Where can I find the "His and His" towels??
I’ve been amazed at the debate and general hoopla that the inauguration, and in particular the selected guest participants has caused. As President Elect Obama has publicized various speakers for his festivities, there have been protests and outcries from all around. Not surprising given his diverse and inclusive line-up. Among the noteworthy headliners are Gene Robinson, (the first openly gay Episcopal priest) who will deliver an invocation at one of the inaugural events, the Rev Sharon Walker who will be delivering the inaugural sermon and Rick Warren who will give the formal inaugural invocation.
Frankly, I absolutely am thrilled with Obama’s choices.. There’s a little something to delight and offend everyone. The liberals and gays get Gene Robinson to represent the far left and the conservative GOP types get Rick Warren giving the shout out for those on the far right. And for those kinda in the middle, we’ve got Sharon Walker embodying delightful blending of the two sides by being both conservative and Christian but still a female in clergy leadership. It’s like he has a checklist of stereotypical politico types and made sure there’s at least something on the menu for everyone to enjoy..
Don’t like the fish? Try the chicken! Don’t eat meat? We’ve got pasta as well. It’s a buffet style inauguration!
In all of the uproar, the one that surprised me the most was the objection to Dr. Warren leading the inaugural invocation. His personal beliefs aside, you have to admit, he is an inspirational writer and charismatic leader. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, has the distinction of being on the NY Times Bestseller list for longer than any other advice / self-help book to date. I personally loved the book and found a great deal of inspiration in it and the notion that our lives have a divine purpose and we are responsible for seeking and living that purpose. I deeply admire Dr. Warren, however, at no time in the book did I ask myself “I wonder what he thinks about gay marriage?”.. Of course, I also didn’t contemplate Dr. Warren’s position on gun control or low income housing subsidies either.. I simply read the book and absorbed its message.
Maybe it’s just me, but I form my own opinions, my own beliefs and have developed my own understanding of the Bible. Having Dr. Warren give an invocation isn’t going to suddenly make me march in support of Proposition 8. No more so than listening to Rev. Robinson is going to suddenly make anyone march in a gay pride parade. It’s the same principle as celebrity endorsements. At no time during the election did I waver in my convictions based on Oprah’s opinions. I have never asked my self “What would Angelina do?”.
Why is it so threatening to have speakers who may believe differently than we do? I’d be willing to lay big money out to bet that Dr. Warren’s prayer probably won’t include anything along the lines of “Bless our new President.. Oh and by the way, guide his heart to make sure that only straight Christians get to be married.. Amen”..
Of course, that being said, I couldn’t help but be amused to read that Dr. Warren’s defense of his position included the laughingly classic line “I have gay friends.”. Dr. Warren has gay friends? Isn’t that special.. I don’t want to toot my own horn but I can one up him. Not only have I actually broken bread with the gays but I also have black friends.. And just in case that’s not enough to convince people I’m just as fabulous and open minded as he is, allow me to share that I’ve also been known to associate with Jews.. I even once exchanged pleasantries with a Muslim. Aren’t I just the most progressive darling girl you’ve ever met?!
Sorry, sarcasm is my native tongue.
But back to the issue at hand. I am well aware that some people strongly believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality and marriage is Biblically defined as a sacred union between men and women.. Good for them. Way to have an opinion! Frankly, I don’t see it that way but even if I did and my opinion actually meant something to the country as a whole (which I think it should, by the way) there’s just one small, tiny little problem.
The United States is a Democracy, not a Christocracy.
Remember those pesky constitutional rights we all love so much? Under our First Amendment rights, we are guaranteed the freedom of religion. Since the establishment of our constitution, the government, supported by multiple Supreme Court rulings as far back as 1878, upholds that a “wall of separation” must exist between religion and government. Enacting legislation that essentially makes Christian beliefs a legal standard is fundamentally and constitutionally unsound, a position has been supported time and time again by the Supreme Court.. What if our government suddenly decided to implement Shi’ia laws and said women couldn’t work outside the home? Or prohibited work after sundown on Saturdays? It’s unconstitutional to force people of a different religion or beliefs to operate under a legal tenant based solely on a single religion. Not based on ethics, not standards of common decency and human kindness, but based solely on religion.
If the basis for arguing that marriage is for male and female unions is one of religious belief, and the view is supported by our governing body then it only follows that all marriages by ALL people not living actively in Christ could be abolished. That’s right, no marriages for atheists. No chant filled weddings for pagans. No Wedding March for Buddhists. No birdseed and cake for the Jews, Hindus, or Scientologists. After all, if the underlying reason the government blocks and prohibits same sex unions is “Jesus said so” then those who don’t recognize Christ as the Risen Lord shouldn’t be allowed to marry either. It takes away the legal recognition and forces only religious recognition.
Make no mistake, I’m all for abolishing gay marriage and making homosexuality illegal just as soon as you come up with a reason that isn’t based on religion and proves that somehow gays and gay marriage causes grievous harm to the whole of the American peoples.
