Yesterday at the CDC I watched the Coretta Scott King funeral. I justify this by the fact that I continued to do work while listening/watching and because the CDC sent an e-mail around for live feed.
Prior to this viewing I have seen so many friends roll their eyes at the extraordinary press and uproar over her death. I was, however, pleasantly surprised and (dare I say?) proud to live in Atlanta, not to mention entertained.
Highlights:
*Rev. Joseph Lowery: “We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. (30 sec applause) but Coretta new, and we knew that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance, poverty abounds, for war billions more, but no more for the poor.”
* Maya Angelou slowly being guided to the pulpit. Once in place out came her strong voice, singing:
"I open my mouth to the Lord and
I won't turn back, no
I will go
I shall go
I'll see what the end is gona be"
*Maya: "I mean to say, I want to see some peace somewhere (turns to Bush) I mean to say, I want to see some honesty (turns to Bush)”
*Maya: "We sat into the late evening hours, calling each other "Girlll"...(turning toward the President and the other white attendees) now that's a Black women thing"
*Maya: "…and it’s true, I told her jokes some jokes,...only for… no mixed company" (turning towards Bush)
*President Clinton’s 3 minute standing ovation
*Former President Bush loosing his 2nd page of his speech…pulled himself out of a hole rather well…much better than his son could ever do.
*and yes, though political most of the time, also very scriptural and Christ focused.
I Am Now Ready for the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Nomination.