Should there be a difference between Reality and Good Taste

The Reverend Joseph Lowery responded to his critics today claiming that they did not understand Black funerals and that

"The Republicans played politics during Reagan's funeral. Look how political it was. They are just trying to shelter Bush from reality."

He went on to say that his over the top remarks at the King funeral were appropriate and that the president has been too shielded. Amen, Reverend Lowery to the last comment - all presidents since probably Carter have been two shielded. Bush 41 did not know what a scanner was. Clinton thought he could get away with a huge lie about a lot of things. We wrap our politicians in too tight a coccoon. A smart politician would figure out a way to give the president and even lesser figures like the members of the Senate and the House a bit better touch with reality.

But that still does not mean that a funeral should be used for a political speech. Yes, Mrs. King cared deeply about social justice and peace issues. Those causes, which Lowery claims are taken up in a traditional Black funeral, could have been taken up in good style without resorting to the over the top rhetoric about the weapons of mass destruction.