President-elect Barack Obama is making many good personnel selections as he prepares for the duties and responsibilities of the highest office in America, but naming Pastor Rick Warren to give his inaugural invocation is not one of them.
The charismatic senior pastor of Saddleback Church in California is likable and his inclusion will probably strike a copacetic chord with evangelicals, but there’s more to be considered.
Warren is no friend of America’s gays and lesbians, the latest manifestation being his support of California’s Proposition 8 to ban gay marriages in the state.
Gays and lesbians are offended, upset, and we don’t blame them.
Obama himself does not support gay marriage, favoring civil unions instead. That’s not an unreasonable position for a national leader trying to ratchet-down partisan and other divisions toward achieving working consensus on a host of knotty problems.
Ironically, by choosing Warren, Obama pressed a fault line of division in our society.
Many Americans, especially the young, have come a long way in recent years toward accepting gays and lesbians as normal human beings whose sexuality is oriented differently from the heterosexual majority, not deviant-behavior cases. That’s real progress. Still, gay marriage flies in the face of deeply rooted traditionalism, so majority acceptance is likely to take some time.
Nevertheless, Obama’s choice of Warren is an unnecessary, hurtful affront to gays and lesbians. He could easily have chosen a cleric who hasn’t gone out of his/her way to oppose the gay community on one of its key issues — a fundamental human-rights issue at that.
We wish Obama and Warren would take time out from preparing for the inaugural to read Newsweek’s excellent and moving cover story, “Our Mutual Joy.“
By doing that, both men might learn something especially appropriate and meaningful in this period of waiting and season when Christians celebrate peace on Earth, goodwill to men.
Maybe Obama needs cover for this:
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/12/jobs_is_to_have_his.php
I’m very proud of Obama standing up for his beliefs. It is not okay for gays and lesbians to share their voice, and not the voice of our leader . This country has a lot more to worry about then gay marriage. The foundation and our traditions is what this country is about, and now people are obsessed with what makes every one “feel good”. It’s a wonder societys’ shift has went the direction it has. I think everyone should back off on such a petty issue as marriage right now, and focus more on the bigger issues of economy and terror. Rick Warren has inspired many people and has lifted many from addictions and brokenness. It is amazing to me that we are at this place of arguing over what he represents in gay marriages! This world is full of suffering and if we all continue to be so self involved- we will continue to get the same results. It isn’t only about the rights of gays and lesbians, but also the rights of the rest of “The People”. I’m sure addicts, unfaithful spouses, and pedifiles would like their rights to do what feels right to them, but it isn’t acceptable because the hurt it causes others. Their is damage done and we are to trust who we voted in office- what’s done is done, and we should support our leader- not continue to bash him! Will there ever be a day that everyone is going to be happy?
Boy SWA, you sure landed some winners. Carmen’s – if that IS your real name – comment is quite loon, but I will admit that I enjoy the opera.
I understand Obama’s “big tent” approach, but if you’re frightened of a “liberal” pastor, then grab a centrist. Make the homophobes and torture apologists work for their political capital by, you know, not being homophobes and torture apologists any longer.
RSF, maybe Obama doesn’t need cover for that.
Carmen, first, tell me where I “bashed” Obama.
You seem to believe gays and lesbians have no right to speak up for what they believe is right and fair. Worse, you try to equate their desire to be able to marry with the activities of addicts, adulterers and pedophiles.
Carmen, your comments indicate you’re ignorant about gays and lesbians, about them getting married, and about how and why the love life of gays and lesbians has nothing in common with addicts, adulterers or pedophiles.
Finally, you claim gays and lesbians getting married will harm others. That flies in the face of facts and logic.
Please, read the Newsweek article. It might not change your mind, but you might learn something.
RG, I don’t think even Gilbert and Sullivan would’ve touched that. I like you’re idea about working for political capital, though.
Obama ran his campaign with the theme that he was best suited to work with people who had disparate and opposing views. Obama has never wavered or capitulated in his support of gay rights. it would be inconsitent of Obama to stack his inauguration with folk who agree with him 100% of the time.
his selection of rick warren as the invocation speaker and joseph lowery as the benediction speaker is completely consistent with how Obama ran his campaign, how he picked his Cabinet members, and how he intends to run this country. we only move forward when we hear thoughts and opinions from all quarters. he is breaking the paradigm of right vs. left, blue vs. red, gay vs. straight, black vs. white… even though, rick warren’s message isn’t always one of inclusion, the message Obama sends must always be one of inclusion!
it may just be me, but i’m thinking the highlight of the inauguration will be Obama’s speech, not the 5 minute invocation by rick warren or the few minutes that joseph lowery chooses to close the show. although, i don’t subscribe to warren’s “politics”, i support Obama’s desire to bring those with differing viewpoints to his coming out party (no pun intended). Obama is going to be the president of people who support gay marriage as well as people who think all gays are going to Hell. as he has said so many times, we must learn to disagree without being disagreeable.
the groups who are protesting this minor speaking role at the inauguration are way off base.
plez, I think the gay community is especially insensed by Obama’s choice of Warren for several reasons, two big ones being: 1, they believe, rightly, that marriage is a basic human right and civil right they shouldn’t be denied; and 2, they had their hopes up after eight years of Republican rule, which was anything but kind toward them and their issues.
Yes, Obama is wise to consider a broad range of viewpoints and not arbitrarily shut out those whose views he doesn’t share. Yes, he’s going to be president of all the people. But your argument comes undone with this:
” . . .even though, rick warren’s message isn’t always one of inclusion . . .”
Exactly. “Unrepentant” gays can’t join Saddleback Church. Warren’s church funds an outfit that seeks to “rehabilitate” gays, which is quackery. You can’t brainwash a person’s sexual orientation out of them; you can only get them to repress it for a time, quite possibly doing psychological and emotional damage in the process. Gays’ orientation is as natural and normal for them as heterosexuals’ orientation is for them.
I agree Obama’s speech will be the main thing at his inauguration and that Warren’s role will be relatively minor. Still, Warren’s inclusion was an unnecessary and uncalled for slap in the face to several million Americans, most of whom supported Obama with money, votes and some with campaign work.
Symbolism matters. If Obama wanted to reach out and get Warren’s input, he could’ve invited him to the White House for a chat or to take part in a conference on social issues later on. As I explained in my post, IMO, inviting Warren to give the inaugural invocation is what’s way off base.
While I don’t agree with your position, I appreciate your taking the time to comment.
If marriage were a petty issue, I’d be married. Unless, of course, I decided not to bother over such a petty thing. Tsk. Such a logical quandary.
Your thoughts are generous and welcome, SW; I don’t apologize for taking it personally. Atheistic peace and goodwill to you from me at this exciting solstice time when the sun returns and, perhaps, some new enlightenment can spread across the land as the dark Bush years disappear over the horizon of the past.