Isn't it OKAY to discuss politics at the funeral of a political figure?

[KyuzoGator]

Just as it's okay to discuss religion at the Pope's funeral?

I'm so fucking fed up with the Noise Machine...today's talking point is to call Jimmy Carter "classless". In a few days, run a Google search of "Jimmy Carter classless" and you'll see what I mean.

It has always been my understanding that eulogies are intended to put into words what the deceased person stood for while they were alive. If Paul Wellstone and Coretta Scott King stood for social justice and nonviolence and peaceful resolution...why is it taboo to talk about that at their funerals?

[Talismom]

1. That's what I thought too. It seems to me to honor her memory

to discuss the issues most important to her.

[Eric J in MN]

2. SusanG: "Please, Politicize My Funeral"

From
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/8/13445/37904

Not only do these hypocritical conservatives want to step in and tell me and my family that I can be kept alive for years against my wishes, a petri dish harboring their precious "culture of life," now they want to control the "message" at my funeral. Well ... I've got news for them. It's time they shut their yaps, this GOP party of control freaks extraordinaire.

Not that I plan on departing anytime soon, but today's hyped-up, hand-wringing caterwauling about the "politicizing" of Coretta Scott King's funeral makes me inclined to officially endorse any political use that can be made of my death. Just to piss them off, you know. (As one is in life, I'm assuming one will be in the hereafter.)

I realize I'll probably only have my four kids, a few grandkids, a couple of spouses (ex and otherwise) and a handful of friends in attendance, but heck, if they want to book Clinton or anyone else with some rhetorical gifts loaded for bear on the causes I love ... well, have at it. In fact, film it. Put a clip on the internet. Let MoveOn use it. Pass around petitions at the gala affair. Shout out about injustice, discrimination and war. Have really terrific, blasting anti-war songs, the louder the better. Found a PAC. Unfurl a banner that urges impeachment of someone horrible for this country or endorses something progressive. Wear political T-Shirts, by all means. Do some fundraising right then and there for progressive causes. Pass the hat. Or take credit card charges, whatever works. Make it as overt and effective as possible.

...Now if I - a mere speck of dust in the political solar system - feel this way, how am I to believe Coretta Scott King felt? Here we have a woman who spent her lifetime speaking out, marching, lending her name to causes and fighting injustice with integrity in every breath she took. Her husband died for speaking out and she continued to do the same. Am I really to assume she would "tut tut" at the heartfelt and sometimes raucous, sometimes tear-inducing funeral we witnessed today? Am I really expected to presume that Michelle Malkin and the other winger crybabies know better than her family what would have pleased her at her last official ceremony?

[seabeyond]

3. i want a corretta scott king sticker for my car. grassroot voice

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=358411&mesg_id=358411

[CottonBear]

4. It's not taboo at all. The Republicans have their collective panties

in a wad because Presidents Carter and Clinton and Senators Clinton and Kennedy were warmly received, given standing ovations and wild applause and cheers for their eulogies.

The Republicans are all upset that Condi Rice and Clarence Thomas were not invited to the funeral (like the King family would even want those people there) and they are trying to whine and complain and grandstand about "politics" and "tackiness" and "lack of class" to cover up and avoid talking about their own racism and complete lack of support for civil, economic and human rights.

edit: Coretta Scotts King's life was all about politics and the struggle for civil rights and economic justice!

[Life Long Dem]

5. Yes it is okay. n/t

[CottonBear]

6. Welcome to DU Life Long Dem!

:hi:

[Life Long Dem]

13. Thanks!

:hi:

[Klukie]

7. Yes

As I posted on an earlier thread, I think the ultimate judge of appropriateness is the King Family. As far as I have heard they havn't condemned it, they applauded it.

[atommom]

8. When you're honoring the memory of a person, it makes sense

to talk about that person's life, and the things that person found meaningful. To leave politics out at an activist's funeral would be a huge omission.

[meegbear]

9. Funerals are like the dinner table ...

never discuss sex, religion or politics.

NOT!

[BOSSHOG]

10. Baseball was discussed at Mickey Mantle's funeral - Where's the outrage?

Why didn't "conservatives" scream and shout at the total disprespect shown to Mickey Mantle by those talking about baseball at the funeral of a baseball player? The lack of outrage was outrageous.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. I guess all they wanted to hear was that she made good milk and

cookies and stood by her man. Zip. Nothing more need be said.

