The Wind Is Out of My Sails
As we head into the inauguration of Barack Obama, it never occurred to me that I'd feel anything less than ecstatic. The hope that Obama might be president consumed me totally this year, from his epic battle with HRC to his victory speech in Chicago (which I, with tears in my eyes, watched over and over again on YouTube, along with clips of spontaneous street celebrations erupting throughout the country on election night). But with his choosing Rick Warren to do the invocation -- yes, another gay talking about Rick Warren -- I'm feeling blasé; the wind is out of my sails.
All year long, I shouted at the TV when I thought Obama was being treated unfairly by the media (yup, I believed he was mostly treated shabbily by the punditry). I defended him against my Hillary-loving mother, who insisted that Obama was a lightweight with a good smile and a strut he hadn't earned. I contributed, I blogged, I argued. My partner spent an unpaid month volunteering in Philadelphia, working out of a cold office with shared, rented cellphones and no computers. We bought posters and buttons -- a giant, well-designed 'get out the vote' sticker still used as décor in our bathroom, the bumper sticker still prominently displayed on the car. But now this.
What Obama and his folks maybe didn't realize is that this is not the year to antagonize gay people. We're fed up. Ironically, it was because I was so passionately focused on Obama winning the presidency that I paid next to no attention to the Prop 8 battle. It was only afterwards, especially when I realized that certain organizations had mobilized a campaign to target gays, that I woke up. It's of no interest to me whether Rick Warren appears as an empathetic or warmhearted man. What matters is what comes out of Warren's mouth. What he preaches, what he and his church stand for.
I've read about Obama's friends. Is anyone in his close circle gay? Does he have any friends who are gay? Who is his gay adviser? Maybe some of the gay people who so passionately wanted Hillary to win were on to something when they told me that they suspected that Obama didn't really like the gays.
So, of course I'll be watching the inauguration, but if someone blocks my view, I'll be perfectly content to give it up and go to the back of the room -- where apparently Obama thinks I belong anyway.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
I'm sick at heart over this too. I say let it propel us to fight every battle, small or large, until we are treated equally under the law.
Bucky's comment bears repeating:
The fact that Obama seems to think that equal rights for every American is something that we can disagree on and somehow meet in the middle is the worrying problem here.
Equality or not? Which is it, Obama?
Me, too, Mario, me, too. I worked for and contributed to Obama's campaign, donated stuff to the campaign office, mobilized, cajoled, canvassed in hostile territory. . . Now I've ripped the bumper stickers off my car and am making other plans for January 20. I can't bear to watch. It'll be a sad day. . .We elected an African American who just doesn't get it. His hard won rights are civil rights, but gay civil rights are a "social issue".
Live and learn. Elect gay people, or at least make the rest pledge specific pieces of legislation (or executive orders) by specific dates.
Mario, I read your message and realized I have been having the exact same reaction. The wind has been taken out of my sails too.
Looking back over the past few months, I don't even want to add up all of the time and effort I have invested in Barack becoming the next President. And so the big day on January 20th should be a great event. But like you point out, I won't be disappointed if someone is blocking my view.
As many point out, Warren is only giving a short opening prayer. It isn't as if he is being handed a policy making position. But for Obama to feel that it is okay to give a place on the world stage to someone who thinks - and preaches to his followers – that my relationship with another man is somehow less than that of his with his wife is a disappointment. The feeling of being let down isn't so much in what Rick Warren will say, or what he does, or what he believes; it is the fact that Barack Obama thinks it is appropriate for this man to have a place at the table.
I think you ask a very important question about who are the gay influences on Obama's life. If he had any close gay friends or acquaintances, he might have a better idea of how hard it is for us to really feel included in a day that we would like to be celebrating.
To understand Obama's choice of Rick Warren to make a prayer at the inauguration, and why it reflects how Obama believes he is going to advance civil rights, may I suggest you read:
Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin.
If you don't have time for that, you might read a very good review of the book in The Economist:
http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12202525
Obama has a very clear idea of how to get to where we all want to go. He believes that he must engage and acknowledge the people with whom he wishes to achieve compromise, agreement and concession. It is in all our interests to support Obama and give him a chance to show whether this will work or not. The opposite path definitely doesn't seem to work too well.
In the current case, many people are against gay marriage. I believe that to a great extent, this is fundamentally because they believe gay marriage is a threat to their own way of life. You may not ever convince most people that gay marriage is ok, any more than you are likely to convince most people to abandon any of their prejudices. But you have a better chance of people coming to see that things they don't believe in are still not a threat to them. That is the ideal of a pluralistic society, and also its continual challenge.
The point of our disagreement, RHE, is that when it comes to equality for all and civil rights, there can be no "compromise, agreement and concession." My rights aren't a bargaining chit. Equality before the law is my basic right as an American citizen. There can be no compromise that makes me into a second class citizen.
Despite what the Christianists would have us all believe, equality before the law for gays and lesbians isn't a religious issue. It isn't a social issue. It is a legal and moral issue.
Simple as that.
The fact that Obama seems to think that equal rights for every American is something that we can disagree on and somehow meet in the middle is the worrying problem here.
Equal rights before the law. Nothing more. Nothing less.
part 2
We are all human beings. All humans at some time or another have moved to other regions and countries to escape social political problems.
Israelites from Egypt
Pilgrims from England
Irish from famine
Europeans from war torn Egypt
Slaves to Northern States and Canada
Draft Dodgers to Canada
Mexicans looking for work in the US
... to name just a few
There are people in Haiti eating dirt cookies cause there is no food. There are homeless and starving in this country. There is cholera epidemic in Africa...
But no wait... I am worried about someone giving a prayer... 'My civil rights are being repressed'
GIVE ME A BLEEPING BREAK.... STOP IT!!!!
The only peoples in this country with a reason to gripe is the Native Americans... All others are trespassers.
Evidently this has developed into a forum on Gay Rights in American. Earlier posts have stated that Canada acknowledges Gay Marriages and Rights and everything is wonderful there. There are other countries that have the same policies, as well.
Even though a good lawyer could argue for gay rights by the wording of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (see Title VII).
No one says a homosexual has to stay in the US and beat their head against a wall of intolerance. Why do so? Why not just move to a happier more tolerant place, if things are absolutely so horrible here?
Earlier comments stated that because a person is of white German descent that they nothing about injustice. German-Americans were persecuted during and after world war II and still are. Many fled Nazi Germany because of the social political scene and property being seized there, only to have to change their names in order to survive in the USA. Hundreds of German-American companies were seized by the federal government and handed to good old Americans. Bayer Aspirin is a classic example.
To this day, the Nazi label is still applied to the German people both American and European. Very few Germans even during WWII supported what was going on in their country.
So get off the 'woe is me' bandwagon. Stop the 'you are white so you don't know about suffering'. It is tiresome.
Obama's pick of Rick Warren to speak at the Inaugural is disgraceful and a slap in the face to all those people who worked so hard for so long to get him elected. But I am not all that surprised by Obama's decision. He did not get elected by standing up for important principles. On the contrary, his election was the triumph of personality over principles. He is an opportunist, lacking in any really frim commitment to civil rights for gay people. He looks more and more like Bill Clinton in black-face - and that is not a good thing. Obama seems to be signalling that he intends to govern from the "center" - which means accomadating religious biggots - like Warren - and the idiots who follow them. Obama is a very clever fellow, but I seriously doubt that he has any strong priniciples or the courage to stand up for them. Unlike John Edwards, he was careful never to challenge the corporate control of government or to speak directly and passionately about ending poverty in America. And that is why Wall Street supported him over McCain. "Change" is a meaningless mantra. I predict that Obamas' election will not radically alter the status quo of American politics in any way.
Actually, he said repeatedly one of the goals of his first term is to get rid of "don't ask, don't tell." But don't let facts get in the way of your rant.
I am tired of everyone telling me that I'm making more of this than I should. That they too have policy disagreements with Obama and don't approve of all of his appointments.
I'm sorry, by my humanity and equality under the Constitution aren't a policy disagreement. My civil rights aren't a "social issue" where we can agree to disagree.
The stunning and crushing thing about this is that it demonstrates a complete lack of moral and political leadership in Obama. It is, after all, a simple moral issue. Either all Americans are equal under the law, or we are not. Some can't be more equal than others.
Yes, Warren is just giving a prayer not making policy. But this is an historic moment. A powerful moment in our country's journey. And this is the time and place that Obama chose to elevate a man who believes that gays and lesbians shouldn't be a part of America. That we don't deserve the same promise of life, libert and pursuit of happiness as others.
Warren is just a symbol. But symbols have meaning. And Obama's knowing selection of Warren is a strong symbol and a strong message to the gay community.
Message received, Mr. President Elect.
I watched and wept with joy the night Obama was elected. On Jan 20th, I won't be watching, but I'll still be weeping. But not with joy.
Another poster who completely ignores and disrespects the Rev. Lowery, a civil rights icon and gay rights supporter who will deliver the closing prayer and "final word" of the ceremony.
I will weep that many in the LGBT community have chosen to turn their back on this man.
I appreciate the limited support of Lowery in regards to gay civil rights. But as he himself reiterated just a few days ago, he is strong against marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
So your "bookend" theory of the inauguration and why I shouldn't be upset leaves me unimpressed. On one end Obama has Warren -- a man who thinks I shouldn't exist -- and on the other he has Lowery -- a man who thinks I only deserve second class citizenship. And we presume that Obama lies somewhere in the middle of this spectrum of tolerance.
As I said, I'm unimpressed.
I deserve nothing less than full equal rights before the law. That is my birthright as an American citizen.
It is as simple as that. No more. No less.
I will weep that so many in the progressive community can't understand that simple fact and are more than happy to throw civil rights equality for all overboard in the name of political expediency.
It is so good to see that somebody sees the big picture. Keep it up.
That is exactly how I feel, Mario.
Mr. Ruiz, why are you so narrowminded? The man is not president yet and all you can think of is who is going to pray. Warren is not setting policy. It is just a prayer. There are many people that are do not like blacks or other minority. Where were you guys then?
Mario:
Thank you. I don't think the Obama people understand how many Hillary voters were gay men, and how many of them right now are more the PUMA's the media thought would screw up the convention than the PUMA's themselves.
And yeah, this is not the year to mess with us. Or to tell us we don't matter, or the year to tell us this is just strategy towards some long-term end, or some other crap. I have friends sending me protest art to approve for Jan. 20th. They need to cope. Or it isn't going to be pretty.
Maybe in that art, you should include yourself stepping on the Rev. Lowery, the civil rights pioneer who supports gay rights and will deliver the benediction, the closing prayer of the ceremony. Because that's pretty much how you are treating the man.
Part 2
I wonder what part of separation of church a state that Obama doesn't understand. Time will tell whether Obama will betray those that supported him. He has all the signs as being another Clinton, big on talk but little on action. I see a future of broken promises and excuses. His votes on FISA. the $700 billion bailout, and many other positions he has redined of restated as being the sign of a mugwump. I hope for our country's sake I am wrong. But a man who raises hundreds of millions from corporations and their lobbys will pretty certainly dance to his owners piping.
There is only bit of official business to be done that day. The swearing-in. The rest is all theater, not official government business.
Things to remember continued...
5... Please look at the larger picture and stop worrying about yourself. There are many bigger problems in the world than this issue (who he chose to give a prayer). Talk about a 'me' generation. If one wishes to be considered equal, one should not spend so much time pointing out they are different.
6... I could care less what you do in the privacy of your own home or with who... It is a private matter, please keep it that way. Notice that I do not share that information (that is between me and my partner).
7... Obama appears to be an individual that is willing to listen to outside opinions that may be different than his own. It is called being open minded. Too many claim to be open minded just because they have a view from the left but yet they only want to hear their own views echoed back to them. This mind set is no better than that of the fundamentalist right. Both sides have the right to express their opinion (great country we live in).
Take a clue from the one elected president and learn about others and their views. Maybe then the country will grow as a whole.
