Conversation Starter- Dead Wrong?
July 9, 2008The recent death of North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, has had a lot of people talking. Particularly conservative/Republican leaders about the man and his legacy.
President Bush Said:
Throughout his long public career, Senator Jesse Helms was a tireless advocate for the people of North Carolina, a stalwart defender of limited government and free enterprise, a fearless defender of a culture of life, and an unwavering champion of those struggling for liberty…Jesse Helms was a kind, decent, and humble man and a passionate defender of what he called “the Miracle of America.” So it is fitting that this great patriot left us on the Fourth of July. SOURCE
Here’s a Quote from Bob Dole:
He was a conservative icon,” Bob Dole, the former senator and Republican presidential candidate, said in an interview on CNN. “He was a good, decent human being.”
But Mr. Dole, known for his wry sense of humor, acknowledged that Mr. Helms was not universally admired on Capitol Hill. “If there was a liberal meeting going on and someone announced that Jesse Helms was coming, the place would have cleared out in 20 seconds,” he joked.
He added that although he disagreed with Mr. Helms on civil rights, he did not consider the senator to be a bigot. “Was Jesse Helms a racist? I never spotted that in him,” Mr. Dole said. “Jesse had black staff members. I could never quite figure it out.” SOURCE
There’s so much wrong with that last sentence I could hurl!
and How about this quote?
“America lost a great public servant and true patriot today,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.
Even Beloved Evangelist Billy Graham sings his praises:
was a man of consistent conviction to conservative ideals,” with the “courage to faithfully serve God and country based on principle, not popularity or politics.”
One of the things that these people are missing is Helms’ notoriously Anti-freedom, anti-Christ-like stance on Civil Rights, Gay rights, Martin Luther KIng or the over-all rights for people who weren’t like him.
We’ve all heard of the violent crime lord who gets gunned down, but at his funeral his mom, homeboys and baby mama praise him for being such a great guy. I once heard someone say that everyone is wonderful when once they die.
So here’s the conversation starter, When people go home to glory (or burn in hell), why do we who are left tend to gloss over the “bad stuff”? Do we choose to “forget” that this person ws a liar, abuser, cheater, a bigot etc? When does paying your respects turn into outright lying?? Is it wrong to speak the “truth” about the dead?? What do you think of the politicians and religious leaders who are glossing over Helms’ racially charged past???
I think one reason we gloss over things at people’s funerals is because our words can neither hurt them nor help them. Their fate is sealed (hell or heaven). However i do think a dose of some reality is needed depending on the person and the situiation just for the sake of those who are listening. Jesse Helms was clearly a racist and those who do not want to admit that live in La La land. i do agree that he was a man of convictions, but some of his convictions were racist and way too far to the right.
Brilliant!