Posted on 07/03/2010 2:21:06 AM PDT by Scanian
It is a good rule of thumb not to speak ill of the dead. But what to do when a man is celebrated beyond the limits of decorum or common sense?
Robert Byrd, the longest-serving member of the Senate in American history, died Monday. It was truly a remarkable career. But what's more remarkable is how he has been lionized by the champions of liberalism.
On Thursday, Byrd's colleagues took the unusual step of honoring him with a special service on the Senate floor, where he would lay in repose -- with some irony -- on the Lincoln Catafalque, the bier used to hold the slain body of the president who freed the slaves. The irony stems from the fact that for much of Byrd's life, his allegiances were with Lincoln's opponents in that effort
Not long ago, the assembled forces of liberalism were convinced that the Senate was "broken," that the anachronistic filibuster impeded progress. The Senate itself, with its arcane rules and procedures, had become undemocratic and was in need of vital reform, according to all of the usual voices.
John Podesta, president of the Center for American Progress and a sort of archbishop of liberalism, drew on his deep command of political theory and social science to explain that the US political system "sucks," in significant part due to the unwieldiness of the Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Finally, the old Segregationists such as Robert Byrd and Strom Thurmond and the country can move on away from their evil agendas.
How funny! Watching the ceremony here on C-Span at 2:30 in the morning. The introduction of the Resident and the co-Resident were overshadowed by the introduction of WJC. I can only imagine the anger felt by Bambro having been upstaged by the blue-dress man. Vicki Kennedy indulged us with a far and then recent recitation of the KKK brother’s life. She must have looked past his faults the same as she did Teddy’s. I am not sure what Byrd’s favorite swimming stroke was but I am sure that Teddy’s was the breaststroke. I guess I didn’t really gain any information about this stellar human being. Maybe I can read about it tomorrow in the paper.
Just my two cents...
Evail prevails. Nan is up.
Should I excommunicate myself or will I be struck by lightning? Nan has a piece of coal from her father’s office sitting on a tray from Robert and Irma. If I never respond again take comfort that my passing was painless. I can read lips but muted the volume well before she cursed me with her shameful “amen”.
The hypocracy in all this is just stunning. If this had been a Republican, they would have wanted his body thrown in the city dump. I’m surprised they didn’t want to bury the old Byrd in Arlington Cemetery.
I had the TV muted but I saw Harry Reid hold up a copy of the Constitution. I’m surprised it didn’t burn his evil fingers.
We could give give an interesting narrative! Harry has quoted so many times I ran out of fingers. All congressmen aspire to become part of the appropriations committee. This is prime time stuff.
I've never understood that rule. If a person has intentionally hurt others or has been purposefully a detriment to society, why can't I say so once they're dead? We all die. What, because you're in the ground, I'm suppose to have some new found respect for you? Really?
If the person was bad during his lifetime, why should we not be honest about them just because they succumbed to the natural way of life? Should we not talk "ill" of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, the local dead gang banger, the rapist, the murderer, the child molester?
Frig them. If they were bad souls in life, then I get to say so and make no apologies.
And yes, I'm being judgmental. Oh no, the liberals say I shouldn't judge...what a hippie crock. We make judgments and discriminate every day in what we eat, in what we wear, in what movie we watch, in what music we listen to, et al. Sheesh, American Idol is about "judging", as it should be for new talent.
I'm perfectly fine with talking bad about those who have died and led a bad life. I also have no problem with wishing many would just die and leave us alone.
However, as Veteran and Patriot Guard Rider, I also honor those who have died while contributing. Again, I judge. My judgment is that those who have sacrificed are worth my admiration.
With due respect.
The dryer just buzzed. Do I just iron with steam or is startch needed?
This adage (which I think makes the point that there is no sense in keeping up a quarrel with a dead person) surely was not intended for lionized notorious figures, whose pumped up legends continue to touch many lives after they are gone. The Byrd had no ordinary life — no Congresscritter does, but most especially him.
Good God. WJC just referred to his “clan loyalty”. Did he mean “klan loyalty”? And now I find out from Dress Stain that Byrd had attention deficit disorder. This is too much. I had two beers but I should have had scotch.
He meant "clan" with a C.
Excerpt from his remarks-
"The family feeling, the clan loyalty, the fanatic independence. The desire for a hand up, not a hand out. The willingness to fight when put into a corner. That has often got the people from whom Senator Byrd and I sprang in trouble. Because we didn't keep learning and growing and understanding that all the African-Americans who have been left out and
left down and lived for going to church and lived to see their kids get a better deal, and have their children sign up for the military when they're needed. They're just like we are.
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201007020634
I despised Byrd’s brand of liberal, corrupt, pork politics. Having said that, it’s a fact of human nature and Christian experience that people can and do CHANGE. None of us has a window into his soul and only God knows what was truly in his heart. However, to continually and obsessively judge a man on the basis of terrible things done 50 years ago and for which he has expressed and admitted deep regret, after a point makes us a little too “holier than thou” and judgmental. Look at the terrible and sinful lives of many who eventually even became saints. As Oscar Wilde said, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.”
Nothing remarkable at all about Byrd. The guy was a parasite who never had a job.
Just hang the stuff up. To heck with the ironing.
This is funny...the entire South was KKK country. They held slaves and burned cross’. Why is this a surprise. Today it has gotten a bit better. The North provided safety for those mistreated.
So the north didn’t mistreat their slaves?
Good Lord no. They provided safety and gave them a place to stay and something to eat.
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