PokS2k

Rosa Parks died at the age of 92 yesterday. I had always admired her for her courage.

Rosa Parks has died

Filthy Beast

Yes she was, God rest her soul.

ralper

Rosa Parks, rest in peace. You showed a whole generation just how far a little courage could go. You made a nation recognize it's wrong and you helped to correct it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/25/national/25parks.html

Smokee

One very courageous woman for more than just that one act.

The Detroit News

"We didn't have any of what they called civil rights back then," she recalled. "It was just a matter of survival. ... It was just a matter of existing from one day to the next."

She remembered sitting up late at night near her grandfather in his rocking chair, while he held his double-barreled shotgun to protect the family against the Ku Klux Klan.

"I can remember my grandfather saying, 'I don't know how long I would last if they came breaking in here, but I'm getting the first one who comes through the door.'"

Matt_in_VA

that she is one of the common people that actually changed the course of history. She should be remembered as not only changing American History, but world history for that matter.

Smokee

Rosa Parks will lie in honor in the Capital Rotunda. For me, she'll represent all the others who gave as much or more for justice.

The Guardian (UK)

Matt_in_VA

That it is fitting that a common person that is a hero of our times that helped to shape the course of human history has the privledge of lying in the Capital Rotunda.

ralper

A much deserved honor for a woman of great courage and strength.

Matt_in_VA

^^^ See. Rob and I can find some topics to agree on.

ralper

If you watched the memorial service for Rosa Parks held in Detroit yesterday, you saw and heard an eloquent sermon by President William Clinton. In his sermon he quoted some of the words of the song "I wish I knew how it would feel to be free" by Nina Simone. It is an elegant and touching song, and a fitting tribute to Rosa Parks. For those of you who heard the few lines that Bill Clinton recited, and for those of you who didn't, here is the song in it's entirety.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish that I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole round world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars
It keeps us apart
I wish you could know
What it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
That every man should be free

I wish I could give
All I'm longin' to give
I wish I could live
Like I'm longin' to live
I wish I could do
All the things that I can do
And though I'm way over due
I'd be starting a new

Well I wish I could be
Like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found out I could fly
And I'd sore to the sun
And look down at the sea
And I sing cos I know - yea
And I sing cos I know - yea
And I sing cos I know
I'd know how it feels
Oh I'd know how it feels to be free
Yea Yea I'd know how it feels
Yes I'd know
I'd know
How it feels
How it feels
To be free