From Drudge:
Today's memorial service for civil rights activist Coretta Scott King -- billed as a "celebration" of her life -- turned suddenly political as one former president took a swipe at the current president, who was also lashed by an outspoken black pastor!
The outspoken Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, ripped into President Bush during his short speech, ostensibly about the wife of Martin Luther King Jr." She extended Martin's message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions way afar. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there," Lowery said. The mostly black crowd applauded, then rose to its feet and cheered in a two-minute-long standing ovation. A closed-circuit television in the mega-church outside Atlanta showed the president smiling uncomfortably. "But Coretta knew, and we know," Lowery continued, "That there are weapons of misdirection right down here," he said, nodding his head toward the row of presidents past and present. "For war, billions more, but no more for the poor!" The crowd again cheered wildly.
Former President Jimmy Carter later swung at Bush as well, not once but twice. As he talked about the Kings, he said: "It was difficult for them then personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps." The crowd cheered as Bush, under fire for a secret wiretapping program he ordered after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, again smiled weakly. Later, Carter said Hurricane Katrina showed that all are not yet equal in America. Some black leaders have blamed Bush for the poor federal response, and rapper Kayne West said that Bush "hates" black people.
This is beyond disgusting. I have no problem with people voicing their opinion on any issue, but there is a time and a place. The funeral of a fallen American hero IS NOT the place! I am ashamed of this behavior. It's a disgrace to the civil rights movement whose very message was tolerance. What's worse is that these comments actually received applause! We expect this kind of behavior from Jimmy Carter and certain black leaders. But an entire congregation of people there to pay tribute to Mrs. King should condemn these words. Honor Mrs King and her life. Please leave the politics out of it.
7 comments:
It's worse than a disgrace, it's an abomination, John. And it makes me so furious my teeth hurt!
They won't leave their screwy politics out of anything because they don't respect anything. It's really shameful and hurtful to this country. Lord, please help us so that these people never gain complete control of this country again!
This was absolutely the WRONG venue to take a swipe at politics, but you know, it JUST HAD TO HAPPEN….
Had to, look at WHO was there, Tubby Teddy, Jimmy Peanut, Bill Clinton and Rev Whoever the hell he was, and to politicize the funeral of CS King just for the sake of being a *butt head*??
That really cheapened the services in my opinion…
I wasn’t a fan of MLK or Mrs MLK but damn… There’s a time and a place for politics, and THIS wasn’t it…
"The funeral of a fallen American hero IS NOT the place!"
Perhaps you should leave that to the friends, family and community of the fallen hero to decide. And, by your report, with all the applause and cheers, they thought it was exactly the time and place.
This was one of those rare opportunities that Bush was not surrounded by his supporters and he NEEDS to hear what his opposition is thinking. This is America after all and half of us have gone unheard for a long time.
Hallelujah! What I wouldn't have given to have been there myself.
Thanks for the input, Dan. The opposing viewpoint is always welcome, just as long as things stay respectful. However, I disagree with you. You don't honor someone by slandering your own political enemies. Those applauding are sheep who believe whatever the Left leadership feed them which, ironically, is exactly what the King's fought against.
Well, speaking on behalf of the sheep, thank you for graciously allowing me a chance to air an alternative opinion. And, if it's all the same to you, we'll assume our role as adults and not sheep blindly following our leaders.
I mean, don't you think it entirely possible that those hundreds of adults in attendance have weighed the facts and evidence and found Bush's policies wanting and appreciated the Good Reverend's comments, considering them prophetic even?
Just because we disagree with you doesn't make us children.
Dan, I'm afraid you've missed the point. CSK's funeral was not about Bush, or Iraq, or war or anything else EXCEPT Mrs King. Regardless of whether or not they agreed with the comments, they still shouldn't have applauded because they were made in an inappropriate context. All it did was take away from Mrs King. If someone at my grandfather's funeral starts slandering Bill Clinton, I'm NOT going to applaud because Clinton has nothing to do with my grandfather, even if I DO agree with whatever was said. That's what makes those people sheep because they applaud blindly without questioning whether or not this was an appropriate setting for such a speech.
Well, thanks for your opinion. Many of us shall respectfully disagree with it, thanks.
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