The Democrats scored political points yesterday, and now the media is trying to drown out their message.

[KyuzoGator]

15. What I love is the talking heads feigning their OUTRAGE...

...then showing video clips of the speakers at the funeral making perfect rational sense.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. I hope they see it that way too.

[greekspeak]

12. In today's Murka it is OK as long as you are trashing dems/ the left

But not if you are criticising hate and Puke-ism. Part of that 1984 in 2006 world of opposite days.

[Pathwalker]

14. What was tacky was Peggy Noonan's ON AIR orgasm

at Ronnie the Aged's funeral. NOTHING can top that tackiness.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. No.

It's only allowed if it's a repuke funeral and repuke is giving the political eulogy.:sarcasm:

Jimmy Carter has more class in his little finger than the entire repuke population combined. SCREW THEM!

[applegrove]

17. A person's funeral should reflect a person's life. This one did. DVDs

I hope will be available. I think that kids and adults can go back to this day and find more and more lessons to learn from.

[AnnInLa]

19. It was POLITICAL for gwb and Sonny Purdue to BE at her funeral

Does anyone think it WASN'T political for the chimp-emperor to even be at the funeral? From what I read, the GOP wrestled with the decision of his attending, and decided to make one last play (the others have gone over so well) for the respect/participation of the African American voting block. Was the Reagan funeral politicized for a week on national TV? You bet your sweet ass it was.

[Blue_Roses]

20. I think it depends...

This whole stink of whether politics should be discussed at a funeral is really about what WE want to talk about. Her funeral just gave the forum. I watched the entire funeral and I too was "wowed" by Rev. Lawrey's speech, as well as Carter's. Maya Angelou was awesome too. However, I think Clinton made a good point when he said, "I'm sitting here wondering what the kids are thinking," and then they did an aerial shot of them. None of them were smiling. Coretta Scott King was always the epitome of grace and tact when speaking and always made her point with peace--not friction. I saw friction yesterday and wonder how she would have perceived the exchange going on.

While I strongly believe she would be proud of those who spoke up against the wrong doings of this administration, I wonder if she would have liked the approach. It wasn't what was said, but the timing.

This was about honoring her--not our political battle now. I have mixed feelings about this because what I saw was a lack of reverence towards her because of our anger toward Bush. This wasn't about Bush. It was about honoring a great lady who will be sorely missed.

[TahitiNut]

21. Rev. Joe Lowery is more than qualified to set the tone.

He co-founded the SCLC with MLK and worked more closely with Mrs. King than anyone outside her family. Post-interment grave-robbing by those who quibble with the life and mission of the deceased is nothing more than another orgasm of political necrophilia - as was the self-centered attendance of the Bigot-in-Chief.

To criticize the friends and family for saying or doing that in which the deceased would approve is the height of hypocrisy. If anything, those who sharpen their axes in political opposition to the deceased in such baseless criticisms are tasteless. It staggers me that we suffered through six full days of taxpayer-funded political necrophilia with the canonization of Saint Ronald where the wallowers and followers are the same cast of septic characters who excoriated the mourning family of Paul & Sheila Wellstone. Now we have the same 'swift-coffining' of Coretta Scott King. Detestable. The Reverend Dr. Joe Lowery is more than qualified to set the appropriate tone for the memorialization of Mrs. King. The children of Dr. and Mrs. King are more than able and qualified to celebrate their mother's life and going home. May the naysayers and bigots choke on their own bile!

[Blue_Roses]

23. hmmm...

As far as Rev. Lawrey's speech, I thought it rocked! He was awesome. Nothing in my post said anything derogatory about him.

[underpants]

22. Great parallel

Did they talk about religion at the POPE'S funeral?

[KyuzoGator]

24. And baseball at Mickey Mantle's funeral...nt

[KyuzoGator]

25. Kick nt

[jmm]

26. Until her children complain nobody else should

If the people closest to her were outraged then the media would make sure we were aware of it but I haven't heard a word from any of them complaining of the political tone at her funeral.

[blue in ohio]

27. Tucker Carlson

Did you hear Tucker Carlson's phone interview w/ Rev Lowry?
Tucker went off on him for his "rude" behavior at the funeral. And Lowry poetically told him to
go fuck himself.