I was wondering when they'd give Rosa's funeral the Wellstone treatment

[booksenkatz]

http://www.freep.com/voices/letters/efuneral4e_20051104.htm

ROSA PARKS' FUNERAL: Politics mars impressive tribute

"While I believe that the funeral for Rosa Parks featured a level of elegance and pomp befitting her historical legacy, I am saddened to think that that same legacy was abused as a public platform for an endless line of politicians to list their accomplishments. It would have been far more appropriate to hear from Mrs. Parks' family, friends and former colleagues, rather than John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Robert Ficano and all other politicians who used the death of the civil rights pioneer as a chance to thrust themselves into the media spotlight."

More ltte's like this at the link... unbelievable, even though I totally expected it. The 'wingers think that a few people should have said, "What a nice lady" and then buried her in the ground, forgotten forever. That's what they would PREFER.
:grr:

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. Yeah, I noticed this yesterday....

I don't usually listen to Springer, but was doing errands in the morning.

Some guy called in calling himself a "moderate" (don't they all?) and thought the coverage was entirely too much for some old woman who "didn't do that much."

:eyes:

Fuck you freeps if you think politics didn't play into it. Richard Nixon was contacted about aligning himself with the civil rights movement, and he chose to ignore it.

Kennedy took up the cause. Kenndy was a Democrat. 'Nuff said.

fsc

[TomClash]

2. What do you expect?

The fascist right wants everyone but the rich and pious to sit in the back of the bus.

[booksenkatz]

3. The levels of vitriol in those ltte's takes one's breath away

The example I picked was the mildest. And this is a blue area, I can only imagine what the letters are like in a red area! Yikes.

I had seen parts of the funeral live, and finally got to see the parts I missed at C-SPAN late last night. It took me a day and a half to get through at C-SPAN because there were so many people accessing that file! I haven't been that moved in a long time, those accolades were well-deserved. The 'wingers want to minimize civil rights activists so badly! And when you think about how we're losing more of our civil rights every day under the current administration, and how Alito is dying to get on the USSC to destroy what's left, it's even more staggering.

[karynnj]

10. A real question is:

why was this not covered on CNN or MSNBC live - so we could tape it. They spent at least the same number of hours covering Charles and Camilla's wedding. This was not even on CSPAN, but CSPAN3 which far fewer people have.

The entire event was an incredible celebration of Rosa Parks - I loved the preaching and the music. Other than talking about civil rights - which were her life work - I really didn't hear politics.

I still haven't heard Bill Clinton's speech which I missed when picking up one of my kids. I'm waiting till CSPAN gets lets busy. I loved the speeches by Grandholm, Kerry, Conyers, Stabenow etc (Kerry's was incredible and very warmly received by the people there- lots of amens etc I didn't see Pelosi's or the others mentioned.)

[booksenkatz]

11. Seems like they were all happy to spend a day on Diana's funeral

and I don't remember any complaints.

[slor]

4. One can only ask...

Do rethugs think only 2% of African-American support is too high? That they would even consider decrying the beautiful tribute to that beautiful Angel reveals how ignorant they are. Have any politicians openly agreed with denouncing her funeral?

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. They can't have it both ways. In fact they can't have it either way.

Nothing could be more fitting than that those who come closest to matching the term, "The Great and the Good" should honour Rosa Parkes.

Even assuming that the politicians referred to, were primarily motivated by a desire "to thrust themselves into the media spotlight" - in the context, a sick, politically-motivated kind of suggestion, in itself - as leading public figures in your country, immensely respected by all decent people in America and throughout the world, the tribute they paid to Rosa Parks by their attendance would have added to the dignity of the occasion, wouldn't it?

It's beautiful to learn of their sense of humiliation, disgrace and anguish. But that's just a beginning. I'm absolutely convinced that Martin Luther King did have a prophetic precognition of the Promised Land for the African American people, and all people of African or part-African stock in the Caucasian West. Some people are going to have to make major adjustments; not least, of course, those who would claim Christian allegiance.

[bryant69]

6. Limbaugh hitting this theme too

"This isn't the Wellstone Memorial, but . . . ."

He also complained that it was going on for too long. I suppose on some level he realizes that the Rosa Parks memorial is automatically a celebration of liberal values; and as much as he would like to pretend to be in favor of civil rights; well, not so much.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[karynnj]

7. "thrust themselves into the media spotlight"

on CSPAN3. I also would assume that the family did have the final say in the funeral. She was a political person - I thought it was cool that Conyers said she helped on his first campaign.

If they are interested in media hogs - look at all the Republican Senators dealing with the important steroids in baseball issue.

[noiretextatique]

8. who cares what they think?

these "complaints" provide further proof that these soulless ghouls (and their party) have no place in american public life. a memorial service is generally not something oa decent person would "complain" about.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Rosa Would Have Kicked The Repugnicans Out!!!

How dare these asshats dare to mention Ms. Park's name yet try to make a comment on it. They oppose EVERYTHING she fought for throughout her life.

I'm sure she is rolling just knowing how her body was used for a photo op by this regime for another racist, mysognistic and oppressive candidate to the Court...someone who would have voted AGAINST Mrs. Parks had he been on the court in the 50's.

Kudos to Al Sharpton, Bill Clinton...even Calypso Louie Farakhan...whose voices spoke of the real legacy Mrs. Parks left behind...one where blacks and their supporters...and their issues wouldn't have to take a back seat anymore.

Here's hoping there's a long of strong work going on in black and hispanic areas by the Democratic party next year. These people not only are pissed, they waiting for us to bring them aboard to form the new majority for the 21st Century. What are we waiting for???