The “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Louise Franklin’s funeral service was the day before the “Maverick’s”, Senator John Sidney McCain III. Both were revered and celebrated by a huge range of people, with many speaking at their services, of which each had three. McCain’s services were military, dignified, solemn. The “Queen” wore a different gown for each of her three viewings, her services beautiful, soulful and celebratory. What a Sad time, this passing over of two great souls, who touched so many hearts and minds. A black woman, a white man, two Americans who overcame so much in their lives to go on to influence and inspire so many. Reverend Al Sharpton spoke about Aretha, how she had helped Martin Luther King Jr. many times “to make payroll”; she said that she had made money …”got it from black folks and wanted to use it to help ‘our’ people”; she helped many. Aretha born on 3/25/42 in Memphis, TN, her father, a Baptist minister and circuit preacher from Mississippi; she began as a child, playing piano and singing gospel.
McCain was born 8/29/36 in Coco Solo, Panama, (Naval Air station in the Panama canal zone); his father was a 4-star Navy Admiral, as his father was before him. Aretha and John were both paid R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were invited and spoke at McCain’s funeral service on Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral, was interred at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD. Presidents Obama and Bush sent letters to be read to the mourners at Aretha’s service. Bill and Hillary Clinton attended both Aretha and John’s funeral services. More than 100 Pink Cadillacs rode with Aretha Franklin’s funeral procession to Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, MI. “We’re going riding on the freeway of love in my pink Cadillac”, sang the Queen of Soul in her 1985 hit song “Freeway of Love”. *** At one of McCain’s services, someone sang the song, “I DID IT MY WAY”.
Aretha, one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, won 18 grammy awards; she was the first female inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; was the second woman to be inducted into UK Music Hall of Fame. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She performed at the 2009 Inaugural Ceremony for President Barack Obama; she performed at the White House twice thereafter. “She was an integral part of the Civil Rights movement, investing her time and money, raising her voice” for Civil Rights and Women’s Rights. Reverend Sharpton told a poignant story of arriving at the White House the day of Aretha’s performance, asking a friend, “Where’s the Queen?” Upon finding her … she said to him, “Reverend, I’m getting my hair done in the White House and we have a black president!” It was a culmination of many battles and a celebration of American life.
John McCain had earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts; he was captured when the plane he was flying was shot down in Vietnam, he was tortured extensively as a POW for five years at the ‘Hanoi Hilton’. His strength, bravery and resilience was demonstrated when returned to his beloved homeland, he ran for office, became a dynamic Senator for Arizona, ran for the office of president twice, losing to George W and Obama. He continued to honorably serve the country he believed in and loved so well. He found much to love in life, as did Aretha Franklin. “The Heart and Soul of America.”
Different kinds of GREATNESS, “‘woven into the fabric of the life and liberties of our country!” Bush said McCain was “Unwavering, undimmed, unequal”. “An extraordinary man, who made his country better”, said Obama, who then recited the words McCain loved — from Hemingway, ‘Today is only one day in all the days that will be, but what will happen in all the other days that will ever come, can depend on what happens today’. Each choice is a test; some principles transcend politics, some principles transcend party. John knew we were all on the same team, in this one indispensable country, where anything is possible, where so many have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms and sovereignty.” McCain warned us to “take seriously” the active measures that Putin has assailed against us; he warned that we hold our democracy and rule of law momentously.
I pray that these ‘celebrations’ help people to reflect on our shared experiences, bring us together even in a degree, help us feel the compassionate contributions that diversity can bestow on America, that those in Congress can take this ‘bipartisan moment’ into the coming weeks and months to influence their motives and actions, that they choose NOT “to sit in hypocrisy and complicity”.
Trish Forsyth Voss
9/03/18
Trish Forsyth Voss
Oct 29 2018
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Politics of Hate …. Using Fear to Divide Us.
The biggest divisors of people are Fear and Elitism; the surest common denominator is Race, the next is Gender. The most horrible despots in history had this figured out. How are we so easily led to hate others? Why are we so easily motivated by fear? The current resident of Pennsylvania Avenue is trying for “all he’s worth” to run an inflammatory campaign of fear and division, spouting outrageous, blatant lies. He is stoking the hate of white-supremacists, the extremism of end-of-time evangelicals, playing into the hands of bigots of all stripes. He is crying “Voter Fraud”, as he allows Russia to continue unencumbered in cyber-hacking our electoral systems, and secretaries of states in suppressing millions of votes of minorities across the nation; Gerry-mandered districts contribute to the fraud perpetrated on voters. He is using prejudice against lesbians, gays and trans to garner more support for his flawed, proposed pogroms to disenfranchise them.
He is using a huge humanitarian crises in Central America and the resulting migrant caravan fleeing repression, poverty and murder, to stoke fear that the U.S. will be over-run by mobs of ‘law-breaking’ immigrants. He has used that fear to institute his evil pogrom of separating families at our borders, of permanently removing children from their parents, of placing children in cages. He has falsely blamed Democrats and George Soros for the migrant caravan. He has used the fear of brown-skinned people to fan the flames of prejudice against immigrants to induce the chants of “Build The Wall!” He has used the ingrained bigotry to turn Americans against NFL team-members, taking a knee to bring awareness to the need for criminal justice reforms, which brings to mind the thoughts and words of Tupac on “THUGLIFE: The Hate U Give Little Infants F’s Everyone”. He has brazenly attacked the media, his “Enemy of the People”. He has encouraged violence and vengeance.
Shouting at politicians is far different than promoting physical violence. On Wednesday we discovered that explosive devices have been sent to several prominent Democrats, all whom Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked at his rallies, his enemies list. George Soros’ mailbox received the first explosive device, then Secret Service intercepted such mailed devices sent to Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, and former Attorney General Eric Holder. CNN’s Manhattan Time-Warner office mailroom received a package for former CIA Director John Brennan. Maxine Waters’ office in California received two such packages.
Trish Forsyth Voss
By spiritspeak • Letter to the Editor 0