Monday, October 31, 2005

Washington honors Rosa Parks Fortitude of Courage


Many of the younger generation of the present day Americans may even not know who Ms. Rosa Parks is. But yesterday the civil rights pioneer lay in honor in the nation's Capitol Rotunda, sharing the feat with the likes of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. This is the highest honor US accords to Presidents and war heroes. In the picture President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush pay their respects followed by members of Congress and many ordinary Americans.

"She was a citizen in the best sense of the word," said a senator. "She caused things to happen in our society that made us a better, more caring, more just society." This sums up well her glorious contribution.

She was an unassuming simple woman, a seamstress going about living her ordinary life. But her singular act of refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a racially segregated bus sparked off and galvanized civil rights movement, finally abolishing this unjust law by federal legislation. By her defiance she has demonstrated extraordinary service to her nation, not because of any weapons or any office that she held. but by the power of her conviction.

This is an amazing story of inspiration.

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