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Dec 19 2008, 8:52 AM EST (current) JimRamelis 537 words added
Dec 19 2008, 8:50 AM EST JimRamelis

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President-elect Obama is taking some heat for his selection of Pastor Rick Warren to deliver his inaugural invocation. Pastor Rick Warren was a big supporter of Prop. 8 in the recent election in California. Warren has been outspoken in his opposition to woman’s right to choose as well as Gay Rights. I admit I was surprised at Obama’s choice and did agree with Progressive voices that felt sold out. Warren has a goatee and a patch, and wears Hawaiian shirts, but otherwise is just a younger, hipper, smoother version of Jerry Falwell. (He even looks a little like him). Same old intolerance just repackaged. Warren is doing some good work for AIDS/HIV, and does seem to have some concern for leading people to God and encouraging some spiritual introspection.He isn’t all about getting his followers to vote for the conservative agenda. This is all to his favor. Politically though, it did appear as if Obama had just picked the biggest star on the evangelical scene , regardless of Warren’s views that conflicted with those of some of Obama supporters. I listened to Thom Hartmann on Air America for a while yesterday though, and my heart got a little softer. Hartmann pointed out that Obama is reaching out to someone who doesn’t agree with him on all issues. We just had 8 years of ideology first and to heck pragmatism and reality, a my way or the highway mentality, and a you are either for us or against us philosophy. You better believe George Bush would not have a United Church of Christ liberal doing his inaugural invocation. I was fuming about Bush now talking about a “managed bankruptcy” for the auto industry, this would allow for the destruction of the U.A. W, the same idea the Southern Senators who led the way against rescuing the auto industry in the Senate, had in mind. Like Thom Hartmann, I thought for once Bush was going to put the needs of the country before his failed conservative ideology, WRONG! And what does this have to do with the inauguration? Obama is not demanding that everyone involved be loyal to his ideology exclusively. he is being inclusive. I then read Obama’s talking points on the issue and some of them do make sense. Obama points out this is going to be the most open and inclusive inauguration ever and it includes participation of a group representing LGBT in the inaugural parade. Obama says he is committed to bring all sides of the faith community together. And Obama points out that he and Warren agree on many social justice issues, poverty relief, and working for a sustainable planet. Rev. Joseph Lowery is going to give the invocation and he has been pro-Gay rights in the past. Okay, I guess I can live with Obama’s decision for now. I will still believe for the time being. I have said all along that the struggle for Gay rights is not going to be like any other civil rights issue. It is going to be much harder. It is going to be the equivalent of man walking upright or discovering fire. It is going to require a huge shift in consciousness in the human race.