I’m not happy about Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. Why is there an “invocation” anyway, and why does religion have a place in the inauguration? If religion plays a role in this event, why have a big fat Christian evangelist and not a Jewish rabbi or Buddhist priest?
I thought Rick Warren was just kind of harmless until I learned that he is a staunch opponent of gay marriage and an unrepentant homophobe. He was an outspoken supporter of Proposition 8 in California, and he compares gays to pedophiles and pizza.
On the other hand, he defends himself by saying that he’s crazy about Melissa Ethridge and that he’s “eaten in gay homes.” I guess that means he’s even eaten GAY FOOD, too!
What an idiot. Change Melissa Ethridge to Aretha Franklin, and gay homes to Black homes, and you’ve got an idiotic statement from an obvious bigot.
What makes Christians so frightened of gays?! It makes even less sense that the rest of their belief system. Thank goodness we have attorney general Jerry Brown to ask the California Supreme Court to invalidate Prop. 8, saying it “deprives people of the right to marry, an aspect of liberty that the Supreme Court has concluded is guaranteed by the California Constitution.”
I’d like Rick Warren to mind his own business and let the rest of us live our lives as we please, whether Purposeful or Purposeless. He is welcome to Melissa Ethridge though.
Ugh. That Rick guy is gross, as are all those of his ilk.
Any mention of Jerry Brown just reminds me of this really, really dumb boyfriend I had when I was 16 (really sexy, but really stupid). I remember him earnestly explaining to my little brother how the DK’s song “California Uber Alles” was about this guy called Jerry Brown who was secretly a nazi (like an ACTUAL Hitler-type nazi) plotting to take over America.
And why are they so insecure about their faith?
And why oh why are the Jenny Macarthy and the “Defeat Autism Now” crowd always christians?
Mr Hammie and I were talking about it yesterday (Well I was ranting and he was agreeing mildly) and we figure it is the same as Homeopathic medicine, it doesnt work if you don’t believe in it. (it doesnt work anyway but the poor believers feel better
I don’t give a flying Feck if someone doubts my belief in applied science and evolution, but these guys get freaked out when I compare Jebus to Father Christmas. “He won’t come and he won’t bring you presents if you don’t believe in him”
well I say “what has Jebus done for YOU lately?”
xx
I would have to disagree with the Homeopathic connection.
In fact, I reckon you could use Homeopathic principles to cure Rick Warren and all these sick Christians. Lock him into a room with a gorgeous gay man who proceeds to maul him–his homophobia would be cured for ever more. The only possible explanation for homophobia is closet faggetry.
I am very optimistic about the Obama admin in general but this appalled me. It makes me sick that the defenders of the decision are talking about the need to be “inclusive” and “tolerant” of the Christian right that Warren supposedly represents. Why be tolerant of intolerance? Why invite bigoted assholes to the party? It’s outrageous. I can’t even watch the inauguration on TV now, and I was so looking forward to it.
I don’t understand Christians who are afraid of homosexuality, but I wonder if it has to do with being afraid of any sexuality to begin with, and then the idea that someone talking about their sexuality makes them think about it and feel all icky. Idiots. Thankfully, I know plenty of Christians who voted against prop 8.
What’s wrong with pizza? 😉
I’m a Christian and a church-goer, but I wish there wasn’t an invocation at the inauguration. It is a state occasion, not a religious one. Let’s not pretend that God is on the side of Americans. I hate it when politicians end speeches with “And may God bless America.” If we’re going to invoke God, let’s mention the billions of people without adequate food or water. If we’re a “Christian” country – shouldn’t we be mobilizing ourselves to help others????
Rick Warren is a HORRIBLE pick. If you’re going to have an invocation, pick someone who never says anything political from the pulpit (there are a few; well, more than a few—but they are not high profile). I love the idea of getting a rep from the 5 major religions and then maybe a Wiccan or an occultist or something too.
I had a long Twitter conversation with a guy who is not a person of faith but was congratulating BHO on a good political pick (Warren). BARF!
NO ON H8TE! Go Jerry Brown!!!
I found this choice disheartening and perplexing, too. Seriously, Obama, WTF?
Is EVERYbody missing the subtext in his saying he’s ‘eaten in gay homes’? He’s probably flossed with gay pubes too. Come on Wolfettes! Give the queer guy a break! He’s gonna have to come out to all of America soon, not just Moms and Pops.
ah! yes Nick of course, why didn’t I spot that.
xx
We on the sailing vessel Insomnia have stocked up on painkillers and other important medicines (some of them homeopathic) in preparation for many instances like the gay-hating-Jesus-guy giving the utterly meaningless invocation. It will happen repeatedly over the course of the next (hopefully) 8 years. Let them natter on, ignore them, and continue doing your good work. Hopefully they will be placated by these brief appearances and will slither back to their church and leave us alone for a while
My you all hate bigots and you all being so broad minded yourselves.
john cramer, I had to read your ‘sentence’ three times before I understood what you were getting at. What have you got against punctuation? Or do you write like that deliberately in order to show your solidarity with other uneducated fag-haters?
That’s the sucky part of being on the good side. WE have to be nice, to be tolerant, to these squeaky squeeze-box spewers, yet they would never extend the same courtesy to us. Imagine John McCain inviting the Rev. Al Sharpton to be his inauguration invocation-giver, or Starhawk, or the Dalai Lama. NEVER WOULD HAPPEN. Yet we, because we are all tolerant and mush-brained and shit, welcome the wolves into our house. They eat the children and shit on the carpet, and all we can say is “Well, we welcome wolfy diversity” or something like that.
Not to slander wolves. Sorry.
I suppose if Obama had asked a Muslim cleric, that would’ve been too much hahaha!!!
What’s wrong with pizza?
Obama should have picked Reverent Wright – just for fun and giggles. And someone from the Nation of Islam for the encore.
That chubby guy looks dull and wears an ugly shirt. He’s performing in front of a huge cross but all I can see is his big belly. He shouldn’t spend so much time eating queer pizzas in gay homes. Also too, I’m not familiar with his repertoire but I don’t suppose he preaches against gluttony too often.
Obama looks good without his shirt, though. Maybe he and Rick Warren will do a topless show? Spartacus..
Juri! Eeeewwww!!! The image of Warren shirtless is now burned in to my brain and has made me extremely sick to my stomach.
Why is Obama “honoring” this bigot by allowing him to do the invocation. Who suggested this ugly, chubby, horrible man for this?
yuk, the purpose driven life guy. I shudder to think of him standing next to Obama on the Capitol steps.
Fuck Rick Warren and fuck Obama for choosing him. It’s a matter of days ’til RW is busted in a Denny’s restroom.