s arms,but think about her family. The grieving has just begun for them. Please stop with the negative.Whitney was who she was and none of us have the right to judge her or anyone else.

Whitney was and always will be a gift from God.As fans we should honor who she was and not who the media portrayed her to be.As for the media, you should be held accountable for nails you have placed in so many coffins.Please be mindful of the things you report, think of lives your stories rather true or not could ruin.Your stories can't hurt Whitney, she is safe God' s arms,but think about her family. The grieving has just begun for them. Please stop with the negative.Whitney was who she was and none of us have the right to judge her or anyone else.