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What Detroit and the nation saw with the funeral of civil rights legend Rosa Parks was not a celebration of her sainted effort to sit down for the freedom of generations to follow, but a marathon of speeches which were tied more to an agenda of liberal politics and causes than to the very simple, very heroic and very noble act which launched a civil rights revolution.

I was perplexed by the length as much as I was mystified by many of the messages which were affixed to this time, to this place and, for this purpose, the funeral as well as to the celebration of a civil rights legend, the mother and architect of the movement -- Rosa Parks.

Why do I say that? I, and I'm sure the nation, thought we would be turning in and viewing or listening to the celebration of the work this great women of history had launched. I thought the civil rights leaders of the nation who had gathered in Detroit along with President Clinton and dignitaries from every corner of the nation and of various political persuasions would share in the spirit of the humble but powerful spirit of this icon.

That effort, if it were the intent of the planners, was definitely compromised.

As thousands gathered outside waiting to join and be a part of the purpose of this historic moment and pay their final respects to this modern day warrior of faith, they had to begin to wonder would this ceremony be more focused on her accomplishments and legacy or on old civil rights leaders who are grasping for relevancy in the 21st century and using separatist and political partisanship which divided the listeners and viewers of this event?

Former president Bill Clinton kept to the script it seemed. He was concise by his own standards and he made a plea for understanding that actually reached across all lines and barriers in search of the unifying theme of freedom which resonates with all Americans who care.

On the other hand much of the multi-hour event appeared more to focus on whatever the political theme that the speaker wanted to convey rather than on a unifying message. You almost had to wonder just what this quiet woman of courage would have done if she knew this homecoming would not be simple, short, respectful or unifying. The issues of the past 50 years were somehow interwoven with political agendas that were not unifying in the least. If some of these themes were meant to resonate today with those in attendance, then it was surely a message meant for a select audience of non-conservatives and non-Republicans.

If you were to listen to the marathon of speakers -- many eloquent, some divisive -- with their own political agendas, you had to wonder which America were they speaking to. Was this a warm up for the liberals who had lost the general election for the presidency last year?

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