Mississippi mayor opposes lowering flag for Dolly Parton, says honour should be reserved for ‘truly extraordinary circumstances’

The mayor of Olive Branch, Mississippi, has pushed back against lowering the American flag to half-staff following Dolly Parton’s death, arguing that the gesture should be reserved for people and events of exceptional national significance.Mayor Ken Adams addressed the issue in a Facebook post on Friday, while making clear that his position was not intended as a criticism of Parton. He described the singer as a “great person” who brought happiness to millions and made major contributions to others during her life.“I believe lowering the American flag to half-staff should mean something very significant,” Adams wrote.He said he believed the practice should generally be used to honour military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, other major national leaders or events that have had a major impact on the country.Adams said repeatedly lowering the flag whenever a prominent or widely loved person dies could eventually reduce the significance of the gesture itself.Parton died aged 80 on Tuesday. Following her death, President Donald Trump and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves ordered US and state flags to be flown at half-staff for one week.Adams said local authorities should not simply disregard decisions made by the president or governor, but argued that Mississippi’s home-rule system gives local governments broad discretion in matters concerning their own communities.“The President can make the decision for the country. The Governor can make the decision for the State of Mississippi. I believe a mayor should have the ability to make a decision for his or her city,” he wrote.He also defended his approach to leadership, saying he did not believe voters had elected him to simply follow orders.“I also don’t believe residents elected me to be a ‘salute and execute’ Mayor but to lead with conviction,” Adams said.The mayor stressed that his position was not motivated by politics or disrespect for Parton. He said he respected her and did not question her standing as an American.“It’s simply my belief that the American flag at half-staff is one of the highest honors we can give, and I believe that honor should be reserved for truly extraordinary circumstances,” Adams wrote.He added that being selective about when the flag is lowered can help preserve the significance of the honour.Internet reactsAdams’ position drew criticism on the city’s Facebook page, with several commenters arguing that Parton’s charitable work and service to children made her deserving of the tribute.One user wrote: “There’s only one Dolly Parton. She wasn’t just your common ‘celebrity’. She was the kind of person that everyone should focus on trying to be like. The world would be a better place if so! Would it have killed you to lower the flag for a day or two in her honor? I’m so glad I moved to East Tennessee!”Another commenter said: “She did more for children than any politician ever has. That should raise her status in your eyes from ‘just a celebrity’.”A third person wrote: “Dolly served this country as much as our military JUST in a different way. She has probably done more good than any other celebrity in this country and a LOT more than politicians. She did it her way.”Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.