Happy Holidays
the country would grow as a whole if would recognize intolerance and be outraged, not give it a platform.
By giving all this attention and outrage to this issue we are only making the issue bigger. I had never heard of Warren until the press coverage of the outrage and the drama. Without it Warren and his views would have come and gone and been forgotten.
Personally, I do not believe there should be a prayer at the inauguration at all. But it is tradition it would seem. And no matter who was chosen, not everybody would have been happy. Again... two are chosen and they were his choice. When you are president it will be your choice.
Was anyone concerned with Warren and his view points prior to this?
You have given him his platform by spending all this energy on it.
Intolerance is not being given a platform. Warren will give a 2-minute general prayer. The Rev. Lowery, a gay rights supporter, will give a general prayer as benediction. Chief Justice Roberts, who likely opposes abortion rights, will swear in Obama as president.
Neither gay rights nor abortion rights will be part of the program.
it would grow even more if it would quit telling people who are being discriminated against to 'get over it' or, as you like to put it, "stop worrying about youself". But by making one of your points "please keep it that way" you tell me all I need to know about yourself hence your "points" are moot.
Ah subtle attempt at insult... Again you make my point for me... see original comment number 7.
Note... I am an objectivist... read up on it... and read my comments again
your arrogance is mind numbing. civil liberties are for selfish people? get a grip. hold your lectures. you are the last person to lecture anyone about being open minded.
Arrogance? Not sure I deserved that. But that i a typical response when a group encounters someone with a differing opinion.
Arrogance be to say something like this: Obviously you are incapable of understanding the thoughts i have put force or the vocabulary.
Note: At no point have I written those words?
I am not the one being defensive...
OK different path. Prior to Warren pick for inauguration did anyone here discuss him? Did anyone do anything to confront him at his mega church?
Things to remember...
1... There are two people giving prayers at the inauguration. A Methodist (a walking history of the civil rights movement) and a Southern Baptist. In other words; one from the left and one from the right. Obviously an effort on the President Elect's part to be inclusive. Billy Graham gave this prayer for years; anyone complaining about him.
2... Christianity does not support gay marriage. It's a Biblical thing.
3... There is a difference between marriage under law and marriage under religion. Anyone who is willing to commit a lifetime to a partner should have the right under law to a civil union. But under the Christian Church a homosexual does not have the right of marriage.
4... We live in a country that was founded by Christian peoples (like it or not). We live in a country in which heterosexual relationships are the norm. If one chooses to live outside the norm, one must accept the consequences of that choice. Just as if one chose to be goth back in the 80's (personal experience) one accepted the ridicule from others that considered them weird and scary.
continued...
Wanting to have equal rights is somehow selfish? How about if we take away your rights? Would you be outraged? I guess you would just keep your feelings to yourself, no biggie. Obama's decesion is dispicable and in no way shows he is open to other legitmate opinions. No one has the luxury to preach the bile Warren doea and have it considered a legitimate :opinion" that should be heard much less respected.
Are your hateful comments any better than his?
We have all had our rights taken away... Patriot Act for one... Suburban sprawl ruining the environment and the economy for another... people moving to the country but expecting amenities of the city for another... people expecting the government to bail them out for making bad decisions...
Everyone has the right to their opinion... you do and I respect your opinion
But evidently I do not have a right to have my own if it does not agree with yours... see part 7 of original comments...
It is an inauguration ceremony, not a forum on gay rights. Gay rights activists have no right to dictate who is or is not part of the program. Neither do abortion rights activists. Neither do groups who oppose farm subsidies. This is neither the time nor the place.
There are many important, significant battles to be fought in defense of gay rights. This is not one of them.
None of us cares about your Christianity. We want civil marriage just like you get.
I never said I am Christian, I am not. But I have been a student of various religions and belong to none. I also never said whether I am gay or straight. Do not assume.
I am an Objectivist.
I am disputing your right to a civil union under law. But the majority of voters do not appear to think as I do.
None of you seem to care about anything but yourselves... and how do you dare assume my orientation?
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
