At any rate, I do not feel worthy to comment on the spiritual aspects of the service – except to testify to being truly moved and inspired by much of what little I saw. Nonetheless, I found it instructive that when the master of ceremony, Bishop Eric Long, introduced Mrs King’s life in pictures, he said to the congregation of more than 10,000 at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia (and to the thousands more assembled and worshipping by live video link in a nearby building) words to the effect that: if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this montage to Mrs King will be a mouth full.
And indeed it was. Therefore, I thought it fitting to share my few comments about this farewell more in pictures than in words:
President George W. Bush offered the nation’s sympathy with heart-felt emotion and lyrical allusions that sealed Mrs King’s legacy as not only the long-suffering widow of a national hero but also a national treasure in her own right.
His father, former President George H. Bush, delivered a tribute that was suffused with good-natured humour that defied his Episcopalian denomination as one of the “frozen chosen.”
Former President Bill Clinton and wife, Senator Hillary Clinton were greeted like rock stars by the politically astute congregation. And, they certainly rose to the occasion as they stood in tandem at the podium basking in each other’s reflected glow: she feeding off his rhetorical genius; and he supplicating in her political self-righteousness.
Of course, the cynic in me could not help inferring from this odd joint appearance the not so subliminal message that team Clinton intends to fulfill the promise of it’s 1992 presidential election campaign: Elect Bill and you get two for the price of one….
Rev Joseph Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a speech that was notable more for its political attack on President Bush than for its tribute to Mrs King. Indeed, the body language of the president and his wife speaks volumes about their feelings upon hearing Lowery lead this congregation in a Baptist-style call and response riff that was punctuated by the following:
“…we now know there were no weapons of mass destruction over there but Coretta knew and we knew there was weapons of misdirection right down here!”
Of course, Lowery probably felt inspird by the partisan tone set by former President Jimmy Carter who hurled a few political stink bombs at Bush as well. In particular, Carter incited the prevailing and palpable anti-Bush sentiment in the congregation by making a rather specious, misleading and grossly unfair link between Bush’s wiretapping of al-Qaeda suspects and the FBI’s notorious spying on Dr King. Clearly, this disrespectful political assault on a sitting president of the United States does not honour a woman whose life was distinguished by showing respect towards even those who did her such unspeakable harm.
Moreover, since much of the government’s persecution of Dr King was done during the presidency of Democrat John F. Kennedy; ironically, JFK’s brother – Sen Ted Kennedy – was probably more embarrassed than Bush was by Carter’s inappropriate FBI-wiretapping references.
Though frail of body, poet Laureate Maya Angelo was nimble of mind as she regaled the congregation with remembrances of things past that characterised the suprisingly ordinary sisterhood she shared with this serene and revered mother of the Civil Rights Movement.
The King children, Dexter (top), Bernice (back to camera) Yolanda and Martin Jr., share a moment of very public grief.
Former UN Ambassor and Altanta Mayor Andrew Young shows the deep sorrow that must have filled the hearts of all who witnessed this historic farewell.
Indeed, perhaps he was simply overcome with emotion, but Stevie Wonder’s quivering musical tribute was one of the more awkward and least inspiring parts of the funeral service. But the other musical performances more than made up
for his strained effort.
Rev. Bernice King, delivered a eulogy to her mother that evoked the full gamut of emotions. And, as I listened to her, I could not help praying that she’s inherited not only her father’s religious spirit but also his political skills – as she – more than any of her siblings – seems destined to assume the mantle of his leadership.
Farewell Coretta Scott King…
(Click here for the tribute I wrote to Mrs King upon her death notice.)
Coretta Scott King, national farewell service, President Bush
Rachel says
Anthony
I guess I saw a lot more of the funeral than you did. But as always, your inisights are brilliant. I know when I heard President Carter and Mr Lowy speak, something did not seem right. I couldn’t wait to read what you had to say about this. Now I know why I was so uncomfortable.
Don’t you think there’s something really evil about the way President Carter has that permanent but always says such mean things. I’m a democrat but I thought the Republican Bushes were far more respectful and classy than everyone else except for my Bill….
Thanks
Anonymous says
amen. i agree rachel. carter is an asshole.
Anonymous says
I felt bad for poor Stevie Wonder. Not too many people would say it but he was awful. The political stuff left a really sour taste in my mouth.
Anonymous says
The funeral of Coretta Scott King. Well, lets see, first off it seems to me that part of the funeral was the funeral (that never was) for Martin Luther King Jr. Another part was soo political it made me want to throw up. Former President Jimmy Carter behaved very badly and if I lived in Nevada I’d not vote for his son, just for the reason of his father’s behavior at this funeral. Both George W. Bush and his father were soo very much more respectful and thoughtful than Jimmy Carter. The Clintons were the Clintons. I didn’t see the whole thing, but what I did see, didn’t seem to be much about Mrs. King’s good works as about politics and her long dead husband.
Liz says
The way the Bushies delivered great speeches, showed great respect and took all that crap from that black minister and Carter is enough to make me never vote democrat again. Political stink bombs is right. They disresepcted Coretta King and ruined the entire thing for me.