A new birth?

[msgadget]

I was preparing a package for my mom with newspaper articles about and the program from Mrs. King's funeral when a statement by Bernice King slapped me upside the head. She said the location of the funeral had been chosen by God and when she asked Him why He said it was time for a "new birth". She went on to say,

"God is not looking for a Martin Luther King or Coretta Scott King. The old has passed away; there is a new order that is emerging."

I'm greatly offended by that statement. What the world needs right now is a couple like the Kings. It does not need partisan sponsored megachurches or marches on gays. It does not need one group of religious and community minded black folks dissin' another based on party affiliation. It needs one courageous, mortal couple willing to face into the wind for peace and fairness for EVERYONE, restoring unity to a community being misused by politics instead of using it to their advantage. "The old has passed away..."? What of their legacy? Even an irreverant cynic like me cannot dismiss their service or legacy. Besides which, Ebenezer was just too small to host such a huge event. Seriously, that explanation would've sufficed.

Instead of the media trying to hype dismay and outrage over the politicizing of eulogies I'd have prefered this be cleared up, but that's just me.

[fortyfeetunder]

1. Let's hope with time, Rev B King reconsiders her thoughts.

Rev. Bernice King differed from her mom's position on gay rights. She is going to be wrestling with that position, if she ever wants to be considered as the bearer of the torch her mom and dad passsed on.

Bernice's parents preached and lived a message of unconditional love to the end of their lives. Kind of hard to contradict those values when the parents are Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King Jr.

[msgadget]

2. I agree and perhaps also

that she wasn't the one chosen as torch bearer. Her rhetoric, that massive stadium called a church...obviously she's in a whole new thing that perhaps requires an unassociated 'brand', so to speak.

[Brewman_Jax]

3. Maybe the days of a single prominent leader are past

it's easy to focus on a single individual, or a few individuals. That's a huge burden and very few are the equal to the task.

[msgadget]

4. Excellent point and one I agree with

and if she'd said just that, that the days of 'leaders' were past, I'd have just sadly nodded in agreement. But when she proclaimed a 'new order' and that order is not in keeping with the teachings of her parents - tolerance and peace - I can't just go along with it at all. In fact, I wonder why no one has called her on those words and their meaning.

There were anti-gay protesters at the funeral holding signs and yelling insults about Mrs. King and her afterlife. Surely Bernice does not align herself with such hateful people but by speaking and marching against a minority group she is only unlike them by a slim margin. Her words are more refined but just as damning.

[Brewman_Jax]

5. Sorry I missed that part of the speech

work gets in the way. :P

Now I understand your dismay. I do remember her anti-gay remarks.