So yeah… Rick Warren.
I’ve gone back and forth on Obama’s decision to have Warren give the invocation at his inauguration. On the one hand, it’s just a speech. It has nothing to do with policy. On the other hand… it’s awful, awful symbolism.
Warren will give the invocation at an historic event where millions of people will be watching. This is a man who campaigned for Prop 8, the passage of which was the biggest setback for American gay rights in years. This just rubs salt in a very raw wound.
I think it was a rare tone-deaf decision. And it means one of two things, neither of which makes me feel good. Either Obama didn’t expect the reaction he got because he doesn’t understand what a bitter thing Prop 8 is for gay people, which reflects poorly on his empathy for us; or he did expect the reaction but thought it was worth taking the heat because Warren could be valuable to him in the future.
My guess is a little bit of both.
He didn’t expect the vehemence of the reaction. After all, it’s not a cabinet position — it’s just part of a ceremony. It’s not an enormous news story at a time when people are concerned about the economy and the auto bailot. In fact, when I first read about Warren giving the invocation, it was contained in a New York Times post that gave more prominence to Aretha Franklin’s participation.
And there was politics involved here. We must always remember that Obama is a politician. That’s not a slur against him — it’s just reality. Even FDR, one of the greatest presidents of the 20th century, was a politician. He didn’t lift a finger to advance the cause of black civil rights during his presidency because he couldn’t afford to alienate the southern wing of the Democratic party. You work with whom you have to work with in order to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people. By most estimates gay people make up merely 4-6 percent of the American population. The Rick Warren decision makes me incredibly angry because I just happen to be among that 4-6 percent. But it still hurts to feel we’re expendable.
Including a gay marching band in the parade doesn’t really make up for it. Having Rev. Joseph E. Lowery give the closing benediction — he is apparently a friend to gays — helps somewhat, but on the other hand, as the head of the Human Rights Campaign states, “would any inaugural committee say to Jewish Americans, ‘We’re opening with an anti-Semite but closing the program with a rabbi, so don’t worry’?” Would Obama give a similar honor to a pastor who said that black people were inherently dumber than white people?
I admire Obama’s ability to be friends with everyone, to try to understand all points of view, to remain preternaturally calm. But sometimes it’s just too much for me. I don’t think he gets that not everyone can be as zen about everything as he is. Some of us are just human.
In the long run, this might not amount to much. If Obama gets rid of don’t ask/don’t tell; if, somewhere down the line, he works to get federally-recognized civil unions; if he speaks out forcefully for gay rights, rather than just giving us token recognition in one line of a speech — then I might forgive him.
Still — the invocation?
Well Obama has fallen off the pedastal I placed him on. Warren will achieve greater prominence because of this event, and thus his shitty views will get more prominence.
The reaction of many straight people, “Oh the Gays are having another temper tantrum,” makes me particularly angry.
I think the HRC’s statement really gets to the heart of this. It’s not his support of Prop 8 as much as *how* he supported Prop 8 and his outrageous comparisons linking gay couples to pedophiles and polygamists.
The trouble is, however outrageous those statements are, they are considered mainstream in the huge and still politically significant constituency Warren represents. That is the real offensive part: that these people exist and there are millions of them. Warren’s invocation is just a reminder of that.
Let’s set aside the question of why we, an allegedly secular republic with no established religion, have an “invocation” and “benediction” in our Presidential inaugurations anyway. Whom else could he have chosen?
If it has to be a clergy person, then it has to be someone who at least publically holds the party line of his or her faith. Evangelicals and conservative Catholics agree with Warren and can be even more extreme. Mormons are out. Maybe an Episcopalian? A UCC minister (but not a certain UCC minister in particular)? A rabbi?
I guess I was wrong. Obama’s supporters aren’t going to have to wait till the 20th for him to start disappointing them.
I’m not saying this is a good thing or that we shouldn’t be offened. I just don’t think we should be surprised.
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DUDE, THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR IN REGARD TO YOUR ORIENTATION,..YOUR FUCKED, ANY THOUHTS ON HIS IMPENDIND RETURN?
Hey, there, Donald. Your comment is probably rightly going to be deleted. However, TinMan and I, for example, are both Jews. We have no thoughts at all about “his [I assume JC?] impendind [sic] return.” As for the Bible being clear, you’ve obviously never studied Biblical Hebrew or learned Gemara. Practically nothing is “very clear.” Finally, the Bible says nothing about sexual orientation; at most it condems a certain vague and ill-defined sexual act.
Thanks for playing.
I decided to leave his comment alone. Sometimes I do delete such stupidity, but sometimes I don’t mind letting it speak for itself.
I like Obama’s decision.
Unlike any president in recent memory, the Obama Administration stands poised to create a very vibrant national forum; EG: gay-rights, ideological tolerance, tax-policy, foreign-policy, and probably ten other issues stand slated for such exposure.
Forums are, generally, fairly uncomfortable arenas in which to sit. You often hear things said that boil your passions, and (as forums go) are then given equally ample opportunity to sound off a response.
In the long run Obama is helping the gay-rights cause by giving air to the fear-based ideology of the ultra-right Christians, and giving us an opening in which to appropriately throw some reason and judicial logic into the media stream.
We shouldn’t be afraid to engage in an equal footed sparring with these types, and we should thank Obama for allowing us the opportunity so early in the Administration’s game. If this is the tone his efforts will take, i’m all for it.
rob@egoz.org
RE: Donald
Donald, you wouldn’t stay alive 24-hrs if suddenly transported back 3k-4000 years hence; You, too, would be stoned as an abomination to Land/People of Israel on any number of counts: diet, dress, facial hair, and inability to pray properly.
Enlightnment happens; deal.
rob@egoz.org
Obama’s decision is a wakeup call. He’s a politician, and we should never trust any politician.
Exactly!