Why Was Coretta Scott King's Funeral a Political Forum?

[BurgundyNGold]

Does anybody else feel that partisan political remarks made by Jimmy Carter and others during the funeral were just completely inappropriate? This was HER funeral and HER remembrance. These people should not have insulted her memory with their political diatribes.

How classless.

[redskin_rich]

What was said? I saw something on this but didn't read the story.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by redskin_rich

What was said? I saw something on this but didn't read the story.

Jimmy Carter lambasted the adminstration's handling of Katrina and Rev. Joseph Lowery slammed Bush on Iraq and on his efforts to help the poor at home.

Here's a link to a story about it.

None of it is necessarily wrong, but there's such a thing as the proper place and time for that sort of talk. A eulogy at a funeral for another person is not one of them, IMO.

[Spence]

Yeah, the Drudge Report was the first to really push this line and Fox News quickly picked it up and has been running with it ever since. I can see how some of the remarks would make some people, especially those on the right wing, feel uncomfortable. I expected her funeral to be political because her life was so political. I guess how you view it depends on your politics and whether or not you think funerals should necessarily be apolitical events.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by Spence

Yeah, the Drudge Report was the first to really push this line and Fox News quickly picked it up and has been running with it ever since. I can see how some of the remarks would make some people, especially those on the right wing, feel uncomfortable. I expected her funeral to be political because her life was so political. I guess how you view it depends on your politics and whether or not you think funerals should necessarily be apolitical events.

That's the thing. I saw it on CNN this morning and while I don't necessarily disagree with what was said, I just feel that this was her last big hurrah, you know? And what do some folks choose to do with it? Reduce it to a political scrum. I thought it was a disrespectful display for a classy lady.

[redskin_rich]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

Jimmy Carter lambasted the adminstration's handling of Katrina and Rev. Joseph Lowery slammed Bush on Iraq and on his efforts to help the poor at home.

Here's a link to a story about it.

None of it is necessarily wrong, but there's such a thing as the proper place and time for that sort of talk. A eulogy at a funeral for another person is not one of them, IMO.

I tend to agree with you but obviously the remarks were only made because Bush was there in attendance. The question would be, how would Mrs. King have felt about the comments made. Those close to her would know and its up to them if it was out of place or not.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by redskin_rich

I tend to agree with you but obviously the remarks were only made because Bush was there in attendance. The question would be, how would Mrs. King have felt about the comments made. Those close to her would know and its up to them if it was out of place or not.

That's an interesting point. Maybe she would've said the same things herself, only she didn't get the chance. If her family had said that, I suppose I might be more inclined to agree, but I doubt that President Carter was over every Sunday for dinner. I think he was likely just a tactless old fool playing politics.

[redskin_rich]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

That's an interesting point. Maybe she would've said the same things herself, only she didn't get the chance. If her family had said that, I suppose I might be more inclined to agree, but I doubt that President Carter was over every Sunday for dinner. I think he was likely just a tactless old fool playing politics.

I can't disagree with you there.

[Fathead]

There are lots of forums for bush bashing, I don't think this should have been one. Funerals should be for celebrating the life of the deceased, not trying to score points in politics. Of course, one could argue that just being in attendance is trying to score points in politics.

[Axegrinder]

Like marriages,some folks get married in a church,some on a boat,on the beach, or at any other venue,including the Justice of the Peace.


What your interpretations of what a funeral should be and what her family decided on may be two different things.
Who is to judge what is appropriate?

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by Axegrinder

Like marriages,some folks get married in a church,some on a boat,on the beach, or at any other venue,including the Justice of the Peace.

What your interpretations of what a funeral should be and what her family decided on may be two different things.
Who is to judge what is appropriate?

That's a convenient assessment, Axe. By that logic, anything could be deemed appropriate. Perhaps if I clucked like a chicken and urinated uncontrollably throughout the church while doing a nude interpretive dance as a tribute, that would be OK too? Assuming the family decided it was OK, of course.

Those people were in a house of God providing remembrance and giving this woman her final recognition. Leaving aside any blasphemous implications, how could it not be a disrespect to her to lessen the spotlight of the occasion on her memory to redirect that light in the direction of presidential pot shots? Add in the fact that, for many, this funeral was a funeral for two. Her husband received no such state recognized funeral. It was, in a way, saying goodbye to both of them.

How DARE those politicians take away from that?! It's disgusting... even for poiticians.

[Axegrinder]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

That's a convenient assessment, Axe. By that logic, anything could be deemed appropriate. Perhaps if I clucked like a chicken and urinated uncontrollably throughout the church while doing a nude interpretive dance as a tribute, that would be OK too? Assuming the family decided it was OK, of course.

Those people were in a house of God providing remembrance and giving this woman her final recognition. Leaving aside any blasphemous implications, how could it not be a disrespect to her to lessen the spotlight of the occasion on her memory to redirect that light in the direction of presidential pot shots? Add in the fact that, for many, this funeral was a funeral for two. Her husband received no such state recognized funeral. It was, in a way, saying goodbye to both of them.

How DARE those politicians take away from that?! It's disgusting... even for poiticians.

From what I've seen reported,those soundbites were just a small portion of the overall event.

There's a big difference between uttering the truths that some people deny,ignore,or just don't want to hear and urinating in a church.
Dubya was there representing the country and those who spoke out against his policies were representing the country also.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by Axegrinder

From what I've seen reported,those soundbites were just a small portion of the overall event.

There's a big difference between uttering the truths that some people deny,ignore,or just don't want to hear and urinating in a church.
Dubya was there representing the country and those who spoke out against his policies were representing the country also.

Nobody is debating whether or not what these people said were true. That's not the point. It's the forum in which these people chose express their opinions that's at issue. They weren't in studio at the McLaughlin Group speaking their perceived truths. This was at a frickin' eulogy at a frickin' funeral for as close to a national civil rights hero as our country had left for crying out loud. At the very least, I would think that people would recognize the gauche nature of the comments given the situation.

[dukeuch]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

That's the thing. I saw it on CNN this morning and while I don't necessarily disagree with what was said, I just feel that this was her last big hurrah, you know? And what do some folks choose to do with it? Reduce it to a political scrum. I thought it was a disrespectful display for a classy lady.

I, of course, disagree. Bringing up King's beliefs and fights against injustice and pointing out their relavence today as well as 40 years ago is a perfectly appropriate eulogy. What better last hurrah than to say, "she fought the good fight irght up until the end"? This was not the rabid attack many news reports are trying to make it out to be.

[dukeuch]

Originally Posted by redskin_rich

I tend to agree with you but obviously the remarks were only made because Bush was there in attendance. The question would be, how would Mrs. King have felt about the comments made. Those close to her would know and its up to them if it was out of place or not.

Oh, I get it. When Bush showed up Carter put his "no-Bush" speech back in his pocket and pulled out his "Bush here" speech.

Please.