Coretta Scott King Remembered - Bush Uncomfortable
I'm watching the replay of the CSK services on C-Span right now. The services were amazing - powerful, incredibly well done, and yes, political.It's because Coretta Scott King's public life, and that of her husband's, was totally political. Civil Rights, Social Justice, and fighting for equality - they're all political. Remember - they're not just celebrating her life specifically - they're celebrating her and her husband's legacy, and what they stood for. They're celebrating their mark on history and what it means for our country today.
I found the setup on stage incredibly interesting. Bill Clinton sitting with Hillary. George W. Bush sitting right next to his Stepford wife Laura, right near the former President.
I'd like to write something very important here:
Make no mistake - none whatsoever - this gathering of civil rights leaders, African American leaders, anti-war leaders, marchers for peace, workers for justice and fairness, and people associated with Martin Luther King Junior - was not a comfortable setting for W. He was after all, in a church full of Democrats who range from not supporting him, to despising him, his presidency, and everything his administration stands for.
Why is that do you think? Perhaps because Bush denounced affirmative action in 2003 during the week of Martin Luther King's birthday (dissenting from both Powell and Rice). Or maybe it's the fact that our current Vice President, Bush's boss, opposed MLK Day when he was a Senator in Wyoming.
Martin Luther King, and those who dedicated their lives to his work - those who agreed with his anti-war stance and fought for justice, in no way - no way whatsoever - see eye to eye with this current president. King himself, had he been alive today, would have been one of this president's biggest adversaries for the entire 5 years he's been in office.
As a result, up on stage, Bush looked like the Pope in a Planned Parenthood clinic. He seemed out of place, awkward, unwanted, and a very small man indeed.
How embarrassed Bush must have been as Jimmy Carter spoke about the King's history with wiretapping. How ashamed he must have felt when the black faces of Katrina were mentioned. How uneasy he must have felt when the Iraq war was mentioned.
No, these were not his people. This was not his crowd.
If you have any doubt - any doubt whatsoever in your mind where the foremost leaders of Civil Rights stand in terms of President Clinton's legacy, and the current legacy this bumbling president is making for himself - watch the reaction of the room when Bill and Hillary Clinton were introduced, and the doubt will disintegrate from your mind immediately.
At one point, Bill Clinton said how proud he was to stand in front of his former president, and current president, when someone yelled from the crowd something to the effect of, "and future president!" (obviously referring to Hillary), and the place erupted in cheers.
Typically when I hear President Clinton speak, I'm drawn in, I'm educated, and I'm proud to be an American. I think of his level of speaking and comprehension, compare it to my current president, and I'm totally embarrassed.
Tonight, I felt different. I felt as if everything right and just that the Kings stood for - everyone in that crowd who personally knew them and worked with him - were all feeling the same thing as Clinton spoke. He was on their side. He understood. He worked with them, and they considered him on of their own. As for the current president - they did absolutely did not.
Clinton spoke, seemingly without a goddamn note in front of him. Bush Sr. - lost his place while fumbling through his. The passion the speakers had, minus our current president was enough contrast I could stand for one evening.
After tonight, I don't want any right-winger trying to talk to me about Civil Rights, perhaps ever again. It's just not your thing. Stick to tax breaks and dividends for stock holders.
You will hear tomorrow throughout the corporate and Right Wing media that the funeral was turned into a political event. Fuck them. AmericaBlog has already written a great piece about the obligatory Swift-Boating of this funeral, and I advise you read it here.
Open a history book and read about the Civil Rights movement, and tell me how that's not political. Look up King's legacy and read about the FBI files on him - and as President Carter said, the wiretaps - and tell me that isn't relevant to what is going on now.
If anyone tells you this, they obviously didn't watch the entire thing. As if the party who doesn't have a single black member of Congress can lecture black people about how to behave at a funeral? Are you kidding me?
