Here's a transcript that I did from Rev. Dr. Lowry's speech. My apologies for any inaccuracies:

Thank you. Sit down before I take up an offering.

I am niehter gambler nor bettor.
But who could have brought this crowd together except Coretta.

Lord have mercy. (laughs)

How marvelous that Presidents and Governors come to mourn and praise.
But in the morning, will words become deeds that meet needs?

Leave me alone, Sharpton. (laughs)

I've been asked to recognize the Board of Directors for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Revenerend Steele who is here... would you stand?

Sister Coretta was the first lady of SCLC. What a family reunion!
Rosa and Martin - reminiscing - they've just begun to talk.
With Martin seen not to listen, he started to walk.
The wind was beginning to whisper in his ear...
"I believe someone is almost here.
Excuse me Rosa." Martin said as he did depart;
his soul is on fire - he just couldn't wait.
His spirit leaped with joy as he move towards the pearly gates.
Glory, glory, halleluja, that after forty years - almost forty years - together at last, together at last, thank God allmighty, together at last. (thunderous applause)

Thank you Coretta. DIdn't she carry her grief with digninity?
Her growing influence with humility?
She secured his seed, nurtured his nobility,
she declared humanity's worth and vented their vision,
his and hers, for peace and [inaudible].
She appalled discrimination based on race.
She frowned on homophobia and gender bias she rejected on its face.
She summoned the nations to study war no more.
She embraced the wonders of the human family from shore to shore.

Excuse me, Maya (laughter and applause).

She extended Martin's message against poverty, racism and war.
She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bums on missions way afar.
We know now there are no weapons of mass destruction over there. (thunderous applause) (crowd gives standing ovation)
But Coretta knew, and we knew, that there are weapons of misdirection right down here.
Millions without health insurance. Poverty abounds.
For war, billions more, but no more for the poor.

Well, Coretta had harsh critics. Some no one could please,
but she paid them no mind. She kept speaking for the least of these.
There, but through as we get older, so I'm told,
we listen in to heaven like the prophets of old.
I heard Martin and Coretta say, "do us a favor, Joe.
Those four little children I spoke of in '63,
they are fine adults now as all can see.
They already know, but tell them again.
We love them so dear - assure then we've always been near.
Their troubles to bless,
and sanctify to them their deepest distress.
Tell them we believe in them as we know you do.
We know their faith in God and their love for each other will see them through.
Assure them at the end of the tunnel awaits God's light.
And we're confident that they'll always strive for the right.
Tell them don't forget to remember that we're as near as their prayer, and never afar.
And we can rest in peace because they know who and whose they are."

What a family reunion. Thank you, Lord.
Just the other day
I thought I heard you say
"Coretta, my child, come on home. You've earned your rest,
your body's weary. You've done your best."
Her witness and character, always strong.
Her spirit a melody, heaven's song.
Her beauty warm like the rays of the sun.
Good night, my sister. Well done. Well done.

Pretty harsh words in general, especially when the President of the United States is seated directly behind you.

I realize that the setting for this is being roundly criticized in some corners - that the POTUS was there and blindsided, held hostage by a hostile crowd. As far as I'm concerned, it's about time someone stood up to POTUS and told it like it was. Hear Hear, Rev. Dr.

posted by RenaRF at 6:59 PM 2 comments