Obituaries for 2020

[Hoodat]

I had a lot of respect for Lewis up until the point where he lied about Tea Party members.  It went downhill from there.  While I still admire his earlier accomplishments, he has done a huge disservice over the last 30 years by refusing to hand over the legacy to the next generations.  And because of the egos of these so-called icons, today's generations have zero connection with the Civil Rights legacy other than the color of their skin.

[sneakypete]

Rep. John Lewis, lion of the civil rights movement, dies at 80


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rep-john-lewis-lion-civil-rights-movement-dies-80-n1109176

He died of pancreatic cancer. What a miserable death, I hope he’s at peace now,

@Gefn

He was a lucky man if he only suffered a couple of months. Most/lots of people suffer with cancer for years before it takes them.

[sneakypete]

This John Lewis?

“Read the Republican contract....They’re coming for our children. They’re coming for the poor. They’re coming for the sick, the elderly and the disabled.”

Forgive me, if I don't shed any tears.

@dfwgator

I do get your point,but in MY opinion,the man was just stupid,not evil. It's no sin to be stupid.

[EasyAce]

From Erick Erickson, The Resurgent, in an e-mail:

John Lewis did not stop his partisanship from allowing him to have friendships with those with whom he had disagreements. He worked behind the scenes with Republicans to do what he could to help Georgia. He cultivated friendships with conservative members of congress with whom he could find no agreement on politics.

Contrast Lewis, a partisan Democrat who could be a bomb thrower against Republicans, with the fickle children running the New York Times now. The very idea of friendship with political opponents is anathema to them. Lewis would have published Tom Cotton’s op-ed and condemned it with his own op-ed next to it.

He was a complex man whose on-camera appearances were deeply partisan for his side and whose off-camera work was congenial, bipartisan, and kind.

Nowadays people would call that being two-faced. People seem to think if you’re a partisan bomb-thrower in a radio ad or on television, that’s who you should be in person. But people and relationships are more complex, politics is weird, and John Lewis was a giant who earned his street cred getting the crap knocked out of him by white supremacists in the streets of the South when all he wanted was the right to sit in a restaurant.

John Lewis and I agreed on little in politics. I only met the man once, in passing, on a flight from Washington back to Atlanta. We shared a laugh about some political nonsense going on at the time. That was the only time we ever spoke to one another. But we spoke to one another and found a way to share a laugh.

Not enough people do that with their political opponents these days. We presume disagreement means the other side wants to destroy the country when sometimes it is just a disagreement.

That tells you something right there.

[verga]

From Erick Erickson, The Resurgent, in an e-mail:

John Lewis did not stop his partisanship from allowing him to have friendships with those with whom he had disagreements. He worked behind the scenes with Republicans to do what he could to help Georgia. He cultivated friendships with conservative members of congress with whom he could find no agreement on politics.

Contrast Lewis, a partisan Democrat who could be a bomb thrower against Republicans, with the fickle children running the New York Times now. The very idea of friendship with political opponents is anathema to them. Lewis would have published Tom Cotton’s op-ed and condemned it with his own op-ed next to it.

He was a complex man whose on-camera appearances were deeply partisan for his side and whose off-camera work was congenial, bipartisan, and kind.

Nowadays people would call that being two-faced. People seem to think if you’re a partisan bomb-thrower in a radio ad or on television, that’s who you should be in person. But people and relationships are more complex, politics is weird, and John Lewis was a giant who earned his street cred getting the crap knocked out of him by white supremacists in the streets of the South when all he wanted was the right to sit in a restaurant.

John Lewis and I agreed on little in politics. I only met the man once, in passing, on a flight from Washington back to Atlanta. We shared a laugh about some political nonsense going on at the time. That was the only time we ever spoke to one another. But we spoke to one another and found a way to share a laugh.

Not enough people do that with their political opponents these days. We presume disagreement means the other side wants to destroy the country when sometimes it is just a disagreement.

That tells you something right there.

Amen, not unlike the relationship between Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I have had several good friends that were on the complete opposite end of the political/ religious spectrum. It is possible to disagree with out being disagreeable.

[Smokin Joe]

Amen, not unlike the relationship between Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I have had several good friends that were on the complete opposite end of the political/ religious spectrum. It is possible to disagree with out being disagreeable.

Right. It's fairly simple. Keep the disagreement about the issue, not about the person. I knew a couple of liberals I'd engage in discussions about issues, and we'd sit and drink coffee the whole time. It wasn't about them, but the issues.

[PeteS in CA]

Right. It's fairly simple. Keep the disagreement about the issue, not about the person. I knew a couple of liberals I'd engage in discussions about issues, and we'd sit and drink coffee the whole time. It wasn't about them, but the issues.

For me personally, there is a limit to that. For example, until last year I had never UnFriended anyone on FB. I figured that if any Prog FB Friend REALLY could not stand my very occasional political-oriented posts they could UnFriend me. But then two FB Friends who know me better thought it a cool idea to insinuate that I'm a racist. So I UnFriended them.

Lewis was complex. He was significant in the Civil Rights Movement, which helped shove the Feds to do what they should have done decades earlier. OTOH, he was a prominent front-line race-baiter-for-political-gain in the last 2 or 3 decades of his life. He would have been out of my life for doing that were he a friend. There is no excusing slander of that magnitude.

[skeeter]

@dfwgator

I do get your point,but in MY opinion,the man was just stupid,not evil. It's no sin to be stupid.