The speeches were amazing, eloquent, and when appropriate, had political and religious undertones. Bush was there because all former presidents not dead or ill were there - but just as he became the first president to snub the NAACP since Herbert Hoover, Bush had no reason to even set foot in this Church in front of a crowd that resents him, and at times I felt embarrassed for him as he sat up on a stage like a party guest who showed up uninvited.
What a pathetic sight.
With that said, one speech in particular struck me was that delivered by the Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery. I'm still on the hunt for the transcript, but have provided a video link to his entire speech above. As always, this video is simply unavailable without the excellent work done over at Crooks & Liars. Here's an unforgettable piece:
"We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there [standing ovation]... but Coretta kew and we know that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance. Poverty aounds. For war billions more but no more for the poor."
Highlights from all the speeches can be found here.
***Update***
Here is the transcript from Dr. Rev. Lowery's speech:
REVEREND JOSEPH LOWERY: I am neither a gambler, nor better, but who could have brought this crowd together except Corretta? (applause)
How marvelous that presidents and governors come to morn and praise, but in the morning (applause)...will words become deeds that meet needs? (standing ovation)What a family reunion!
Rosa and Martin reminiscing, they had just begun to talk, when Martin seemed not to listen. He started to walk. The wind had whispered in his ear. “I believe somebody is almost here. (applause) Excuse me, Rosa,” Martin said as he did depart, his soles on fire, he just couldn't wait. His spirit leaped with joy as he moved toward the pearly gates.
Glory, glory, hallelujah. After forty years, almost forty years, together at last, together at last, thank God Almighty, together at last! (applause)
Thank you, Coretta. Didn't she carry her grief with dignity? Her growing influence with humility? She secured his seed, nurtured his nobility. She declared humanity's worth, invented their vision, his and hers, for peace in all the Earth.
She opposed discrimination based on race, she frowned on homophobia and gender bias, she rejected on its face.
She summoned the nations to study war no more. She embraced the wonders of a human family from shoulder to shoulder. Excuse me, Maya. (laughter, applause)She extended Martin's message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions.
We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there (standing ovation). But Coretta knew, and we know there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance, poverty abound. For war, billions more, but no more for the poor.
Well, Coretta had harsh critics. Some no one could please. But she paid them no mind. She kept speaking for the least of these. As we get older, or so I'm told, we listen in to heaven like the prophets of old. I heard Martin and Coretta say, “do us a favor, Joe, those four little children I spoke of in '63, they are fine adults now, as all can see. They already know but tell them again. We love them so dear. Assure
them we will always be near. Their troubles to bless and sanctify to them their
deepest distress.
Tell them we believe in them as we know you do. We know their faith in god and their love for each other will see them through. Assure them at the end of the tunnel awaits god's light and we are confident they will always strive for the right. Tell them don't forget to remember that we are as near as their prayer -- and never as far and we can rest in peace because they know who and whose they are.” (applause)
What a family reunion. Thank you, Lord. Just the other day I thought I heard you say Coretta, my child, come on home. You’ve earned your rest, your body is weary. You have done your best. Her witness and character always strong. Her spirit, her melody from heaven's song, her beauty warms like the rays of the sun. Good night, my sister. Well done, well done. (standing ovation)
posted by Jeremy at 10:32 PM
19 Comments:
Very well said, Jeremy - I watched the services as well and thought the speakers were fantastic. The Bushes must have known how out of place they were.
I also admire Clinton, and his ability to speak extemporaneously. He always seems comfortable wherever he is.
Thanks for stopping by the other day. I don't remember where I got that graphic - but I really liked it too.
What a surprise , you applaud the hate filled Bush-bash-a-thon that was supposed to be a funeral. A FUNERAL. A time to remember her life, not act like classless partisan hacks trying to get cheers. Bush showed class and even shook lowerys hand. Carter didn't even have the courtesy to shake W's hand. He is the president, whether you like it or not. Have some class.
Yes, Clinton was great, is great.I loved him as our president.I love his speaking ability. But to say that he is considered one of "their" own is an insult. Even he has the courtesy to shake the Presidents hand, acknowledge him and show some respect, even if he doesn't agree with his politics. It's called class, you and most of the left should learn some class from our Ex-President Clinton.
It is a shame if the media is just concentrating on that, I guess you'll just have to Blame Bush for their comments too.
Look, it's a shame that even a funeral for a great women can't even go without some political nonsense being tagged along with it. I was hoping they would remember her life and the things she loved.Which they did alot of but You are still stuck in the mind set that Bush and his administration were her sworn enemy. I'll tell Condi and Colin to start getting upset.
So you need to get mad at jeremey here too. Instead of reminding everyone who reads his blog how great CSK was, he just hashes up the same rhetoric and makes this all about Bush. "Bush was embarrassing....bloa blahb blahb...fart....blah" They didn't all just sit there and bash bush the whole time, only the classless people did that. Thats whats being reported here, and it's thier fault.Not Bushes. Instead of concentrating on what the hell Bush is doing , concentrate on CSK's life. Bush has nothing to do with her or her life. He is not her enemy and her funeral is not the time to bring that shit up. C'mon, thats just classless and ignorant. It's like you people are addicted to Bush. It's retarded. You can't go five minutes without going off on a Bush tangent. Give it a rest. He's a moron, we get it. The horse is dead.
When public figures die, we talk about their public service during their publicly televised funerals. When sports stars die, we talk not just about the person, but about what their life meant to the public, in this case people tell stories about their sports careers. When politicians die, those at the funeral talk about their public service, the difference they made to our country, what they stood for, what they believed in.
The woman who died last week isn’t yours or my grandmother, anon. Her and her husband lead one of the significant and meaningful lives in the history of this country. Her life – her work – her family’s work – it was political. They were activists. They were hated by social conservatives. They were wiretapped. They were ridiculed, they were rejected…one of them was murdered for what he did!
Obviously you didn’t watch the entire funeral. 99.9% had nothing to do with bashing Bush. But for you to sit there and guess at what happened – and to say that the people at that funeral should ignore what’s currently going on in our government – that which has EVERYTHING to do with this woman’s life – is to reveal yourself as completely missing the point.
To say that we should show the president respect when the woman lying there disagreed with his homophobia, the way he handled hurricane Katrina, the illegal wiretapping he’s having his attorney general defend as we speak, etc…is totally insane.
Answer me this question: why should an entire room of people celebrating this woman’s life curb their statements regarding what her entire life was about, just because the president sitting on stage fucked up during his presidency and has by and large ignored the black community and the lower class?
By the way – for someone who continually sticks up for the Bush administration, I find it incredibly ironic that you’re asking me to take lessons from Bill Clinton.
What is classless, is George Bush pushing for anti-affirmative action on MLK’s birthday. There’s your class right there.
In addition Anon – a funeral for a great woman was indeed held yesterday. I watched nearly the entire thing, and it was fantastic.
This “political nonsense” was this woman’s life! This was not a private gathering, this was a funeral in a political setting honoring the life and work this woman did, that you consider nonsense.
And I’m not saying Bush is her “sworn enemy,” I’m saying that this crowd, and the people that supported MLK and his wife really have nothing in common with Bush’s policies, and Bush’s policies are exactly what they spent their lives preaching against.
How can you not understand this?
Anon – this was here life. This is what her legacy is, and that’s what was being talked about, whether or not Bush was on stage or taking a nap in the oval office. Stop pretending like the Kings were apolitical. They weren’t. They gave their lives to what was talked about yesterday.
The policies of the Bush administration and his legacy as it relates to the African American community has everything to do with this the Kings and their lives, so that's where the Bush connection is.
Look, if you have a woman who tried to gain justice for poor people and people of color, as my father currently does in his line of work, and we have a current president who is not honoring that commitment to her vision, how could you not expect this to be mentioned at small parts through her funeral, as is what happened yesterday?
You have a woman who dested homophobia and you have the most homophobic president since Nixon on stage and people are supposed to censor their comments? No way.
