Lessons from King
I've been watching the funeral of Coretta Scott King and have been amazed by the speeches given by Maya Angelou, Edward Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and others in her honor. The common theme is a reflection on the struggle of the civil rights movement and her role as a peaceful leader. The political shots at Bush, sitting behind each speaker, have been frequent, severe, and well received by the audience. My favorite line was given by Jimmy Carter, reminding us that the King family was the subject of secret government spying and wiretaps. He stared straight at the camera when he said it. In a time when we're keeping a secret eye on peace groups, campuses, and Quakers, the reminder was very appropriate.
posted by The Decider @ 2:29 PM
10 Comments:
To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the King family were still under secret government surveillance. Or maybe again. I mean, look at all the anti-(current)government sentiment they're stirring up. {Hyperbole}I bet her coffin's even bugged.{/Hyperbole}
-Brandon
LOL.
I've been warned that I may be under secret government surveillance. Consider this a warning.
Jimmy in 08!
His son's announced his candidacy for Senator in Nevada this week - let's hope a certain Harry Reid actually pulls his finger out and does some campaigning for him rather than allowing his Republican counterpart an easy ride.
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Whose son? Jimmy Carter? Really???
While watching the funeral, it was clear that conservatives were going to throw a fit for how Bush was treated. In fact, I tuned into Fox News that evening and listened with amazement as they complained about it for an hour. Wasn't part of the point of the funeral to review the context in which she lived? She lived in a time where her government didn't do its job properly and abused its power. The King legacy teaches us this. I don't believe the purpose was to gang up on Bush. Rather, it was to remind him and others that while he's gaining politically by being at the funeral (though, I admit, he had no choice but to go), he's going to have to learn from the subject of the funeral. Just because the subject of the funeral doesn’t fit his political needs, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be expressed.
Yes, Jimmy Carter's son. He's apparently been living in Nevada since 2001. Personally I don't expect him to get elected - Reid's not keen to anger his Republican colleague it seems to me and I would be surprised if he lends much support. Plus apparently he has a slightly difficult past.
I've heard a few Republicans and Democrats sound off about the speech Carter gave. It's hard - it's a public event and I think it's what King would have wanted but you don't want to upset the family by scoring political points at what's meant to be a memorial service. I'd say it was appropriate in the context of the last few weeks' events. It's all part of the King history after all.
The CKing funeral is old news now. As well as Gonzalez' meeting with the senate, and any debate that might come up regarding 'extensions' of the wiretapping, to which Gonzalez was careful enough to avoid saying that it was being done. Now, it's time to be afraid again, until the weekend and everything blows over. I'd love to have (Rove's?) job, sitting there, choosing how to drown any debate with a daily dose f fear. First, the senate fake attack yesterday, then the thwarted attack to LA time ago. There was a time when the political use of such 'news' was questioned and debated, now not even that. Five minutes of real events, then 5 days of fear.
This is SO over. It'll take a generation or two to bring any of this back to normal.
Guille
Dad! Good to have you back! Yes, you're right. The timing LA story and DC scare is unsurprisingly suspicious.
I do feel like we haven't heard the last of the NSA story. By the way, can you believe that Gonzalez wasn't sworn in? There are still many details to learn about the NSA program, so the news will continue to dribble in. That said, I think you're right that the scary threat reminders will offset any concerns that "average Americans" have about the NSA program.
Of course it's got to have been timed to coincide with the hearings! And of course it's sensitive information so we should take it on trust that the state was acting in our best interests the whole time *rolls eyes*.
I did think the hearings were a mess from what I've seen and heard, although Feingold's speech was good stuff IIRC.
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