Today I drove around listening to several addresses given by Coretta King. No one was more articulate. And how do we even begin to bridge the years when she could have been speaking just this morning about non-violence, women leading the way and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The first address was delivered in 1968 just 3 weeks after the assassination of her husband. She read from a piece of paper that was found in his pocket when he died. It was The Ten Commandments on the Viet Nam War. It made me think about the elevation of pacifists once they are gone. We name highways, build monuments, erect statues, tell children all about Gandhi, Parks, King and now Mrs. King who will lie in her state Capitol as the architects of war pass by quietly. They can confront her safely now - she is dead and cannot talk back. Do you think Barbara Bush will pay her respects?
So back to driving around -- I was asking myself where would the pacifists be today? What would they be doing? I believe they would have been with Cindy Sheehan last night and the women of CodePink. They might have worn an egregious T-Shirt publicizing the Iraqi death count, "2,245-- how many more?" Most certainly they would have been protesting the State of the Union Address, the violence of all 50 armed conflicts going on around the world, the appointment of Judge Alito to the Supreme Court. And of course they would be removed, arrested and, once safely dead, honored for their courage.
Memorials, in my opinion aren't as important as the work that must continue to carry on the legacy of equanimity and freedom. Putting up a stone tribute or naming a building isn't good enough. Naming our National Airport after the man (Reagan) who fired all the air traffic controllers is a good example of the worthlessness of egoistic tributes. Barbara Bush can fly through there and think "oh Ron was a great guy". Seeing a vision of peace inclusion and equality become our reality is the only fitting and lasting memorial for Coretta.
As I sat last night watching that state of the union speech last night, I couldn't help notice that it was given to a room full of white men, with a token person of color here, a woman or two there. A great civil rights champion dies on the same day someone opposed to rights of people is sworn in to the high court. When will we realize that a true change in America will come when our leadership reflects all the colors and genders of it's people? We the people, don't look like that in the streets of this country.
Posted by: diane | February 01, 2006 at 06:08 PM