Tell Us Your Thoughts on the Choice of Rick Warren to Give the Inaugural Invocation. Add Your Comments Below.

On PE Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation. Granted, I totally understand why many are seething concerning Obama's choice, and I too felt it to be a mistake also. However after thinking about it, it dawned on me, perhaps we are a bit myopic in our response. We all know that there has been a We vs Them mentality in this Country , especially over the last 8 years that has been fostered and allowed to permeate our politics. The separatist type division has done nothing to promote a unified nation. We've become what "they've" sowed and it has not worked. A nation divided will never heal. Yet ,we're conditioned to take sides and hope that our side wins. The cycle of wins and losses, We vs Them, has continued through the Bush Administration and the nation sank deeper .

On fortifying the notion of separatism. America has been doing this for eons. The Bush Administration ran on the "You're either with us or on the side of the terrorists" mentality. No matter where we look, the Right's hate wedge has been alive and well in areas of Religion, Education, Women's Reproductive Health, etc.

How long must we continue to maintain the status quo of hate and division in this country before we realize that it does not work. It does not allow for positive change. It merely perpetuates a divide. Don't you think that at some point in time , it would behoove all of us to finally realize that we cannot continue in this vein. As the saying goes, " insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results."

This Country obviously came together in November, by electing Barack Obama to be our President, and to think that he would merely work from the same premise that has kept this country divided would be a grave mistake. Is it possible that Obama actually meant CHANGE? Not merely changes that we agree with, but total revamping of our social collective consciousness. It is obvious to me that Barack Obama is not homophobic, and while his choice of Rick Warren appears to be right leaning, perhaps this is different way to do things in order to achieve a more desired result in order to close the gab that has been skillfully choreographed by right wing conservative movement. If we fail to respond in a separatist way, then doesn't that sort of deflate the air of a hateful movement?

It appears that the country as a whole has gone beyond the GLBT issues because a majority in this country came together and voted Obama in and the main issue was not sexual preferences, or same sex marriage . It was not the lead issue that it has been in the past. Given that, perhaps Obama , by naming Rick Warren to provide the inaugural invocation, is simply the first attempt at demolishing a divide. Because Gay Issues did not play an important role in electing Obama, then the entire issue is one that's been fostered and maintained while in reality, has little relevance to us as real people. Though the issue is still being generated by the conservative media, while in fact there are more people that do not have a problem with people's sexual preferences. Yes there are still those groups that have been able to continue their hate fest.Such as Prop 8 . Which is being contested.

However, I feel that the issue continues on only because of groups such as American Family Association that continue to receive air time, have remaining finances , order boycotts against companies, of which have never worked. So they seem to be talking to themselves as the Country moves on to confront real issues that face all of us. We're not about to waste our energy on an illusion , or a demand by a select few groups that will eventually fade from the forefront.Especially as the financial train wreak worsens and those groups financial resources dwindle even further. Those groups merely have the appearance of having large followers. Because if they did have a large following with any weight, Obama would not have even been elected. I feel that by having Rick Warren provide the inaugural invocation, places Warren in spot where he realizes that he cannot spew anything but positive. Even if he's lying through his teeth and is as hypocritical as they come, he's still being placed in the center.

And just as Barack Obama had stated that he would attempt diplomacy with Countries that Bush has deemed as terrorists, Obama has THE AUDACITY to go right to the enemy sort to speak and say, ok, I'm giving you air time, knowing that Warren cannot use it as a way to continue to spew hatred and inequality. Obama has control over Warren in a way.:-)

The time has come when we must unlearn the conditioned responses we've been taught for so many years and perhaps this is a start. After all, how better to UN-DIVIDE a Country than to place those that divided it by projected hate, and discrimination into a global limelight where they are no longer protected or supported by a majority of right wing conservatives. They may still have their agenda, however, they've lost their 15 minutes of fame and shame in a global sense. Even the UN on Thursday signed onto a human rights measure calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality. While the US failed to sign on, I trust this is due to whats left of the Conservatives and this will change in the future.

I believe that we are a lot stronger than the debilitated and dieing conservative movement. The election proved that. And while Warren may represent homophobia and thinks women are not allowed reproductive rights,and everything else I do not believe in, his message is not being received on the level it was 8 or 4 years ago. People are trying to figure out how to pay a mortgage, feed their children, and find employment as life has become harsher in these united states. And the financial downfall will also effect hate fest groups as even wealthy conservatives are loosing millions. America's priorities are being forced to change and we are re-prioritizing our needs.... Maslow was right. The Physiological level. Breathing, Food, Safety. We're all back at level one. Our financial downfall just may be our only salvation. Because when we thought that we had it all in terms of financial security and global superiority which meant you could buy and write your own hate filled political agenda , design special interest loopholes and project a false illusion , was when groups such as AFA and the ideals of Rick Warren, had the luxury to permeate a society that was ripe for abuse.Because everyone wanted to hold onto what they felt was important, in a material sense. So scapegoats were the order of the time. Well that has lost it's luster and is no longer in vogue amongst many that supported it.

Lastly, I also am not threatened by what Warren thinks,because I refuse to allow others to define or threaten or project on to me, their insane fears. I believe that many in this Country are strong in their beliefs, so much so, that Warren's words won't do squat . It merely makes him have to reposition or be real careful of how he speaks on Inauguration Day. Because it is quite evident, America has spoken and it will only be a matter of time before the hate fest is totally ignored and ultimately faded into oblivion as the real world addresses real issues, not wedge issues from an overly out dated worn out cookbook of hate. It just won't work and so what, Warren will have a few minutes on stage, don't let his presence affect or diminish the enormity of this historical event. It's an opening prayer, not a Bill. And it's up to us to show the dying conservative hate movement, that we are grounded and united by something other than the separatist, we vs them mentality . The hate fest movement has lost its political and financial clout, as well as the wind from their bleak sails which helped to promote it. Hopefully the divisions that were so carefully choreographed through the ages will fade away and we can move on as a Country which offers positive support in the diverse global world we live in. But! In order to do that, we must first close the division in our own Country, before we can become part of a new global peaceful tomorrow.
(excuse my wordiness and spelling errors)
Jude Rouslin

Miracles do happen. Rick Warren could have seen the light and have realized the errors of his ways in a clarifying 'Amazing Grace' moment.

During his invocation he could confess he was wrong to have encouraged divisiveness and hatred towards God's creatures. After all, God doesn't make mistakes when he creates another gay person, gay penguin or other kind of gay animal, humans do in their nonacceptance and hatred of God's reality.

Warren could also confess that since he himself is so lost in the spiritual wilderness, he is not worthy of leading anyone to anywhere, so he will be disbanding his mega profit producing church, selling off all the assets, and donating all the proceeds to starving children around the world.

He could also ask everyone to embrace gays, and non Christians as being God's children too.

He could say a lot of things that would be inspirational and unifying.

I doubt he will come over from the dark side and reject his anti Christ, but one can always hope for a miracle. After all, we do have the first biracial president in modern times, who at this moment, still seems to be working mostly for the benefit of WE THE PEOPLE.

For the first time in my life. I choose not to be part of this great event. He has made an unforgiveable mistake as far as I am concerned. I am not part of the community which he has stabbed, just an American who believes in all Men and Women have equal Rights in all things. Marriage is a Basic Human Right. The Supreme Court agrees with me on this one.
That a man who is being sworn into the position of President of the United Staes, because many of those who are LGBT fought for his Right to be a full American citizen, is using a person who denies their Rights as American Citizens to gain points with those people who deny Rights to those they oppose, is outrageous.
I would think that Loving v. Virginia, would make this whole argument mote. This is what the trial judge said which was overturned in this decision on marriage: "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix". Does this not sound like every Christian extremist when they quote the Bible for their stand against Gay Marriage?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia; one would think that the decision ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States would have covered this whole debate. But for some reason Race being used to deny the Right to marry is different than Sexual Preference. Hopefully the Loving ruling will eventually aid the marriage equality movement for same-sex partnerships, if courts allow the Equal Protection Clause to be used. But only if we do not give a platform to those who oppose Equal Rights for All Americans.
I have given Mr. Obama some slack on his appointments, which have disappointed me to no end. Where is the Progressive, Fresh, Non-Washington Insiders that we were promised? He was elected with a Mandate to change this country, to change Washington, to bring Justice back. To bring about a more perfect Union. To stop with the old Extreme Religious Right ruling of our Country.
Then he goes and gives a world platform to the New Face of the Hateful Religious Intolerance that American's said "NO" to with our money given to elect Mr. Obama, with our hard work by the millions, to get Mr. Obama elected and with our precious vote, which did get Mr. Obama elected. We told him what we wanted. He said he listened and would always listen to us. And he told us that he was CHANGE! He told us that words did not do it, but to watch him and by his actions we could judge him. He told us that those who hate would not have a place at the table anymore. That Justice mattered. Well, he has given a hateful little man a place at the table. There were so many other Spiritual Leaders he could have chosen for this position. The whole world will be watching and will believe that Mr. Obama agrees with this man and the hate that he preaches, the divisive that he lives, and that America has not changed.
I have now judged Mr. Obama by his actions. And found him wanting. I am looking for a person who will do as she/he said she/he would and bring about true justice for all Americans. I am afraid that it past time for a new Party to emerge. Maybe two new Party's. One for the Conservatives and one for the Progressives. I think all sides are becoming more and more disappointed in the two Party's we now have.
Keep religion in the homes and churches and out of our Government. The Founding Father's had much to say about this subject. Look it up and read about it. Then let's talk. Don't allow those who believe a certain way, which hurts fellow Americans, a place at the table. Only those who want all Americans to be able to stand up and count on their Basic Civil Rights, which the Supreme Court said that Marriage was, a Basic Civil Right.
I am sorry about my vote. The first time that I have been sorry so soon afterward. I am ashamed that a man used me and millions of others to get power, but then turns on our core beliefs, because he now has this power, and thinks he does not need his base.
Too bad he thinks this. He will find out that he does. He truly does need the Progressive base.
Where does he think all the money came from? Where does he think all the passion came from? The volunteers were Progressive! The money and the passion are with the Progressives. The most Progressive people in America, and he has just slapped them down. Bad move, Mr. Obama!