Did They Go Too Far on the King Funeral?

Elegant Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., died on January 30, 2006 at Roasarito Beach, Mexico. She was a brave and courageous woman, wife, mother and leader of the civil rights movement. She was and is a pillar of strength to so many, myself included.

During the weekend, some 42,000 mourners had walked past King's open casket at the state capitol, where she became the first woman and the first black person to lie in honour there. It is a striking contrast to the official snub her slain husband had been given by the then-governor Lester Maddox, an outspoken segregationist. For this reason, and others, I had sincere problems understanding how this was acceptable.

Still, I wonder out loud, after the dust has settled, did the outpouring go too far. Was it excessive? Had the presidents a place there on this occasion? Should the King family have allowed the funeral to take place in the capitol where the slain head of their household, Martin Luther King, Jr., was snubbed? Could this funeral have been conducted on her death as she was in life, modestly, with reserve, thoughtfully and more respectfully than the outpouring we witnessed since the announcement of her death? The photo ops seemed endless. Some speakers tried to upstage other speakers, was this occasion the time and place?

What is your view?