"We are at the moment when our lives must be placed on the line if our nation is to survive its own folly. Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest...A time comes when silence is betrayal."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Riverside Church, New York City, April 4, 1967

(Hat-tip Colbert I. King. And thanks now to reader TH, the audio and text of the entire speech is here...)

If you watch only one funeral this weekend, we recommend James Brown's. CNN was carrying it a good deal, MSNBC a bit less, and Fox "News" a lot less than that (even while they have plenty of time to run Saddam's gallows video on a loop, and ran the Saddleback Christmas service several times in full, as if it was news, on Christmas Eve and Day.)

But since we didn't find any of the awesome performances from the Godfather's funeral yet up and online, and have yet to run an 'In Memoriam' for him, let's take the satirical way out. Imitation being the highest form of flattery and all. At right, Ed Murphy's hysterical tribute, from his early golden SNL days, to the once and forever Godfather of Soul.

Gerald Ford 1913 - 2006

Guest blogged by Joy Williams

According to CNN, Ann Richards, the former Governor of Texas, has passed on due to esophogeal cancer. She was a straight talker, a truth teller, and an intelligent and fiery woman. She will be missed.

As a former Texan, I found in Ann Richards a salt-of-the-earth kind of person who had an incredible amount of compassion, and is one of those gems that you find amongst those tumbling tumbleweeds. You could trust her. You could rely on her. You knew she cared.

Her spirit and energy were phenomenal. She would have made a tremendous President.

In 1988, she gave the Democratic National Convention Keynote Address. Though it's a different George Bush, much of what she said then applies remarkably well now. The Bushes have NEVER changed their agenda. Please read her address.

We love you, Ann!

Don Knotts 1924-2006

Richard Pryor, 1940 - 2005

Rosa Parks, 1913 - 2005

Andy Stephenson lost his fight with cancer last night. He was a great fighter but, apparently, this was one he couldn't win.

I only recently got to know Andy over the past year, but he instantly became a friend. As if I'd known him my whole life. I know there are thousands out there who feel the same about him.

He was a great supporter of this blog, of The BRAD SHOW (he helped us get our first show on the air, and appeared as a guest that night) and was one of the original advisors at Velvet Revolution.

His loss is a tremendous blow to the Election Reform movement, and to America.

He will be missed...but he will never forgotten.

Godspeed, Andy...

UPDATE 7/11/05:

American Troops Killed (as of 5/29/05)
In Afghanistan: 184
In Iraq: 1,657

Funerals Attended by George W. Bush
0

"Life is just one grand, sweet song. So start the music."

- Caption from Ronald "Dutch" Reagan's
1928 Senior Highschool Yearbook photo.

Having for a couple of weeks inhabited his spirit, if not his body, for an Odd Couple spoof of sorts a few years back (Brad in OddFellas), the news of his passing was all the more sad to me. Good god was he funny. And a genius.

One of his last jokes, caught by Paul B., from the AP obituary: