Transcript courtesy Federal News Service
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: Say amen --
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: -- and amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
END.
Showing posts with label Election 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election 2008. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A New Day
What a day it has been!! Today, an adult took over the White House, and the angry toddler and his abusive uncle, Dicky, have gone far, far away....and I hope we never have to hear from them again.
The Inauguration team, which took responsibility for silencing Bishop Gene Robinson's prayer on Sunday, did a make-good today. Apparently, Bishop Robinson's prayer was replayed on the jumbotrons, so the millions (and did you see how many millions were there?!) could hear it. Rick Warren's prayer was fine....but I noted that he couldn't resist that urge to bring in Jesus at the end, and then finished on the Lord's prayer...again, establishing his Christian cred while alienating everyone else. Joseph Lowery of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was amazing!! What an awesome experience it must have been for him to be offering words to God to shower down on this nation and this new president.
And then there is, of course, Barack Obama...now President, and a man who seems all too aware of the challenges ahead. And, at the same time, he appears ready to look to all of us to join in the effort to rebuild our country which has been raided by the greedy for personal gain.
As a Christian in America, I remain hopeful that with God nothing is impossible. Note, I said "with God" not "with Barack Obama". He is still a man. And I very much appreciated in his speech today that he included all faiths....even those who are "non-believers"...to take part in righting the conscience of our country and getting to work. And I am hopeful that he can help heal some of the rifts the previous administration created in its cowboy Christian zeal to bring on "the end times".
And, as a lesbian in America, I am heartened that on the White House website under the heading "Civil Rights", there is a laundry list of "to dos" for the gay community. I think it's great, and we'll see how far we get with "the list". But at least there is a list! And for that, this Christian lesbian says, "Thanks be to God!"
(from http://www.whitehouse.gov/)
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
The Inauguration team, which took responsibility for silencing Bishop Gene Robinson's prayer on Sunday, did a make-good today. Apparently, Bishop Robinson's prayer was replayed on the jumbotrons, so the millions (and did you see how many millions were there?!) could hear it. Rick Warren's prayer was fine....but I noted that he couldn't resist that urge to bring in Jesus at the end, and then finished on the Lord's prayer...again, establishing his Christian cred while alienating everyone else. Joseph Lowery of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was amazing!! What an awesome experience it must have been for him to be offering words to God to shower down on this nation and this new president.
And then there is, of course, Barack Obama...now President, and a man who seems all too aware of the challenges ahead. And, at the same time, he appears ready to look to all of us to join in the effort to rebuild our country which has been raided by the greedy for personal gain.
As a Christian in America, I remain hopeful that with God nothing is impossible. Note, I said "with God" not "with Barack Obama". He is still a man. And I very much appreciated in his speech today that he included all faiths....even those who are "non-believers"...to take part in righting the conscience of our country and getting to work. And I am hopeful that he can help heal some of the rifts the previous administration created in its cowboy Christian zeal to bring on "the end times".
And, as a lesbian in America, I am heartened that on the White House website under the heading "Civil Rights", there is a laundry list of "to dos" for the gay community. I think it's great, and we'll see how far we get with "the list". But at least there is a list! And for that, this Christian lesbian says, "Thanks be to God!"
(from http://www.whitehouse.gov/)
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Free At Last!!!
Thank God, Almighty, we are free at last of the Resident Idiot...and now embark a new journey with Barack Obama.
Book of Common Prayer, pg. 258
A Collect For Peace
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Monday, January 19, 2009
What +Gene Robinson Said in DC
A bit of disturbing news: apparently, the sound system at the Lincoln Memorial and feeding HBO's live coverage of the inaugural concert had a "malfunction"....as in....it wasn't working at the time that Bishop Gene Robinson was delivering his invocation. Odd that it was apparently working prior to, and then after, Bishop Gene.
Therefore...let us not let his words be silenced. Please, spread this blog entry around.
By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire
Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009
Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
AMEN.
--From "The Lead" at Episcopal Cafe
Therefore...let us not let his words be silenced. Please, spread this blog entry around.
By The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire
Opening Inaugural Event
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
January 18, 2009
Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
AMEN.
--From "The Lead" at Episcopal Cafe
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Quiet Anticipation
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you...Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you,I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. --Isaiah 43: 2, 4
These words from today's reading out of Isaiah, for me, are great for a sunny, cold morning with a cup of coffee as I anticipate this weekend leading up to the inauguration. My childhood Episcopal "hero", Bishop Gene Robinson, will start the activities tomorrow. And, despite the nay-sayers, I am pleased the bishop plans to keep his invocation broad enough so that no matter what name you use to call on "God", you will be part of his prayer.
And we have to include all of us in this new time, this new day that is coming with a new administration. Because as one of my favorite singing groups, Sweet Honey in the Rock, say:
"Folks would never, never, never suffer
if there was more love for your sister and your brother,
but these are trying times"
And to me, you can see how trying the times are in the words of those who remain skeptical of the incoming President. Obama's message of "hope and change" doesn't resonate because, in their world, there is no hope and the only change they are thinking about is the change in their pockets. Or perhaps they refuse to think that someone who doesn't "look like me" has the ability to understand how they live, what they see when they look out on the landscape of their life. And then there are those who have become so jaded from eight years of idiocy, greed, and avarice that they are numb.
I'm not looking to President Obama to wave a magic wand and make everything all better and--thankfully--he is not making such empty promises to all of us. His job is tremendous, and he will need all of us if we are going to rescue this country from where its been. The fact that he is pulling in Bishop Robinson...along with Joseph Lowry...and (gulp) Rick Warren...as well as rabbis and imams is a gesture in the faith arena that I see as trying to gather all of us...from "the four corners" as it were...to start this journey together.
And I, for one, am happy to know that 12:01pm Eastern time on Tuesday, January 20th, is getting closer!! God be with us all...and may God guide Barack Obama through the waters and the fires.
These words from today's reading out of Isaiah, for me, are great for a sunny, cold morning with a cup of coffee as I anticipate this weekend leading up to the inauguration. My childhood Episcopal "hero", Bishop Gene Robinson, will start the activities tomorrow. And, despite the nay-sayers, I am pleased the bishop plans to keep his invocation broad enough so that no matter what name you use to call on "God", you will be part of his prayer.
And we have to include all of us in this new time, this new day that is coming with a new administration. Because as one of my favorite singing groups, Sweet Honey in the Rock, say:
"Folks would never, never, never suffer
if there was more love for your sister and your brother,
but these are trying times"
And to me, you can see how trying the times are in the words of those who remain skeptical of the incoming President. Obama's message of "hope and change" doesn't resonate because, in their world, there is no hope and the only change they are thinking about is the change in their pockets. Or perhaps they refuse to think that someone who doesn't "look like me" has the ability to understand how they live, what they see when they look out on the landscape of their life. And then there are those who have become so jaded from eight years of idiocy, greed, and avarice that they are numb.
I'm not looking to President Obama to wave a magic wand and make everything all better and--thankfully--he is not making such empty promises to all of us. His job is tremendous, and he will need all of us if we are going to rescue this country from where its been. The fact that he is pulling in Bishop Robinson...along with Joseph Lowry...and (gulp) Rick Warren...as well as rabbis and imams is a gesture in the faith arena that I see as trying to gather all of us...from "the four corners" as it were...to start this journey together.
And I, for one, am happy to know that 12:01pm Eastern time on Tuesday, January 20th, is getting closer!! God be with us all...and may God guide Barack Obama through the waters and the fires.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Obama and the Olive Branch
According to a report on the website Politico, New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson will be part of the Obama inaugural activities next weekend.
This is some good news, especially after learning that Rick Warren, the pastoral lightening-rod selected to give the invocation on January 20th, was telling Chrisitianity Today last week that his Saddleback campus in California would welcome all those San Joaquin schismatics because that big, ol' mean Episcopal Church wanted its property back! Mark Harris' Preludium site also noted that Pastor Warren last summer was praising Anglican Primate Peter Akinola of Nigeria. Regular readers of this blog know that I don't hold much regard for Akinola, who is among the leaders of the anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-Anglican GAFCON; denounces homosexuality as often as he can; seems obsessed with +Gene Robinson (and other LGBT members of the Episcopal Church); and says nothing when gay Anglicans in his country are threatened or beaten. Charming fellow, really!
So, now having all that information about Pastor Warren, I was really not enjoying this idea of him giving the invocation or being called "America's Pastor". I understand President-elect Obama wanting to bridge gaps, be inclusive, and all that. But again, when the balancing act is done on the backs of the gay community, one has to wonder what will be the straw that breaks this camel's back?
Congratulations to my brother +Gene. I know he will deliver a prayer inclusive of all people. And I hope his words break through the anti-gay fog that seems to cloud Rick Warren's brain .
This is some good news, especially after learning that Rick Warren, the pastoral lightening-rod selected to give the invocation on January 20th, was telling Chrisitianity Today last week that his Saddleback campus in California would welcome all those San Joaquin schismatics because that big, ol' mean Episcopal Church wanted its property back! Mark Harris' Preludium site also noted that Pastor Warren last summer was praising Anglican Primate Peter Akinola of Nigeria. Regular readers of this blog know that I don't hold much regard for Akinola, who is among the leaders of the anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-Anglican GAFCON; denounces homosexuality as often as he can; seems obsessed with +Gene Robinson (and other LGBT members of the Episcopal Church); and says nothing when gay Anglicans in his country are threatened or beaten. Charming fellow, really!
So, now having all that information about Pastor Warren, I was really not enjoying this idea of him giving the invocation or being called "America's Pastor". I understand President-elect Obama wanting to bridge gaps, be inclusive, and all that. But again, when the balancing act is done on the backs of the gay community, one has to wonder what will be the straw that breaks this camel's back?
Congratulations to my brother +Gene. I know he will deliver a prayer inclusive of all people. And I hope his words break through the anti-gay fog that seems to cloud Rick Warren's brain .
Saturday, December 20, 2008
It's Not "Just A Prayer"
I have refrained from commenting here on the announcement that Rev. Rick Warren of mega-church fame has been selected to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. Not because I didn't have an opinion; just because I have been occupied with production of a New Year's Eve radio show by the Mickee Faust Club that airs at 9pm NYE on WVFS-FM(points for shameless plugging!!)
I, like many others in the LGBT community, are very disturbed and disappointed with this selection. Integrity President Susan Russell says:
“Rick Warren has become a recognizable pop culture religious voice but he is not qualified to be ‘America’s pastor,’” said Integrity President Susan Russell. “Warren is a not only a vocal opponent of LGBT equality who does not believe in evolution, he has compared abortion to the Holocaust and backed the assassination of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His views are far outside the religious mainstream and his credentials are steeped in an “Old Time Religion” of narrow exclusionism that ill prepares us for the challenges of the 21st century.”“This unfortunate choice is particularly painful to LGBT Americans who have experienced first-hand the destructive impact of pastors like Warren who preach “family values” while practicing discrimination against gay and lesbian families. But it should also be a cause for concern to any American concerned that the exclusionism represented by Rick Warren is antithetical to the President-elect’s core values of inclusion, tolerance and the celebration of difference.”
Over at SisterFriends-Together, Anita Cadonau-Huseby further explains some of the fury about this selection.
But what I have found even more disturbing than just the fact that I'm going to be asked to pray along with someone who does not believe that I have a place in the body of Christ is that, because I expressed disappointment in Obama's decision, I have received an email telling me to "toughen up and not be judgmental". Friends have expressed via Facebook that the gay community's outrage is out-of-place and give the guy (Obama) a chance. And that maybe what Barack Obama is doing is a brilliant political tactic. Besides, Joseph Lowery will be delivering the benediction, and he's pro-gay marriage.
I guess what my friends, and others, do not understand is that this is not a balance one-side vs. the-other kind of thing. Why should we have to balance any of it? And why must the balancing act occur on the backs of the gay community yet again? Why must the President-elect, in an effort to show that we're all one nation under God, ask a man who has been outspoken in his disdain for gay relationships to bring us together to pray for this presidency and our nation.
One person said to me, "It's just a prayer". Yeah, it's just a prayer. And I'm just one voice in the wilderness trying to dispell the myth that "Christians hate queers". Making Rev. Rick Warren the face of Christianity at an historic occassion doesn't help.
Sorry, if it's "just a prayer", than that just tells me this was a cynical political move. How sad is that?
I, like many others in the LGBT community, are very disturbed and disappointed with this selection. Integrity President Susan Russell says:
“Rick Warren has become a recognizable pop culture religious voice but he is not qualified to be ‘America’s pastor,’” said Integrity President Susan Russell. “Warren is a not only a vocal opponent of LGBT equality who does not believe in evolution, he has compared abortion to the Holocaust and backed the assassination of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His views are far outside the religious mainstream and his credentials are steeped in an “Old Time Religion” of narrow exclusionism that ill prepares us for the challenges of the 21st century.”“This unfortunate choice is particularly painful to LGBT Americans who have experienced first-hand the destructive impact of pastors like Warren who preach “family values” while practicing discrimination against gay and lesbian families. But it should also be a cause for concern to any American concerned that the exclusionism represented by Rick Warren is antithetical to the President-elect’s core values of inclusion, tolerance and the celebration of difference.”
Over at SisterFriends-Together, Anita Cadonau-Huseby further explains some of the fury about this selection.
But what I have found even more disturbing than just the fact that I'm going to be asked to pray along with someone who does not believe that I have a place in the body of Christ is that, because I expressed disappointment in Obama's decision, I have received an email telling me to "toughen up and not be judgmental". Friends have expressed via Facebook that the gay community's outrage is out-of-place and give the guy (Obama) a chance. And that maybe what Barack Obama is doing is a brilliant political tactic. Besides, Joseph Lowery will be delivering the benediction, and he's pro-gay marriage.
I guess what my friends, and others, do not understand is that this is not a balance one-side vs. the-other kind of thing. Why should we have to balance any of it? And why must the balancing act occur on the backs of the gay community yet again? Why must the President-elect, in an effort to show that we're all one nation under God, ask a man who has been outspoken in his disdain for gay relationships to bring us together to pray for this presidency and our nation.
One person said to me, "It's just a prayer". Yeah, it's just a prayer. And I'm just one voice in the wilderness trying to dispell the myth that "Christians hate queers". Making Rev. Rick Warren the face of Christianity at an historic occassion doesn't help.
Sorry, if it's "just a prayer", than that just tells me this was a cynical political move. How sad is that?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Incarnational Encounters
What will it take to change this world and to make it a place where all can live in peace, in love, and in happiness?
This is one of those nagging questions that run through my head in the course of an average day. That, and a couple of hymns, or fractional anthems. My mind travels down such strange pathways that I often wonder if "My thoughts are not my thoughts, but somebody's idea of an ironic wordplay to keep my head spinning."
Back to my reflexive question. The phrase that comes back to me as the answer is one that I heard Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori use during one of her webcasts. She spoke of the importance of "incarnational encounters." Of course, this is in reference to gay and lesbian people...and that's where I'm headed with this. If people who are LGBT would come out, in a simple and matter-of-fact way, I think hateful legislation such as the anti-marriage amendments, and the Arkansas adoption law, would go down in defeat. If more people understood...through knowing somebody who is gay or knowing a gay couple...that the amendments on the ballots were meant to do harm to the gay community, I am about 80-percent sure they'd have voted against it. I'm leaving the 20-percent for those who are the hard-core opponents, the ones who know a lesbian, like their lesbian friend, might even have her over for dinner, drinks and football....and would have still voted "Yes" because of a strange attachment to the word "marriage". There's no way to have a dialogue with the hard-core because they are so certain of how right they are.
But the 80-percent...and I do think it's that many...are the reachable ones. The ones who have the ability to see the humanity of another. And who are able to recognize that a person who has a different sexual orientation than their own is first and foremost a person, not simply a sex act. I wonder how many of that 80-percent are aware of the consequences of the votes taken on "same-sex marriage" in Florida, California and Arizona? My guess is that many of them didn't think about it. And it's not because they hate gay people. It's because this isn't an issue that rises to the top of their consciousness because it doesn't effect them personally. But what if they had been made to see the inherent wrongness of voting to limit the rights of Bill, or Karen, or Tanya who was Tony?
And the only way I can see to make the majority more aware is for us "others" to claim our identity as LGBT people and be out. If we live our lives openly with the grace and love that is within us, minds and hearts will start to change. If we make contributions to our communities, be it the neighborhoods where we live, the religious institution we attend, or the shelters that are housing "the least and the lowest" among us and we do so not hiding our orientation, we will start to shed some light onto the dark descriptions our opponents put out there about who we are. Baby steps such as this will lead to greater distances gained in the long run. If fear of the unknown is what motivates people to vote "Yes" on a Prop. 8 or Amendment 2...then let them know who that "unknown" is!
Get involved. And don't hide your rainbow light under a bushel, but instead let it burn bright. Perhaps its brightness may pierce through the fog in which the majority seem to wander and make them see that this world HAS to change.
This is one of those nagging questions that run through my head in the course of an average day. That, and a couple of hymns, or fractional anthems. My mind travels down such strange pathways that I often wonder if "My thoughts are not my thoughts, but somebody's idea of an ironic wordplay to keep my head spinning."
Back to my reflexive question. The phrase that comes back to me as the answer is one that I heard Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori use during one of her webcasts. She spoke of the importance of "incarnational encounters." Of course, this is in reference to gay and lesbian people...and that's where I'm headed with this. If people who are LGBT would come out, in a simple and matter-of-fact way, I think hateful legislation such as the anti-marriage amendments, and the Arkansas adoption law, would go down in defeat. If more people understood...through knowing somebody who is gay or knowing a gay couple...that the amendments on the ballots were meant to do harm to the gay community, I am about 80-percent sure they'd have voted against it. I'm leaving the 20-percent for those who are the hard-core opponents, the ones who know a lesbian, like their lesbian friend, might even have her over for dinner, drinks and football....and would have still voted "Yes" because of a strange attachment to the word "marriage". There's no way to have a dialogue with the hard-core because they are so certain of how right they are.
But the 80-percent...and I do think it's that many...are the reachable ones. The ones who have the ability to see the humanity of another. And who are able to recognize that a person who has a different sexual orientation than their own is first and foremost a person, not simply a sex act. I wonder how many of that 80-percent are aware of the consequences of the votes taken on "same-sex marriage" in Florida, California and Arizona? My guess is that many of them didn't think about it. And it's not because they hate gay people. It's because this isn't an issue that rises to the top of their consciousness because it doesn't effect them personally. But what if they had been made to see the inherent wrongness of voting to limit the rights of Bill, or Karen, or Tanya who was Tony?
And the only way I can see to make the majority more aware is for us "others" to claim our identity as LGBT people and be out. If we live our lives openly with the grace and love that is within us, minds and hearts will start to change. If we make contributions to our communities, be it the neighborhoods where we live, the religious institution we attend, or the shelters that are housing "the least and the lowest" among us and we do so not hiding our orientation, we will start to shed some light onto the dark descriptions our opponents put out there about who we are. Baby steps such as this will lead to greater distances gained in the long run. If fear of the unknown is what motivates people to vote "Yes" on a Prop. 8 or Amendment 2...then let them know who that "unknown" is!
Get involved. And don't hide your rainbow light under a bushel, but instead let it burn bright. Perhaps its brightness may pierce through the fog in which the majority seem to wander and make them see that this world HAS to change.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Look At All These Equal People!
Amazing! I mean, really, truly amazing! On November 4th, I had the horrible experience of being surrounded by a nation of joyful people, and feeling like I was some kind of party-pooper because I just couldn't be happy. The state of Florida had done the unthinkable. It had voted to write discrimination against the LGBT community into the state constitution. And I felt terribly, painfully alone.
Today, November 15th, I looked out from the steps of the old State Capitol Building and saw what I never thought I'd ever see in Tallahassee: lots of gay people, and our allies, marching and chanting, and crying out for justice, and demanding that we right a wrong.
The "Join the Impact Tallahassee" rally started out in front of Florida State University's Westcott Building, where we "others" were interspersed amidst all the happy Homecoming Seminole fans. It was quite fun watching the football junkies observing this gathering of...ummm....people holding signs that don't exactly say, "Go 'Noles". In the photo to the left, a heterosexual couple is posing in front of the Westcott fountain...as the queer couples mingle to talk politics....and in some cases greet friends they hadn't seen in years, and meet folks who traveled from outlining counties and south Georgia.
The members of the Mickee Faust Club turned out in force, both straight and gay. Give us a chance to be loud and colorful and we're not going to shy away. Give us a chance to make a political statement, damn right we'll do it!
Sam, the Second Class Citizen, was with me in the shepherding role (I knew there was a reason I insisted on being a shepherd in the Christmas pageants as a child!) Our job as marshalls was to keep people moving along on the sidewalks and helping to get folks safely across intersections. We had a help for some of the parade route from an FSU police officer on a motorcycle. Without us asking, without any expectation of kindness from this man, he rode his motorcycle, with his flashing lights on, into some of the streets where crossing would be a little more difficult to help us get across. Once we reached the edge of the "campus jurisdiction", he told us, "You're on your own from here!" Many thumbs up to that man. Only fifty years ago...in the days of the Johns Committee...an FSU officer would have been calling in back ups to have us all arrested!
We had fantastic speakers at the Capitol. Rev. Brant Copeland of First Presbyterian Church not only led the crowd in an ecumenical opening prayer, he made the point that he knew the face of Christianity that has been shown to the gay community hasn't been pretty. "Because I have 'Rev.' before my name, I get a lot of mail!" he said. And some of the mail was making the assumption that he agreed with the thieves and the liars who are posing as Christians when they send him letters and videos that condemn the LGBT community. But Copeland, like some other clergy members in Tallahassee, prefer the God that says, "Love thy neighbor" 
and that includes neighbors of all races, political persuasions and sexual orientations! Cantor Tanya Tamarkin from Temple Israel not only offered her personal family story of having a transgendered sibling, she also offered that Amendment Two took away from her, as a clergy person, the opportunity to bless same-sex couples. Regardless...she offered us a blessing and a song! Also moving was a moment of silence, taken at 1:30pm Eastern time, to allow each of us a chance to send out our collective prayers and energies to our brothers and sisters rallying in other parts of the country. Anita, did ya feel it?!
There were so many people who spoke out with passion, sometimes pushing through their tears, as they voiced a desire to create a world that is more loving, more accepting, and more willing to live and let live. And there was a desire to not let today be the end of the line. We must continue to work with each other, and take interest in the things that affect other minority groups who may not think that their struggle for equality, and ours, is one in the same. The United States has elected an African-American president, and while that is one barrier we seem to be moving past, there are still many others that remain standing that must be knocked down.
Many congratulations to Tom Bendle, my sweet partner, Isabelle and all the rest of us who helped to make this march and rally a peaceful, and forceful, demonstration of our community's spirit. Now, let's make it soar toward some real change and return the sunshine to the Partly Cloudy State.
"You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself....So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement." James 2: 8; 12-13.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Come March with Me
This is it, friends. Don't let this moment pass you by. Stand up for your family, your friends...YOU!
Do I have to be gay to care about this issue? No! Absolutely not. And I don't want to be rude, but that's like asking if you need to be a dog to care about animal rights. And if y
ou are straight, and marching with us, you deserve much love and praise because you are standing with the marginalized. And if you are a person of faith, you are amazing because certain "faith communities" have made it their mission to put up stumbling blocks on the path to God to convince the LGBT community that they are hated.
Of course, today those same liars and thieves of Christianity say they don't "hate" gay people; the same way they don't "hate" murderers, adulterers, and robbers.
Gee, thanks!
If you come to the rally, be sure to pick up after yourself, and treat everyone and everything with respect. Our fight isn't with the flower beds in front of the old state capitol. Our struggle is to get the four million plus Floridians who voted "Yes" on 2 to consider the human consequences of their action, and to start the ball rolling toward a better day for ALL people in the state of Florida. See ya there!
Do I have to be gay to care about this issue? No! Absolutely not. And I don't want to be rude, but that's like asking if you need to be a dog to care about animal rights. And if y
ou are straight, and marching with us, you deserve much love and praise because you are standing with the marginalized. And if you are a person of faith, you are amazing because certain "faith communities" have made it their mission to put up stumbling blocks on the path to God to convince the LGBT community that they are hated. Of course, today those same liars and thieves of Christianity say they don't "hate" gay people; the same way they don't "hate" murderers, adulterers, and robbers.
Gee, thanks!
If you come to the rally, be sure to pick up after yourself, and treat everyone and everything with respect. Our fight isn't with the flower beds in front of the old state capitol. Our struggle is to get the four million plus Floridians who voted "Yes" on 2 to consider the human consequences of their action, and to start the ball rolling toward a better day for ALL people in the state of Florida. See ya there!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thank God for the Reformation!
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."
The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.
"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.
"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."
During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights.
But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers — and voters — should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights.
According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County — traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas — went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama.
"It was not an attempt to make a partisan point," Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. "In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same."
Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama's win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme.
"Father Newman is off base," said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. "He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. ... Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words."
A man who has attended St. Mary's for 18 years said he welcomed Newman's message and anticipated it would inspire further discussion at the church.
"I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate," said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. "You're talking about the murder of innocent beings."
Oh, Henry VIII: you were a bastard in so many ways. But at least you had the wisdom...and the pride...to want your own Church separate from Rome!
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil."
The Rev. Jay Scott Newman said in a letter distributed Sunday to parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenville that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote.
"Our nation has chosen for its chief executive the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate or to run for president," Newman wrote, referring to Obama by his full name, including his middle name of Hussein.
"Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation."
During the 2008 presidential campaign, many bishops spoke out on abortion more boldly than four years earlier, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. A few church leaders said parishioners risked their immortal soul by voting for candidates who support abortion rights.
But bishops differ on whether Catholic lawmakers — and voters — should refrain from receiving Communion if they diverge from church teaching on abortion. Each bishop sets policy in his own diocese. In their annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops vowed Tuesday to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights.
According to national exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. In South Carolina, which McCain carried, voters in Greenville County — traditionally seen as among the state's most conservative areas — went 61 percent for the Republican, and 37 percent for Obama.
"It was not an attempt to make a partisan point," Newman said in a telephone interview Thursday. "In fact, in this election, for the sake of argument, if the Republican candidate had been pro-abortion, and the Democratic candidate had been pro-life, everything that I wrote would have been exactly the same."
Conservative Catholics criticized Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 for supporting abortion rights, with a few Catholic bishops saying Kerry should refrain from receiving Holy Communion because his views were contrary to church teachings.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama's win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme.
"Father Newman is off base," said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. "He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. ... Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Sens. Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words."
A man who has attended St. Mary's for 18 years said he welcomed Newman's message and anticipated it would inspire further discussion at the church.
"I don't understand anyone who would call themselves a Christian, let alone a Catholic, and could vote for someone who's a pro-abortion candidate," said Ted Kelly, 64, who volunteers his time as lector for the church. "You're talking about the murder of innocent beings."
