Tone Deaf, Out of Touch and Insensitive: Bergen County Commissioners and County Leadership

The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken our nation, and its shock has reached right here in Bergen County. The decision not to lower the American flag to half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk is deeply disappointing, insensitive, and quite frankly tone-deaf.
In a moment when a presidential proclamation called for national mourning, and a gesture of unity was sorely needed, the Democrat controlled Bergen County Commissioners and County Leadership chose to hide behind a procedural rule. The county’s claim that it was merely “following state protocol” is nothing more than a flimsy excuse for a glaring failure of moral leadership. Other counties in New Jersey, along with officials nationwide, recognized that following the presidential order to honor a fellow citizen murdered in an act of political violence is a basic human gesture that transcends politics.
It is undeniable that Charlie Kirk had a significant impact on national discourse and civic engagement, particularly among young Americans. What characterized Charlie Kirk was his willingness and eagerness to engage in conversation with people, regardless of their politics, and to engage people with compassion: by listening to them, understanding them, and treating them with dignity and respect. To deny him this gesture of respect is not only petty but it also undermines the very principles of free expression and democratic participation that our flag represents.
Refusing to lower the flag showed not just poor judgment but a stunning lack of empathy and disregard for the grief felt by so many. Lowering the flag isn’t a political act; it is one of our nation’s most solemn expression of shared mourning and respect. It is how we honor the fallen, acknowledge tragedy, and bind ourselves together in moments of sorrow. Symbols and traditions matter. The refusal to uphold this tradition dishonors both the individuals we mourn and the values we claim to hold dear.
Bergen County’s Democrat controlled Commissioners and Leadership sent a troubling message: that respect and compassion are partisan, and that even in death, ideology comes first. That is not leadership. That is not unity. And it certainly does not honor the values symbolized by the very flag in question.
They sadly missed an opportunity to lead by example and prove that, despite our disagreements, we can still come together to condemn violence and honor a life cut short. We must demand better from our leaders: the courage to honor a life lost, regardless of our political differences; the integrity to uphold traditions that unite us, and the compassion to affirm our collective grief.

John Dinice
Republican Candidate for Bergen County Commissioner