Farmer Jim
02-09-2006, 04:24 PM
Being retired and having my range pretty limited by the wife’s knee replacement, I probably see a lot more TV than most of the other jungle residents. Yesterday I watched most of the Coretta King memorial service and have a few observations that I think are worth mention.
Both Bushes spoke and were very gracious and totally non-political in what they said. Bush 41 was extremely relaxed and even introduced a little humor into his speech, which the audience (both black and white) seemed to appreciate and he was very well received. The President was a little stiffer, which he usually is with scripted material, but he still made a gracious talk that was very appropriate for a memorial service and that was non-political.
Jimmy Carter seemed unsure of where he was and during his speech brought up that Martin Luther King was eavesdropped on by the FBI. What this had to do with memorializing Coretta King is a mystery to me. The only thing I can think of is that Amy wasn’t around to advise him.
Clinton made a quite appropriate talk and avoided politics, but had Hillery right beside him trying to make political hay out of Bill’s popularity with the black community. Had he left Hillery in her seat, his speech would have been totally appropriate and worthy of an ex-president. I don’t know whether Hillery coming with him to the podium was his idea or Hillery’s, I really don’t know, but it was an obvious political ploy and, in my eyes, it diminished his stature as an ex-president as compared to George Sr.
Ted Kennedy spoke, although I haven’t a clue why, other than his wanting to play to the left wing. I don’t think he was particularly close to the King family and he isn’t the Senator from Coretta’s home state. Just can’t pass up a chance for a little left wing exposure and he knew the organizers of the memorial service wouldn’t tell him no. He managed to work in some foolishness about MLK being arrested on a traffic violation and his brother, Robert, calling a judge and getting Martin off. Not particularly appropriate at a memorial for Coretta and purely political. And, it was a sad example of Ted trying to ride the coattails of much more able brothers.
A black preacher named Lowery made a blatantly political talk that was about as appropriate for a memorial service as having call girls at a wake. What on earth not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has to do with memorializing Coretta Kings’s life, is an absurdity that I would have thought was beyond even the wildest stretch of an ultra left liberal. How black clergy get away with using churches for political purposes is a great vexation to me. I personally think that should cost them their tax exemption and subject them to the same criticism as Pat Robertson when he makes some of his stupid comments (which, incidentally, I think he deserves).
Anyway, most of the ceremony was nice and was a fine tribute to a life that, whatever your feelings about her and MLK, was led with dignity. Just thought I’d post my feelings about some of what I saw.
Both Bushes spoke and were very gracious and totally non-political in what they said. Bush 41 was extremely relaxed and even introduced a little humor into his speech, which the audience (both black and white) seemed to appreciate and he was very well received. The President was a little stiffer, which he usually is with scripted material, but he still made a gracious talk that was very appropriate for a memorial service and that was non-political.
Jimmy Carter seemed unsure of where he was and during his speech brought up that Martin Luther King was eavesdropped on by the FBI. What this had to do with memorializing Coretta King is a mystery to me. The only thing I can think of is that Amy wasn’t around to advise him.
Clinton made a quite appropriate talk and avoided politics, but had Hillery right beside him trying to make political hay out of Bill’s popularity with the black community. Had he left Hillery in her seat, his speech would have been totally appropriate and worthy of an ex-president. I don’t know whether Hillery coming with him to the podium was his idea or Hillery’s, I really don’t know, but it was an obvious political ploy and, in my eyes, it diminished his stature as an ex-president as compared to George Sr.
Ted Kennedy spoke, although I haven’t a clue why, other than his wanting to play to the left wing. I don’t think he was particularly close to the King family and he isn’t the Senator from Coretta’s home state. Just can’t pass up a chance for a little left wing exposure and he knew the organizers of the memorial service wouldn’t tell him no. He managed to work in some foolishness about MLK being arrested on a traffic violation and his brother, Robert, calling a judge and getting Martin off. Not particularly appropriate at a memorial for Coretta and purely political. And, it was a sad example of Ted trying to ride the coattails of much more able brothers.
A black preacher named Lowery made a blatantly political talk that was about as appropriate for a memorial service as having call girls at a wake. What on earth not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has to do with memorializing Coretta Kings’s life, is an absurdity that I would have thought was beyond even the wildest stretch of an ultra left liberal. How black clergy get away with using churches for political purposes is a great vexation to me. I personally think that should cost them their tax exemption and subject them to the same criticism as Pat Robertson when he makes some of his stupid comments (which, incidentally, I think he deserves).
Anyway, most of the ceremony was nice and was a fine tribute to a life that, whatever your feelings about her and MLK, was led with dignity. Just thought I’d post my feelings about some of what I saw.