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crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
The National Organization for Marriage has continued its sad, poorly attended “Summer for Marriage” Tour across the nation, this time stopping in Atlanta. And speaking for the organization at this juncture was Alveda King, the niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Her speech was ridiculous, especially the implication that gay marriage is “genocide.” But what caught my eye were negative comments she made in an interview after the speech.
The crude comments come in at about 7:21 when she is asked about Coretta Scott King's support of gay marriage.
Alveda says that her (Alveda's views) supposedly come from the “Lord” and “Natural Law.”
But then she adds a nasty little caveat:
She (Coretta) was married to him (Martin Luther King, Jr.). I've got his DNA. She doesn't. She didn't. She's passed away.”
Views about gay marriage aside, Alveda's comments were nasty and totally inappropriate. And I would say that they reveal her mindset more than her ramblings.
Let's be clear. Coretta Scott King was very instrumental in the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. She was more than his wife. She was an integral part in the African-American civil rights movement. And after his assassination, she carved a niche for herself as a human rights activist. Alveda was merely a teenager during the civil rights movement and as far as we know, she never had any discussions with King about civil rights matters.
In all honesty, Alveda has made a career off of exploiting the King name. If she didn't have this name, no one would really care about what she thought in regards to gay rights, African-American rights, etc.
But since it is her name, it is also her right to reap the benefits from having it.
But what she doesn't have a right to do is disrespect the legacy of a woman whose shoes she's not worthy enough to even latch.
Coretta Scott King was a hero.
You, Alveda, are an exploiter.
Please don't ever mistake Mrs. King as anything less or yourself as anything more.
Hat tip to Goodasyou.org
19 Comments
why is it…?Every time a social argument is made about DNA it is about hatred for other humans? Sexual orientation, gender, and immigration (an absolutely appalling way of attacking even those naturalized.)
It is the social biology of hate.
OH, boy there are some words that I want to usethat the TOS would prevent me from using.
Alvin, you said what you had to say so….nicely, much better than I can do 9as I’m trying to down my first cup of coffee)
Coretta Did Not Have Martin’s DNA?I find it highly ironic that, based on her biblical argument, the “two become one” (that is the definition most anti-gay marriage opponents hold) she discounts Mrs. King’s views, saying that “she did not have Martin’s DNA.” Actually, she DID have Martin’s DNA, at least 4 times (Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice).
Do fundies believe in DNA? n/t
Only when it is convenient n/t
This is so offensive.My husband got to meet Mrs. King when she was giving testimony in Boston on Dr. King’s papers and he was amazed at her insight and thoughfulness. Mrs. King was there on the lines with her husband who guarded his legacy.
I wonder what Miss Bernice King and her “sanctified soul”has to say about this, being as she has the DNA of BOTH Martin and Coretta…
…of course, she’s too busy trying to clean up the SCLC, I suppose…
Eugenics, much?
It makes no sense.I just don’t get it…
She speaks at a rally in support of opposite marriage, then talks about an opposite marriage as if it meant nothing. Screwy.
Seriously?Dr. King chose Coretta to share his life with. He was stuck with Alveda.
This is so frustrating…If she actually believed in what she was saying, “one race, one love,” she might realize how hypocritical her position is. When things don’t make sense, invoke The Lord, that’ll fix it. If either MLK or Coretta were around I bet they would set her straight (pardon the pun).
It never ceases to amuse meThat people somehow only learn enough about science to make them even stupider…
Why didn’t the interviewer ask her about MLK Jr’s children…
ALL but one of whom support (or supported; one supporter has passed away) full equality for gays and lesbians, including marriage?
Is she actually going to claim that SHE shares more DNA with MLK Jr. than his own children do?
She must know as little about genetics as she does about civil rights!
GREAT POINT!
The irony is almost painful.
She is a profligate wastrel of freedom
No, it is not her right. Each individual has the right to reap only the benefits from their own deeds.
Coretta Scott King was an activist in her own right. Plus, she stayed by Dr. King, she bore him children, nursed him when he was ill, and wept when he died. Together they went forward, as one heart.
She continued his work, but in her own name. Inspired by both his legacy, and the better angels of her nature, she lived out the words “All men (sic) are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights.
Dr. Alveda King’s legacy is becoming that of spending Dr. and Coretta Scott King’s work in , and bouncing the check of liberty to other American citizens. She is bankrupting the treasury of justice.
A direct quote from Dr Martin Luther King (as opposed to the indirect quotes above)
Remember, Dr. Alveda King, liberty is in the DNA of all of us…
If I am not equal to marry as I choose, neither of us is free. I am not freed from your irrational fears…and sadly, neither are you.
Omigoddessdo I wish we had someone so articulate as Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King still alive to speak with us.
They were poets of freedom.
Bit of an assumptionthat she in fact has his DNA. As the ancient Israelis knew, you only knew who a person’s mother was for sure.
And she may have his DNA, but she has ol’ Sheriff Bull Connor’s heart
Boy…She’s just avoiding every single question.
In fact, she showed a total lack of respect formarriage as an institution. A person’s husband or wife is considered, both legally and socially, to be a much closer family member than his or her niece or nephew. Marriage is the closest family tie you can have, maybe only comparable to parenthood. MLK’s wife shaped his work far more than did his then-teenage niece.