Finally - in case you haven't noticed, this is a political web site with a political angle. I talk about politics here, specifically that of the Bush administration and his supporters. Therefore, when I watch a funeral covering CSK, I'm not going to necessarily move past the political connotations here. If I did that, then my sight would be called BiparisanThingsInTheNews.com.
There are a great many web sites honoring this woman. My "job," if you will, is to speak about the angle daily news events play in political arena, specifically that of conservatives. That’s what I do here, and that’s what I did yesterday.
There are a bunch of blogs out there who are arguing this point more eloquently than I – you should read what they’re writing as well.
Wire taps on the Kings were started by a Kennedy.(so classless to bring that up cuz his brother was 20 feet away) Nothing to do with Bush.
If your'e talking about CSK's life , why mention no WMD found ? What does she have to do with that. answer : Nothing. Nothing to do with her legacy.
You can show respect for people you disagree with. It's called class. Thats all I'm pointing out, the lack of it from a very few in attendance. A very few which I don't think should be censored, but I do think their classless ness should be pointed out.
They were wire tapped by Democrats and liberals. They were hated by social liberals, democrats, conservatives, nazis. Socialists. Don't sit there and play this social war with distinctly defined classes. The double standard is ridiculous. Don't think conservatives were the only people against them. Thats not true. It's a lie.
No one should curb any feelings, but prepare to be called out when you do.
I stick up for what I believe is right. If I believe Bush is right or Clinton. Either way. Sorry I don't fit into your mold for a conservative.Because I'm not. Part of my point here is that not everyone does. Even if you continue to censor me when I prove you wrong. Clinton was graceful, take some lessons.
G-Dubbs pushing for affirmitive action on MLK day is classless. No argueing that.
I watched the entire thing too. It was great.
It was a funeral. Not a soapbox. Look what their comments spawned. That is another reason why it's tasteless. Those comments took away from the great legacy she has. Mention her career and praise it, not mention your personal beef with the president (who has nothing to do with anything concerning this topic, other then being a white rich guy.)
Get your "token" statement ready. But Bushs' administration is proof that MLKs work did alot of good. Look at the "people of color" in the highest government positions ever held by african americans, look who appointed them.Look how far African Americans have come. GWB is not standing in the way of them. Unless they are gay and want to get married that is. Which is retarded as well, but thats another story, and marrying the two fights is also disheartening and flat out wrong.
Her legacy was not bashing politicians, it was fighting for what she believed was right. It was common sense.Her and her husband had plans, visions. More then I can say for you, all I see you have is a funny way pointing out whats wrong, with no way to change it, no plans. Her Husband was one of the greatest americans ever. He wanted unity, not partisinship. I don't see you fighting for anything of the sort. If his and her legacy is so impoortant to you, why don't you strive toward this. From my standpoint, all you do is drive a bigger wedge in an already fragile atmosphere.But you've got that argument that you're totally right and everyone else is wrong, unless they agree with you. I forgot. have a good day.
signed Anon
rusty-suv.... Take a look at what administration, in the History of the USofA has "people of color" in some of the highest positions . Answer : The Bush Administration. Can you agree with me that MLKjr. had alot to do with getting African Americans to be able to hold positions of this nature. Seriously, take the protest sign outta yer arse for a minute and concede to this point. Can you do so without using the words "token". Do you think MLKjr. would call Condi and Colin tokens ? Clarence Thomas ?
By the way When is Al Franken going to hire some "tokens" ?
RUSTY-SUV....read what I said again. Look at Bush's administration to see that MLKjr.s dream is working. I didn't say that the Bush administration is assisting the progress of minorities like you are claiming. I am saying, Black people are making their way to very high positions on their own. I am not saying the Bush administration is helping them, THEY ARE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.
The fact that Condi was on the board of Directors of Exxon is proof of the dream working as well.
Don't give me this talk about what I sound like. How do you even know what color I am ? Stop inferring, get that liberal ear bud outta your ear for a minute and stop with the partisan hackery.
Minorities are moving ahead just fine without Bush or any other Government entity having a part in it. The Government is not there to assist anyone to "move forward" . The fact stil stands, Bush has hired more minorities then any other Administration. SO what ? Thats the facts, why argue them ?
Is it proof that MLKs dream is working ? Yes. Should that be his legacy ? Yes. Does this dream have anything to do with Bush ? No. Should what Bush thinks be a part of Corettas legacy ? No. Should Bush be mentioned at all when talking about Coretta King ? No way.
I know you guys love to throw out the stereotypes quicker then Sandy Berger can stuff some Documents in his undies, but you are way off base here.
Bush has no Jews on his cabinet ? That sucks. He should.
Anon –
Honestly. Bush and the Kings have/had nothing in common. Period.
Bush was attending the funeral of someone who spent her whole life fighting against everything Bush has been fighting for. If you look up what Bush Sr. ran for as a Senator, you’ll see it was on the exact opposite platform of MLK.
Considering the sharp contrast between what the Kings stood for and what the Bush family stands for – in terms of the Iraq war, wiretapping Americans, poverty, affirmative action, tax cuts for the rich, universal health care, the Vietnam war, the first Persian Gulf war, the good’ ole white boy network – and so, so much more – I have come to the following conclusion:
Bush only appeared at the funeral for political reasons.
Therefore – the only person politicizing the funeral yesterday was Bush.
Partially because I’m lazy – and partially because I hate writing things over and over again – I’d like to address your point anon about the Bush administration hiring minorities by directing you to a section on this site I wrote during the summer:
http://www.rageagainsttheright.com/social.htm#condi
Second – don’t sit there and pretend this administration has done anything to advance minorities. I know you’re not a fan of government helping anyone – but government, including the court system, sets the tone, the policy and the law around minority advancement.
While it’s great that Bush has hired plenty of minorities for his cabinet only two have been in the spotlight.
Of those two, one of them is no longer around.
Of those two, neither of them were in positions to execute any type of laws or power regarding race.
Of those two, both of them have publicly but very quietly disagreed with the Bush administration’s stance on affirmative action, especially involving the U of Mich case.
Furthermore – Bush’s policies as far as race goes – has received an F from a bipartisan committee, called the US Commission on Civil Rights – the very organization who monitors and reports on the Federal Government’s progress in terms of Civil Rights. This was before Hurricane Katrina.
The Bush administration has been one of the worst administrations in the last 2 decades to advance civil rights for minorities, and this is documented. Period.
Argue some other point but don’t tell us that this administration hasn’t been dead set against the rights of gay people and women both in their policy and their action since they gained control of the White House.
What type of sick twisted planet is your brain frying on for you to think that social liberals and conservatives are both equally opposed to what MLK and CSK stood for?? That argument is so far off base I can’t believe you’re serious…because guess what – that Church in Atlanta was filled with SOCIAL LIBERALS. Social liberals, not just by example, but by the very definition, have been fighting for these things from day one.
Please stop insulting our intelligence.
Once again, you miss the point and try to paint me as something I'm not . No surprise there.
doesn't matter what I say. You guys have all the answers and are always right. The conservatives are lying racist scumbags, and the liberals are always on the right side of history. They never get anything wrong. Why bother right ? I'll just get censored when I bring empirical evidence to the table. It's laughable. It's really no use to try here. So I'll join the others who have tried to get a point across here and just quit trying.
It's Ad hominem. I bring up a point, if it doesn't agree with your idea I'm a republican conservative scumbag racist. Even though I am basically trying to tell you to take a look in the mirror while you are at this blame game. Instead of using all this energy obstructing , bitching, hating criticising , use it to do some good. It just seems like a waste of time to sit here picking apart everything all day long and not coming up with any plans to clean it up, other then voting in people who will do the same shit under a different label. It's just gets under my skin to see people so close minded, so partisan. It gets nothing accomplished. Step back from the "everything conservative" is wrong and every "liberal" is right mantra. The right is doing the same thing. They believe they are right, you believe you are right. What gets accomplished ? Nothing. More division.A weaker country.
