Coretta Scott King Funeral

I am saddened today. Not only at the loss of Coretta Scott King, but I am also saddened for her family in light of yesterday's funeral. Most everyone has already had a chance to see the news coverage of the funeral. My heart goes out to the King family. At a time of great loss, they did not really have a chance to grieve. Instead of walking past friends and family, they walked down an aisle surrounded by strangers and secret service people. Instead of greeting each other at the front door of the Church, the front door became a rallying point where those not allowed in began to chant.

I understand that both of the Kings were public figures. They were both prophetic voices in a culture that had lost its way. It is in this that I can understand yesterday's funeral as a "success." I feel that in the same way that both Coretta and Dr. Martin Luther's voice were needed at specific places and on specific issues, so some of the voices that spoke at the funeral needed to be heard. I hate that it took the passing of a revolutionary to allow them to be heard.

One of the voices that stuck out to me was that of Rev. Joseph Lowry. After shaking the president's hand, he proceeded to say the following: "we know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there, but Coretta knew that there are weapons of misdirection right here." He went on to close by saying of Coretta, "...Glory, glory, hallelujah. And after 40 years, almost 40 years...together at last, together at last, thank God almighty, together at last."

To the King family: I am sorry that the funeral of your beloved mother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc. turned into a political showdown. I am sorry that you were placed on display to morn before 10,000 spectators. But I applaud you and your family for maintaining a prophetic voice through your lives, and, as we saw yesterday...even through your deaths. May you rest in peace Coretta.