Shocking photo created a hero, but not to his family

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/16/Zwerg.freedom.rides/index.html?iref=NS1

(CNN) -- The mob was already waiting for James Zwerg by the time the Greyhound bus eased into the station in Montgomery, Alabama.
Looking out the window, Zwerg could see men gripping baseball bats, chains and clubs. They had sealed off the streets leading to the bus station and chased away news photographers. They didn't want anyone to witness what they were about to do.

Zwerg accepted his worst fear: He was going to die today.

Only the night before, Zwerg had prayed for the strength to not strike back in anger. He was among the 18 white and black college students from Nashville who had decided to take the bus trip through the segregated South in 1961. They called themselves Freedom Riders. Their goal was to desegregate public transportation.

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Very interesting and emotionally gripping story. To me, reading this is akin to watching the Band of Brothers series. I am amazed at how 'normal' people can react in the face of such overwhelming fear. Ive often wondered if I too would be able to summon such courage in these circumstances. In any case, Im glad this country has people like James Zwerg and Jim Davis. :patriot:

Kind of like the movie 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'.
The parents raise their daughter to accept everyone as equals and then are shocked when she decides to marry a African American.

In the movie the parents come to grips with their values.

In real life, his parents couldn't.

I have to work tonight, but I DVR'ed it.

Will definitely watch after I get off work.

Sometimes I think we need some similar civil disobedience down in Maricopa County, Arizona -- especially if that racist anti-immigration law ever gets put into effect.

Maybe if we filled Sheriff Joe's jail with protesters, he'd have no room for rounding up innocent Hispanics who can't prove their citizenship.

they set the whole tone of the 1960s

How much we've changed, and how far we still have to go...

at the time, die for the cause . . . although he did later.

RIP

And let those who pooh-pooh the displaying of the Rebel flag and "the South will rise again" culture remember, this was the US a mere 50 years ago.