Yes indeed, just as soon as we find out that letting 2 guys say “I do” and file a joint tax return causes leprosy, higher gas prices, small breasts, male pattern baldness, scurvy or halitosis, just hand me my protest placard..
Frankly, I absolutely am thrilled with Obama’s choices.. There’s a little something to delight and offend everyone. The liberals and gays get Gene Robinson to represent the far left and the conservative GOP types get Rick Warren giving the shout out for those on the far right. And for those kinda in the middle, we’ve got Sharon Walker embodying delightful blending of the two sides by being both conservative and Christian but still a female in clergy leadership. It’s like he has a checklist of stereotypical politico types and made sure there’s at least something on the menu for everyone to enjoy..
Don’t like the fish? Try the chicken! Don’t eat meat? We’ve got pasta as well. It’s a buffet style inauguration!
In all of the uproar, the one that surprised me the most was the objection to Dr. Warren leading the inaugural invocation. His personal beliefs aside, you have to admit, he is an inspirational writer and charismatic leader. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, has the distinction of being on the NY Times Bestseller list for longer than any other advice / self-help book to date. I personally loved the book and found a great deal of inspiration in it and the notion that our lives have a divine purpose and we are responsible for seeking and living that purpose. I deeply admire Dr. Warren, however, at no time in the book did I ask myself “I wonder what he thinks about gay marriage?”.. Of course, I also didn’t contemplate Dr. Warren’s position on gun control or low income housing subsidies either.. I simply read the book and absorbed its message.
Maybe it’s just me, but I form my own opinions, my own beliefs and have developed my own understanding of the Bible. Having Dr. Warren give an invocation isn’t going to suddenly make me march in support of Proposition 8. No more so than listening to Rev. Robinson is going to suddenly make anyone march in a gay pride parade. It’s the same principle as celebrity endorsements. At no time during the election did I waver in my convictions based on Oprah’s opinions. I have never asked my self “What would Angelina do?”.
Why is it so threatening to have speakers who may believe differently than we do? I’d be willing to lay big money out to bet that Dr. Warren’s prayer probably won’t include anything along the lines of “Bless our new President.. Oh and by the way, guide his heart to make sure that only straight Christians get to be married.. Amen”..
Of course, that being said, I couldn’t help but be amused to read that Dr. Warren’s defense of his position included the laughingly classic line “I have gay friends.”. Dr. Warren has gay friends? Isn’t that special.. I don’t want to toot my own horn but I can one up him. Not only have I actually broken bread with the gays but I also have black friends.. And just in case that’s not enough to convince people I’m just as fabulous and open minded as he is, allow me to share that I’ve also been known to associate with Jews.. I even once exchanged pleasantries with a Muslim. Aren’t I just the most progressive darling girl you’ve ever met?!
Sorry, sarcasm is my native tongue.
But back to the issue at hand. I am well aware that some people strongly believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality and marriage is Biblically defined as a sacred union between men and women.. Good for them. Way to have an opinion! Frankly, I don’t see it that way but even if I did and my opinion actually meant something to the country as a whole (which I think it should, by the way) there’s just one small, tiny little problem.
The United States is a Democracy, not a Christocracy.
Remember those pesky constitutional rights we all love so much? Under our First Amendment rights, we are guaranteed the freedom of religion. Since the establishment of our constitution, the government, supported by multiple Supreme Court rulings as far back as 1878, upholds that a “wall of separation” must exist between religion and government. Enacting legislation that essentially makes Christian beliefs a legal standard is fundamentally and constitutionally unsound, a position has been supported time and time again by the Supreme Court.. What if our government suddenly decided to implement Shi’ia laws and said women couldn’t work outside the home? Or prohibited work after sundown on Saturdays? It’s unconstitutional to force people of a different religion or beliefs to operate under a legal tenant based solely on a single religion. Not based on ethics, not standards of common decency and human kindness, but based solely on religion.
If the basis for arguing that marriage is for male and female unions is one of religious belief, and the view is supported by our governing body then it only follows that all marriages by ALL people not living actively in Christ could be abolished. That’s right, no marriages for atheists. No chant filled weddings for pagans. No Wedding March for Buddhists. No birdseed and cake for the Jews, Hindus, or Scientologists. After all, if the underlying reason the government blocks and prohibits same sex unions is “Jesus said so” then those who don’t recognize Christ as the Risen Lord shouldn’t be allowed to marry either. It takes away the legal recognition and forces only religious recognition.
Make no mistake, I’m all for abolishing gay marriage and making homosexuality illegal just as soon as you come up with a reason that isn’t based on religion and proves that somehow gays and gay marriage causes grievous harm to the whole of the American peoples.
Yes indeed, just as soon as we find out that letting 2 guys say “I do” and file a joint tax return causes leprosy, higher gas prices, small breasts, male pattern baldness, scurvy or halitosis, just hand me my protest placard..