From the article:

L.F. Eason III gave up the only job he’d ever had rather than lower a flag to honor former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

Eason, a 29-year veteran of the state Department of Agriculture, instructed his staff at a small Raleigh lab not to fly the U.S. or North Carolina flags at half-staff Monday, as called for in a directive to all state agencies by Gov. Mike Easley.

While I completely understand and respect this guys decision, I’m torn about this. There’s the idea that you respect the office, if not the man, which would seem to apply here as much as it does to giving Presidents state funerals. The man was horrible, and it’s been painful to see so many conservative publications honoring the man while glossing over his numerous personal evils. He was a racist, a bigot, and a hateful man who would’ve, if he could’ve, made my life and my marriage impossible in this country. At the same time, he was a U.S. Senator and the state should do what it does for every person in that office.