Specifically, the photo (below) recalls for me the derogatory comments that Barbara Bush made in Houston at the Astrodome. Perhaps it's the juxtaposition of a civil rights leader speaking while the Bush's have puzzled and possibly pained looks on their faces.

I am reminded that the scars of the civil rights were not only borne 40 years ago and before. They were inflicted in this century too.

I remember how Barbara Bush, George W.'s mother and George H.W.'s wife, had visited one of the places where Hurricane Katrina survivors had been bussed, mostly against their wills. Barbara Bush had looked around at these everyday people who wandered around the football field or sat sadly and uncomfortably on army cots - all under bright lights, in full view of the media and the public. Barbara Bush saw the children who couldn't find their mothers and stood nearby many grandmothers who deserved living room comfort instead of the hard army cots.

These were road-weary, confused, storm-torn and grieving hurricane survivors. Ordinary Americans in distress from a terrible weather event and a botched government intervention.

With all this human pain and loss in full view, Barbara Bush callously pointed out that in her opinion, the New Orleanians being housed in the Astrodome were "underprivileged anyway, so this is working well for them."

Her words stung. That comment came after Barbara's son, George W., had also so cavalierly ignored the thousands of survivors at New Orleans Convention Center the week before - failing to provide those fellow Americans any lifesaving water or food. Consequently, our government allowed many elderly and weak Americans to simply die from neglect. Those that did survive shall be forever scarred by the inescapable awareness that when they simply needed a helping hand from their government, none came.

I still feel such anger when I think about that overt racism and classism.

What does this have to do with Rev. Lowry? Surely, Rev. Lowery, having witnessed far worse in his day, has felt similar anger in his lifetime.

Yet, Rev. Lowery, standing near those same Bushes, did indeed offer an inclusive, courageous, honest and loving benediction. I say, let's give Rev. Lowery our unconditional respect.

Could I have remained non-violent if I had marched with Martin Luther King, Jr.? I don't know. It would have been hard. If I were Rev. Lowery, would I have been able to conduct myself as politely, or as forgivingly, as he has? I don't know. Could you have?