Thursday, December 18, 2008

Not the Time or the Place

I'm so very disappointed. And hurt. And angry. Obama has chosen Rick Warren, one of the most vocal and staunch supporters of Prop 8, to give the invocation at his inauguration.

I heard him on NPR this morning, saying that this is a time to come together.

President-elect, I'm not ready. This issue still continues to gall me. And I'm beginning to doubt you when you say you support gay and lesbian rights, all the while giving a most glorious job to the person who worked hard to defeat those rights.

It's one thing to put Warren on a committee of religious leaders to work through these issues. It's quite another to have him as one of the stars of this event.

I was so looking forward to January 20, and celebrating your inauguration. Now it's completely tainted. I feel like I've been slapped in the face. Or punched in the gut.

I fear it's probably too late for anything to change. Because if Obama pulls the invite now, then he upsets a whole other set of folks.

I disagree that this brings us together. This pulls us entirely apart. I don't understand the reasoning behind picking a very controversial figure for this event. If you want us to come together, then the people on that stage with you should be those that also believe in bringing people together, not pulling us apart.

I'm so upset.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

April, I know it's hard to stomach, but I really just see this as the first in the line of many mistakes Obama will inevitably make. He's human.

But, personally, I'm floored.

FreedomFirst said...

Hmm. Being on the other side of this particular issue, I wonder why Rick Warren (whom I hadn't heard of so I don't know what I think of him) would be willing to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration. It sounds like, as usual, the issue is all about political constituency and not about moral beliefs.

Don Mills Diva said...

It is surprising but I tend to agree with Natalie - I can't see how Obama can possibly avoid disappointing people considering the build up he has had.

Jen said...

My issue, as I've already written you, is that this isn't the only disappointment so far. I know he's going to make mistakes, but I think he's reaching really far across that aisle, and I'm not sure it's working for him.

I know it's not working for me.

And I agree with you 400% on Warren.

hugabug1 said...

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why is the GLBT community more important than the evangelical community. If Obama truly wants to bring everyone together then he should be doing something that would show the "opposition" that he's serious about it. It would appear to me that his views on gay rights are pretty well known. Why should he not take an opportunity to reach out to those who are worried about his presidency? Does every political decision he makes have to first be run through the filter of "Will this upset the GLBT community?"

Don't get me wrong - I still don't believe he does anything without believing that it will further his career in some way. It will take a lot more time for me decide that he's truly sincere. I believe he chose Rick Warren because he's popular with the people who are Obama's largest group of detractors and he wants them on his side. I understand how this decision would be very upsetting to the GLBT community. What I don't understand is why they should be a more important group when it comes to who Obama is going try to please.

I'm not sure all of that came out the way I intended. If it was offensive, I'm sorry. I didn't intend for it to be. I'm just trying to present a different viewpoint.

April said...

hugabug1 -
Because this inauguration should be a chance for EVERYONE to celebrate. This decision means that some people will not.
I find it hard to believe that there are NO religious leaders out there that are not controversial. It would be more in the spirit of celebrating ALL Americans if it were someone who wasn't known to be offensive.
There were many religious institutions that were NOT targeted by the GLBT.
Like I said, I believe that Warren should be included on a community of diverse religious leaders to discuss issues.
But this occasion is not the appropriate one, in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Ugh April, I reread my comment and I hope it didn't sound like I was being snide...

You know I didn't mean it that way and I wish I had written it to you privately.

Anonymous said...

Obama needs to stop playing chess for a moment and just pick the right person--for everyone, as much as that is possible. Why reach across a divide at his inauguration? That's the time to make a statement that things are a changin'. Make the other side come to you, you don't have to go over to them.

Tara R. said...

I was quite taken aback for this too, and I even voted for the other guy. Not a cool move at all.

Suzie said...

Crazy such intollerence is allowed.

won said...

Without getting into this or that, I just wanted to say that I am definitely impressed how widely debated this has become...on news shows, talks shows, local media and your blog....

Definitely a hot button...

Shiona said...

Yes it does seem that some of his ways to unite people are ot doing that. It is interesting that a person like this would even want to do it...