Coretta Scott King 4/27/27-1/31/06
Very sad start to the day today not only for me personally but for the entire world I think. I just read that Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, has passed away. I remember when I was in elementary school and we were learning about civil rights, most notably Dr. King. I remember my teachers talking about the accomplishments of his wife, Coretta Scott, as well. I remember them saying that after her husband was murdered, she sort of picked up where he left off becoming a leading force within the civil rights movement herself. I think in a lot of ways she became what her husband was supposed to be. She not only fought for the rights of African Americans but for women, gays and lesbians, and AIDS prevention. She was also a vocal opponent to capital punishment and to the war in Iraq.
One of the teachers made this bulletin board of important people from around the world, most of them were American though, but anyway she was on there. I can't remember the exact little blurb on there but it basically said what I stated above. Also pictured were Helen Keller, Sally Ride, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King (of course), Christa McAuliffe, and Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova among many others. I always found myself staring at Coretta Scott King though. I always admired what her husband did and it saddened me that someone took his life when he was all about peaceful resistance. And I thought how great a human being she must be to raise 4 children on her own but also take up her husbands work and continue it for the rest of her life.
She is someone I would hope my future kids would look up to and hope that they would also feel compelled to fight against social injustice. She was a truly great person and the world will miss her....I will miss her. She is someone that I wanted to model my life after and now that she's gone it makes me want to work even harder for things that I feel are important not just to me but to all people. I'm almost at a loss for words right now...it's taking a lot for me to write this. I feel like someone close to me just died even though I never met her. I'm a little teary right now. I know it may seem like I'm over-reacting and perhaps I am. I just can't imagine the world without her. She had a profound impact on my life. I don't think there are a lot of people in my generation that had anyone to look up to that was still alive. She was it for me...it's kinda like when you think that someone is always going to be around. You know that death has to come for everyone but somehow you don't think its going to happen to that one person whether it be a relative or friend. Today people don't have a lot of leaders to look up to and now the world is a little emptier now that she's gone. I can only hope that someone will "pick up the torch" and carry on the good work that her and her husband accomplished over the years.
Speaking of Christa McAuliffe...over the weekend was the 20th anniversary of the Challenger explosion. I swear it doesn't feel like it was 20 years ago. I can remember watching what happened that day like it was yesterday. I think most people my age and older can remember watching that. I remember the funerals as well....especially Christa McAuliffe's. We watched it in school and I remember her coffin. I remember there was a red apple on it...the umofficial symbol of teachers. I remember some of her students talking about her and how much they were going to miss her. It was a very sad day indeed.
Tonight is also the State of the Union address. I, for one, will be watching it to see exactly where Bush seems to be standing on certain issues.....the big one other than the "War on Terror" and the war in Iraq is healthcare. This nation is in a crisis in more ways than one. I think we need to hear what he has to say for himself and what if anything he plans to do. I have a feeling I'm going to be going to bed a little more saddened than I would have given the news today. This country is in the proverbial crapper and I'm not trying to sound unpatriotic or whatever. I think that this country is a great country....we have a lot of opportunities that other countries don't have. But I think we are in a downward spiral at the moment. Things seem to be getting progressively worse and as of right now, not to sound pessimistic, it doesn't look like it's going to get any better.
One of the teachers made this bulletin board of important people from around the world, most of them were American though, but anyway she was on there. I can't remember the exact little blurb on there but it basically said what I stated above. Also pictured were Helen Keller, Sally Ride, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King (of course), Christa McAuliffe, and Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova among many others. I always found myself staring at Coretta Scott King though. I always admired what her husband did and it saddened me that someone took his life when he was all about peaceful resistance. And I thought how great a human being she must be to raise 4 children on her own but also take up her husbands work and continue it for the rest of her life.
She is someone I would hope my future kids would look up to and hope that they would also feel compelled to fight against social injustice. She was a truly great person and the world will miss her....I will miss her. She is someone that I wanted to model my life after and now that she's gone it makes me want to work even harder for things that I feel are important not just to me but to all people. I'm almost at a loss for words right now...it's taking a lot for me to write this. I feel like someone close to me just died even though I never met her. I'm a little teary right now. I know it may seem like I'm over-reacting and perhaps I am. I just can't imagine the world without her. She had a profound impact on my life. I don't think there are a lot of people in my generation that had anyone to look up to that was still alive. She was it for me...it's kinda like when you think that someone is always going to be around. You know that death has to come for everyone but somehow you don't think its going to happen to that one person whether it be a relative or friend. Today people don't have a lot of leaders to look up to and now the world is a little emptier now that she's gone. I can only hope that someone will "pick up the torch" and carry on the good work that her and her husband accomplished over the years.
Speaking of Christa McAuliffe...over the weekend was the 20th anniversary of the Challenger explosion. I swear it doesn't feel like it was 20 years ago. I can remember watching what happened that day like it was yesterday. I think most people my age and older can remember watching that. I remember the funerals as well....especially Christa McAuliffe's. We watched it in school and I remember her coffin. I remember there was a red apple on it...the umofficial symbol of teachers. I remember some of her students talking about her and how much they were going to miss her. It was a very sad day indeed.
Tonight is also the State of the Union address. I, for one, will be watching it to see exactly where Bush seems to be standing on certain issues.....the big one other than the "War on Terror" and the war in Iraq is healthcare. This nation is in a crisis in more ways than one. I think we need to hear what he has to say for himself and what if anything he plans to do. I have a feeling I'm going to be going to bed a little more saddened than I would have given the news today. This country is in the proverbial crapper and I'm not trying to sound unpatriotic or whatever. I think that this country is a great country....we have a lot of opportunities that other countries don't have. But I think we are in a downward spiral at the moment. Things seem to be getting progressively worse and as of right now, not to sound pessimistic, it doesn't look like it's going to get any better.
posted by Kyleen at 4:48 AM
2 Comments:
Well said about Mrs. King.
As for the address this evening: I'm not optimistic about hearing any good news.
Seems like the worse things get the greater the arrogance of the current administration gets, insisting they know what's best.
If they know - and are doing - what's best, then how come things are in such a mess?
At least a little humility would be in order, I'd think.
I go back to the election debates when President Bush was asked, "what mistakes do you feel you've made as President?" and he wouldn't acknowledge one single thing. Not one.
You mean in four consecutive years, for 48 straight months of 208 weeks and in 1460 straight days as President of this country you never made one, single solitary mistake?
Riiight.
That sort of arrogance makes for some pretty disgusting speeches.
Oh well, maybe it'll be better than I expect. It certainly can't be worse.
Lance I think you were correct in your assumption that nothing good was going to come out of the State of the Union address. I thought it was funny how he threw in that little jab about cloning. I didn't even think that was on most Americans minds but to him I guess it was. I also notice he used the opportunity to try and justify Iraq.....AGAIN. I just keep telling myself only 2 more years. I've already started the countdown. I only hope that who ever gets in office next is competant and acknowledges his mistakes. And hopefully they can fix it.
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