John Lewis was the civil rights movement in microcosm, which started out from the moral high ground and as it accomplished its objectives slowly became corrupt and began existing for its own benefit.

[Applewood]

John Lewis was the civil rights movement in microcosm, which started out from the moral high ground and as it accomplished its objectives slowly became corrupt and began existing for its own benefit.

The old timers were admirable for the sacrifices they made.  Then the two extortionists, Al and Jessie came along.  Now we have terrorists destroying our cities and businesses.  What was once a profile in courage is now a criminal enterprise. 

[catfish1957]

John Lewis was the civil rights movement in microcosm, which started out from the moral high ground and as it accomplished its objectives slowly became corrupt and began existing for its own benefit.

100% agree.  And if the events of the past few months wouldn't have happened, I 'd probably be more gracious, and positive sounding in my comments.  Then add his one of his last quote during the BLM rioting...  "Give Until you can't Give Anymore". 

That's how I'll remember the guy.  You know....  Last Impressions are often the most lasting.

[sneakypete]

John Lewis was the civil rights movement in microcosm, which started out from the moral high ground and as it accomplished its objectives slowly became corrupt and began existing for its own benefit.

@skeeter  Well said!

[Mod1]

We're getting off the track here, folks. This thread is for obits, not for wideranging discussions of the failings of other individuals. Start another thread if you want to debate the merits of MLK, Jr., and his associates.

[jmyrlefuller]

In any event, this thread was meant to honor and remember the dead -- in this case, John Lewis -  not to argue over what amounts to unproven conspiracy theories about Dr. King.  Honor Mr. Lewis or don't honor him.  I don't care.  But let's respect @jmyrlefuller who runs this thread and get it back on track.

I appreciate the sentiment, though I am a mere caretaker.

But yes, Lewis's political motivations aside, let's keep discussions at hand to the deceased. I don't mind going off-track a little bit, but try not to totally derail.

[Cyber Liberty]

We're getting off the track here, folks. This thread is for obits, not for wideranging discussions of the failings of other individuals. Start another thread if you want to debate the merits of MLK, Jr., and his associates.

I split the whole page of comments about MLK into a new thread to fight on.  "MLK, Good Guy or Bad?"

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,408795.0.html

MLK died in 1968, and this thread is for current Obits.  Any further comments about MLK will be simply deleted.  TIA

[Applewood]

Thank you @Cyber Liberty

And @jmyrlefuller :

 

[Cyber Liberty]

Thank you @Cyber Liberty

And @jmyrlefuller :

 

Most welcome.  I was out of town for the annual Mohave County GOP Picnic in the mountains (cool weather, yay!), and I didn't see this mess until I got back in town.  I am sure nobody is miffed at me for the cleanup.

[Applewood]

Most welcome.  I was out of town for the annual Mohave County GOP Picnic in the mountains (cool weather, yay!), and I didn't see this mess until I got back in town.  I am sure nobody is miffed at me for the cleanup.

I'm jealous -- cool, mountain air.  Too bad you couldn't send that to me.  94 degrees here.  LOL

And if anyone squawks about moving the arguments over MLK to a separate thread, send them to me.  I will give them one of these:   

[sneakypete]

I appreciate the sentiment, though I am a mere caretaker.

But yes, Lewis's political motivations aside, let's keep discussions at hand to the deceased. I don't mind going off-track a little bit, but try not to totally derail.

@jmyrlefuller

For the record,I considered Lewis to be fairly honest for a politician.

Nobody can question his courage or dedication,even if you might not have liked his methods.

[Slide Rule]

Does anyone have a photo of Lewis with a smile? I am sure there are plenty
but I haven't seen any. He seemed to have that tough survival look.

[mountaineer]

Charles Evers, civil rights icon and brother of Medgar Evers, dies at 97
Evers, the first Black elected mayor of a Mississippi city, had been a gun-toting bootlegger, a numbers-runner and a pimp in Chicago before returning to Mississippi after his brother was assassinated in June 1963.
By USA TODAY Jul 22, 2020, 2:46pm CDT
Jimmie E. Gates

JACKSON, Miss. – Civil rights icon Charles Evers, the first Black elected mayor of a Mississippi city and brother of Medgar Evers, has died at the age of 97.

Evers became the first black mayor of a Mississippi town or city since reconstruction when he was elected mayor of Fayette in 1969.

Evers died Wednesday surrounded by family at his Rankin County home, according to the Rankin County coroner. ...

More at Chicago Sun-Times


Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend Charles Evers. Charles was a trail blazer in politics and a fearless leader, alongside his brother Medgar, for Civil Rights.

6:46 PM · Jul 22, 2020

[Hoodat]

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
I am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend Charles Evers. Charles was a trail blazer in politics and a fearless leader, alongside his brother Medgar, for Civil Rights.
6:46 PM · Jul 22, 2020

Charles Evers was a great man.  He stood up to the race pimps.

[Smokin Joe]

Charles Evers was a great man.  He stood up to the race pimps.

Seems like the 'old guard' is checking out, just in time for 'the movement' to be co-opted by The current crop of Marxists.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Does anyone have a photo of Lewis with a smile? .

       

@Slide Rule

[Slide Rule]

Thanks. I had only seen him with a scowl in photos and video.

[sneakypete]

Charles Evers was a great man.  He stood up to the race pimps.

@Hoodat

Why not? He WAS an actual pimp at one time. Who better to represent freedom,equality,and women's rights than a pimp?