I understand dissidents are needed in this country.I understand that you guys are passionate. Just because I don't stand behind every thing you are critical about, doesn't mean I am sucking on G-Dubbs teets. The only thing I see here is criticism on a partisan level. Nothing new is being brought to the table. No other plans are brought forward. Just bitching and moaning. If thats all you want to do, fine. Go for it. But until you guys get some action, some direction, I'm gonna be representing that guy who is going to be dissenting to you.I could stand behind you if you offered something. Until then, you're just entertainment.
Just because someone agrees with a conservative value on some levels , doesn't make them a conservative.I agree with W on some issues. Most I don't. Like I said before, there isn't a candidate out there who has ever had me on their side on every topic. I know that bothers you. But there are millions of people out there like me.We don't fit into your mold. But if we agree with one thing, it must mean we are racist,neo-conservative,scumbag,religious wacko fringe nut bags right ? We need to break away from this tripe. We need to step back as a country and do something about it. I don't believe we are heading in the right direction.
"The only thing I see here is criticism on a partisan level."
Yes, finally you're starting to understand where I'm coming from. That's what this site is about. It's about progressive issues, and calling conservatives on their bullshit. Very good.
"Instead of using all this energy obstructing , bitching, hating criticizing , use it to do some good. It just seems like a waste of time to sit here picking apart everything all day long and not coming up with any plans to clean it up, other then voting in people who will do the same shit under a different label."
I use plenty of energy by donating my money and time to causes I believe in.
-I spend many hours in '04 walking the streets, knocking in doors, creating flyers and volunteering for the Kerry campaign.
-I write my Senators almost monthly, and continually write businesses who advertise on Air America.
-I have family who are activists who help organize meetings and marches around civil rights issues.
-I have marched on the Mall in DC since I was in 7th grade.
-My family has been the focus of a major newspaper article and two news segments on two local news networks in Maine.
-My father was the senior vice president of a well known consulting firm in the northeast, working every day for culture change in the workplace.
-My mother is one of the best known psychotherapists in the state of Maine with a history of treating veterans, as well as gay/lesbian couples.
-She founded and ran a women's group for several years in Central Maine during the 1980's.
-Between my grandparents, mother, and myself, we have had 6 different letters to the editor appear in Maine's largest newspaper
-My brother has been fundraising for AIDS via 100 mile bike rides and other activist activity for the past 5 years.
-I have spent countless hours working on this site - finding and screening article, reading magazines and doing research on my own time, for no compensation whatsoever..but because I enjoy it.
So really, please do not tell me I'm just sitting here bitching and doing nothing about it. I have had more activist and political experience before I got to high school than you will probably ever do in your life.
Anonymous, thank you for gracing us with your class, be it anonymous, and in lock-step with the right wing talking heads.
The comments that made Bush all uneasy were just a tiny fraction of the funeral, so quit crying. Is it so bad that he is in a room of real people, without scripted softball questions>?? The real disgrace is him pulling his chimp ass in there. What a shame to the legacy of someone who did good things with their life, to have Bush show up.
Your premise is wrong. By you thinking that conservatives don't want people of color and women to not have rights is just flat out sad. If you truly believe that generalization I feel for you.
Yes, SOME conservatives stand in the way of gay marriage. No conservative is standing in the way of protest. Just becasue they think the anti-war left are wackos, they don't think that protesting should be illegal. The conservatives are majority joining the military to fight for this right for the entire world. And Conservatives are not for nuke disarmament. You are right on those two generalizations.
