I've read so many over-the-top comments here the last 24 hours that it is driving me nuts!
Rick Warren is NOT "swearing Obama in." (The chief justice does that!)
Rick Warren will not be "touting homophobic views to a national audience."
Rick Warren will not be "invocating hate."
Rick Warren will NOY be "setting Obama's agenda."
Rick Warren will be saying a damned little opening prayer to God that our new leader is successful and can help us overcome our problems.
[I prefer no prayer or religion at all. But that likely won't ever change.]
As a lesbian, I'm sick of seeing so many white gay male bloggers act like Hitler (or David Duke) just got nominated to a cabinet position.
Though I obviously do not agree with Rick Warren on his feelings about gay marriage, etc...sadly, even a majority of liberal Californians voted in line with him. Do we just excommunicate millions and millions of people who feel that way? Do we just cut off half of America, even those who are otherwise trying to be decent people? I bet we have family members who feel the same, yet we embrace them, try to find common ground, and try get them to change their minds.
I've seen Rick Warren on a number of television programs, etc and never once was he preaching hate. He was always talking about poverty, or AIDS, etc. He doesn't come off as someone who seeks to preach intolerance, but is just ignorant. But, he does donate 90% of all his money to charity - something that I bet none of you do.
Joseph Lowery is speaking too, and my guess that part of his prayer WILL be about being united, about promoting equality for all, etc. Yet, everyone is super quick to overlook that. Why? WHY? Why doesn't that matter? Ask yourselves that.
Obama is not "pandering." He's said all along that our problems are too big for politics and that we've got to find common ground. Don't you think that millions of people who are truly inspired by Warren's message will try to have some good faith in Obama now? That even though they'll disagree with him on abortion and gay rights, they'll be willing to embrace his economic policies in ways that they might not have otherwise???
The gay community (mostly white-led) needs to get over itself and accept that sadly at least half this country agrees with Warren. We have to educate, not just cut people off. We need to respect that Lowery will be there speaking our message and not just dismiss him!