This is something people might want to see. Rev. Joseph Lowry got a standing ovation during his remarks at Coretta Scott King’s funeral today.
We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. [Standing Ovation] But Coretta knew and we know that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds. For war billions more but no more for the poor.
And with George W. Bush sitting in the front row. (I’m pretty sure he didn’t stand.) See it for yourself.
Naturally the right doesn’t get it.
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.
And they won’t get it. Mrs. King dedicated her life to the dream her husband died walking towards. The very essence of their work was and is about speaking truth to power. Today was not merely a day to mourn our loss of an individual like Coretta Scott King. It was also a day to celebrate her life, and rededicate ourselves to continuing their work.
Today, Rev. Lowry honored and celebrated the life and work of Mrs. King and Dr. King by doing exactly what they did: speaking truth to power, without fear. To do less would have been to honor her memory less than it has already been dishonored by the venue of the funeral. If nothing else, even in unfriendly territory, the dream was remembered today.
Via ThinkProgress.
Yes. Lowery’s words were the highlight of the service.
The republicans are going ape-sh8t about this but they’ve never understood what it means to speak truth to power. Good for Dr. Lowery!
If Democrats pay attention, they might learn something.
I was pretty upset that $hurb was at the funeral, and spoke (?). I would think her family would have said no to the liars and bigots who wanted to speak. I wonder why they said yes.
But what bothers me most is the politicalization of funerals. I’m all for protesting and speaking my mind, talking truth to power, but *not* at funerals. Funerals are a time for mourning, for family and friends comforting each other as they cope with the loss of a beloved persyn. Funerals are not for politicians or "religious leaders"–such as Phelps–to step on their soapboxes and preach an agenda. I think it’s disrespectful to those who grieve and to the persyn being buried.
I find it extremely offensive that Rev. Lowry used Mrs. King’s funeral to take a pot shot at the President. A funeral, no matter whose funeral it is, is NO PLACE to voice political rhetoric!! Even if Mrs. King may have agreed with it, it is a very low thing to do. Especially coming from a man of God!!! You would think he– being a REVEREND– would have something better to focus his speech on, say Jesus or matters of a spiritual nature. Instead, This man of God used a woman’s funeral as his soapbox to display his anger and bitterness at our President. HOW COMPLETELY SHAMEFUL!!! It’s these kinds of "spiritual Leaders" we Christians are constantly having to make excuses for. I am disgusted that it had to be turned into a "bash the Administration" time at Mrs. King’s funeral!!!!
Of course the funerals of political figures are political. Do you think Bush was there because he was fond of Coretta? He had to be there; the political price was too high not to be.
And what about Reagan’s funeral? Between Michael and Ronnie, it was like watching the old point/counterpoint skit on SNL. I remember being disgusted with Michael, and energized by Ronnie, which says more about my own political leanings than it does about the respective merits of their words. Not to mention Cheney’s and Bush’s speeches, which were more subtly political.
I guess Republicans are better at speaking in code, so it makes it all right.
Perhaps if Bush were more like Coretta King his supporters wouldn’t feel the need to denigrate others because they honoured her memory by speaking about those issues that meant the most to her. How can you talk about the life and experience of Coretta King without mentioning her beliefs, including her opposition to the invasion of Iraq, and the words of mass distraction, wiretaps and institutionalized racism and the shackles of poverty of the residents of the Ninth Ward?
The life of Coretta, in contrast to that led by Bush would lead to the the inevitable "bashing of the administration" because their lives, experiences, beliefs, views on justice, (etc.) were so different.
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As a licensed funeral director and cemetery broker, I know what a funeral should be. The celebration of a life. What it should definitely not be is a pulpit for the opportunistic utilization of slamming or denigrating others.
Lowry is a Christian. As a fellow Christian, I would like to remind those that need reminding…"Judge not others, lest ye be judged."
Norma – speaking truth to power IS a celebration of Coretta’s life and the people who don’t get that are clueless.
Should I draw up special plans to make sure that no one skirts around the truth and my life-long passions at MY funeral?
I thought Reverend Lowry’s remarks were from the utmost place of respect.
I just want to say thank you Rev. Joseph Lowery. Your words had been very soft spoken the way she woulds have wanted it. Also very powerfull. My children had been in school. I wish they would have seen the service so that the know they lived among a legend.
The great irony was Bush’s presence at the funeral as his administration and the Republican congress work to push back the changes Mrs. King and Dr. King worked for, as far as they can get away with.
The great irony was Bush’s presence at the funeral as his administration and the Republican congress work to push back the changes Mrs. King and Dr. King worked for, as far as they can get away with.
Can you clue me in on which changes the Republican congress is trying to "push back?" Please be specific.
Not only were Lowery’s political comments out of line/poor taste/disrespectful at a funeral, but Jimmy Carter’s were pretty shallow as well. It’s indicative of the level of desperation from the left.
1. Who is "we"?
2. No weapons of mass destruction? Georges Sada (one of Saddam’s top
generals) seems to disagree in his book "Saddam’s Secrets". But hey, who are
"we" more likely to believe?
3. It sure was nice of a "reverend" to insult the most powerful man in the
world before an audience at a funeral.
4. Misdirection? Again, what was misdirected?
5. "Millions without Health Insurance". A: Get a job. B: Move to a Socialist
Country.
6. "Poverty abounds". People are poor in this country only if they chose to
be. Or, if they have a mentality where they think someone owes them
something. And in that case the poverty is justified.
7. "For war billions more". Who said war was cheap? It beats sitting around
waiting on the next attack.
8. "But no more for the poor". Who said we need to give anymore for the
poor? What else can we do for them? Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps,
shelters, charities, ministries, etc. Since he is a "reverend" he should
like this verse: 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "If any man not work, neither let him
eat".
Georges Sada? The latest media darling of the Republican party and right-wing propagandists Georges Sada?
Reminds me of another Iraqi expat who wrote a book titled, "Saddams Bomb Maker." He too was once revered by the same people heaping praise of Sada.
Besides Phil, if you are to believe Sada, that means that you willl be in direct conflict with Bush who has stated publically that there was no WMD in Iraq. He would have to flip-flop yet again on the issue of WMD being in Iraq.