Once again, I am not speaking for Coretta Scott King. I was just stating that a minority of the speakers at her funeral were classless. Thats my opinion.You have nothing in common with her either. Nor does Carter.Stop trying to paint the current conservative movement as some segregationist,racist scumbags. No one in our Government is standing in the way of women or black people moving forward. While Lowery may have been one of the families closest dear freinds, Carter was not. He used it as a soap box to get some air play on CNN.I am not feigning any interest.I am interested. I did not have any idea that the conservative talking point was to claim it was classless. I came to that conclusion all by myself. So I guess its the coincidence that has me lumped in with Sean Hannity and O'Lielly.
Being critical gains more points if you have an opposition to the current plan. Be as critical as you want, but ideas go further.
Well good for you Jeremy. I don't want you to think I was trying to insult you.I read your blog everyday and see you bringing up liberal talking points and executing your issues in a concise manner, I was just looking for some insight on how you plan to remedy all these problems you have. Thats all. Sorry if I sounded crass in my asssumption that all you do is fan the fire. I stand corrected.If you just want to post your observations and no strategy, thats cool.It's you site.
Nice work on all the things you and your family get accomplished .Seriously. Good for you. Although you couldn't be more wrong on what I try to do to better my life and surroundings And what my family has accomplished to achieve this goal for not just me and what causes I believe in BUT FOR YOU AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY as well. And some parts of the world. I commend the deeds you and your family have done. There is no need for you to assume you know what I have done.
While you have done a great job tearing me apart and putting me into one of your categories, you seem to skip over much of my sentiment. I want change.I want people to work together from all different angles of the political spectrum .While you and the left speak of diversity, I strive for it. While the liar republicans speak of Getting a smaller government and have the biggest one ever, I speak aout about it. We won't get anything accomplished if we just close our minds, adopt one way of thinking, and assimliate. Why do you think I am here reading your site everyday ? I want to learn and grow as well. I want to soak up all mediums and perspectives and weigh my own decisions.
I applaud all that you do. Seriously, even If I disagree with most of what you believe in or the people whom you support. This is America. This is what this country is all about.
Signed
Anon
Anon-
A couple of things. First, I appreciate your comments, and that you read the blog daily. I honestly don't know why you do, since you tend to disagree with me so much...and there are those who read this site a lot and simply never comment - they just email me..and even though most of my emails are positive and agreeing with what I'm saying, I have to say I respect you for commenting on a site where your opinions aren't appreciated :-)
I see conservatives comment on moxiegrrrl.com a lot and they tend to get their asses kicked on a daily basis - as I probably would if I commented on free republic, little green footballs, blogs for bush, etc.
Anyway - you didn’t sound crass at all in your assumptions, because you couldn't have possibly known that my family and I are very active...and definitely support and admire the people who do a whole lot more than we do. And you're right - I don't even know your real name let alone any contrirbutions you've made to the public good.
You mentioned one thing I want to try and make clear however. You have said that you've offered evidence to things and I've deleted your comments.
I've never deleted your comments.
What I did delete, twice, were very long copy and pastes you retrieved from web sites, as opposed to posting the links. When I deleted your comment in one such instance, I even wrote, “post your comment again, this time with part of the web page or just the link itself, rather than posting the entire thing in the comments. I don’t want you to think I’m censoring you.”
You just chose to never post the link to where you got your info.
I will say this as well. I’m glad you’re for change and progress. That’s all liberals fight for. But you have to realize – with this administration in office, many of us are not the tree-hugging, sing-song hippy war protesting type of our political ancestors. In other words, this ain’t your daddy’s left wing.
We’re fucking pissed. We’ve had it. This current presidency makes Bush I, Regan, even Nixon look really insignificant. The Republican leadership is unchecked, and way, way out of control, and we’re tired of it. I’ve never been so embarrassed and enraged by my president in my entire life, and just about all of us on the left feel the same way.
I still do what I can to educate and change minds and let people know the truth – but after the RNC in ’04, I pretty much said “fuck it. You want a fight, let’s rock and roll, bitches.” And that’s been my attitude ever since, and that’s what this site is about. It’s not exactly a “reaching across the isle” kind of thing.
After the tax cuts for the rich, the attack on planned parenthood funding, the bumbling of 9/11, the politicizing of 9/11, the Iraq war, the wiretaps, Katrina, Brownie, Abramoff, Tom Delay, the CIA leak, the secret energy meetings, Halliburton ripping of the troops, lack of armor, no war plan, closing vet hospitals, fake news, fake reporters, fake town hall meetings, the missing 8 billion in Iraq, the questionable terror alerts, the Patriot Act, the Medicare bullshit, fake meetings with the troops, linking 9/11 to saddam, linking everything to saddam, the 2000 election, electronic voting with machines owned by bush campaigners, the attack on science, the attack on public schools, “bring em on,” the flight suit incident, the gay marriage amendment, social security, the swift boaters, the smearing of Democratic veterans, the bumbling English, the hatred from the world community, the snubbing of the UN, the no-bid contracts, Terry Schiavo, the assault weapons ban, the purple heart band-aids, the complete lack of firing the fuck-ups (accountability), the no-dissent policies, the defunding of the levees in New Orleans, the comments by Barbara about the Katrina victims and deaths in Iraq, refusing to cooperate with investigations, the smearing of McCain’s family, the torture, Abu Gahrib, Guantanimo Bay, John Bolton to the UN, Wolfowitz to the world bank, the Religious Right influence, faith based initiatives, the abstinence funding, the environment-raping, the coal emission law relaxations, the cronyism, the largest deficit ever, the program cuts for the poor, the oil companies making record profits, recess appointments, the bullshit tort reform, and the lies, the lies, the lies...after all that, how anyone can just sit on their ass through this is beyond me.
There are plenty of Democrats, Greens and liberals who want to work with this administration, who still have a smile on their face and still try to give it their best. Those people are very important – more now than ever because there is a growing group of us who are not willing to budge on any of this, and we’re going to be pretty nasty about it. I’m that latter.
I’ll be better in ’08 – this is just a phase. Talk to me then :- )
I finally found the transcrpit of Rev Lowery...
REVEREND JOSEPH LOWERY: What a family reunion. Rosa and Martin reminiscing, they had just begun to talk, when Martin seemed not to listen. He started to walk. The wind had whispered in his ear. “I believe somebody is almost here. Excuse me, Rosa,” Martin said as he did depart, his soles on fire, he just couldn't wait. His spirit leaped with joy as he moved toward the pearly gates. Glory, glory, hallelujah. After forty years, almost forty years, together at last, together at last, thank God Almighty, together at last!
Thank you, Coretta. Didn't she carry her grief with dignity? Her growing influence with humility? She secured his seed, nurtured his nobility she declared humanity's worth, invented their vision, his and hers, for peace in all the Earth. She opposed discrimination based on race, she frowned on homophobia and gender bias, she rejected on its face. She summoned the nations to study war no more. She embraced the wonders of a human family from shoulder to shoulder. Excuse me, Maya.
She extended Martin's message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. But Coretta knew, and we know there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance, poverty abound. For war, billions more, but no more for the poor.
Well, Coretta had harsh critics. Some no one could please. But she paid them no mind. She kept speaking. As we get older, or so I'm told, we listen in to heaven like the prophets of old. I heard Martin and Coretta say, “do us a favor, Joe, those four little children I spoke of in 1963, they are fine adults now, as all can see. They already know but tell them again. We love them so dear. Assure them we will always be near. Their troubles to bless and sanctify to them their deepest distress. Tell them we believe in them as we know you do. We know their faith in god and their love for each other will see them through. Assure them at the end of the tunnel awaits god's light and we are confident they will always strive for the right. Tell them don't forget to remember that we are as near as their prayer -- and never as far and we can rest in peace because they know who and whose they are.”
What a family reunion. Thank you, Lord. Just the other day I thought I heard you say Coretta, my child, come on home. You’ve earned your rest, your body is weary. You have done your best. Her Witness and character always strong. Her spirit, her melody from heaven's song, her beauty warms like the rays of the sun. Good night, my sister. Well done, well done.
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