Oh, Henry VIII: you were a bastard in so many ways. But at least you had the wisdom...and the pride...to want your own Church separate from Rome!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Turning Good Friday into Easter
I am, for better or for worse, on perma-hold with my anger and frustration at the vote that occured last week on gay civil rights in Florida, California, Arizona and Arkansas. And as I process my feelings, read my scripture, get inspired and cared for by psalms, there's one clear message for me: it may feel like Good Friday....but the promise of Easter is always there. I just need to allow for it to happen.
I want resurrection of my soul, and a restoring of justice to the world. And that's why I'm channeling my energy toward raising a ruckus on Saturday. One big ol' temper tantrum. One long, hard cry for mercy. One more chance to release myself from the bitter taste this has left in my mouth. Truth is, the acuteness of the pain is wearing off. Now I'm just aware of how wrong it is to allow a majority to vote on an amendment that has profound and far-reaching language to oppress a minority.
Again, I am reminded of the story of the Syrophoenician woman in Mark's gospel where Jesus initially refuses to help a woman of "other" status when she asks him to use his gifts to heal her daughter. His immediate response is to tell her his gifts were meant for the children of Israel, and not the dogs. And her reaction was to go all New Jersey on him and remind him that it is the dogs who eat the crumbs under the table of Israel's children. And Jesus does a 180, praises her for her faith, and sends her home to her healed daughter.
One interpretation of this could be that Jesus was testing this woman's faith with his reluctance to help her. But, as one who so often sees the world through my eyes as an "other", I think of this as a moment where the human Jesus is schooled into understanding that the gifts belong to the many, and not just "the chosen". Imagine if the apostles had never taken the good news anywhere but within the temples? What if Paul hadn't had his moment of "seeing the light" as it were, and becoming a man on a mission to bring the message of God as expressed through Jesus to the Gentiles?
I'm asking now for those who think that marriage should be for "one man and one woman only" to consider what the benefit is to society to keep this "gift" to themselves. How have you really helped children, especially the foster children of Arkansas, to be raised in a loving household? Do you really believe that marriages of convenience or appearance or default are helping to strengthen the "institution of marriage" and keep it "sanctified"? To paraphrase MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, "What are you thinking?!"
Again, when I consider the road ahead for me and my queer brothers and sisters, I know that we have a difficult path to walk. But I look to the prophets of the Old Testament, and I look to Christ, and I know that while many have faced huge obstacles, they leaned on their faith, pushed on through, and kept going. And just like Moses, just like Christ, just like Paul, just like Philip....there is also the hope that when us "others" start showing up, and saying, "Me, too!", the reward does come, and God's will is done...on earth as it is heaven.
I want resurrection of my soul, and a restoring of justice to the world. And that's why I'm channeling my energy toward raising a ruckus on Saturday. One big ol' temper tantrum. One long, hard cry for mercy. One more chance to release myself from the bitter taste this has left in my mouth. Truth is, the acuteness of the pain is wearing off. Now I'm just aware of how wrong it is to allow a majority to vote on an amendment that has profound and far-reaching language to oppress a minority.
Again, I am reminded of the story of the Syrophoenician woman in Mark's gospel where Jesus initially refuses to help a woman of "other" status when she asks him to use his gifts to heal her daughter. His immediate response is to tell her his gifts were meant for the children of Israel, and not the dogs. And her reaction was to go all New Jersey on him and remind him that it is the dogs who eat the crumbs under the table of Israel's children. And Jesus does a 180, praises her for her faith, and sends her home to her healed daughter.
One interpretation of this could be that Jesus was testing this woman's faith with his reluctance to help her. But, as one who so often sees the world through my eyes as an "other", I think of this as a moment where the human Jesus is schooled into understanding that the gifts belong to the many, and not just "the chosen". Imagine if the apostles had never taken the good news anywhere but within the temples? What if Paul hadn't had his moment of "seeing the light" as it were, and becoming a man on a mission to bring the message of God as expressed through Jesus to the Gentiles?
I'm asking now for those who think that marriage should be for "one man and one woman only" to consider what the benefit is to society to keep this "gift" to themselves. How have you really helped children, especially the foster children of Arkansas, to be raised in a loving household? Do you really believe that marriages of convenience or appearance or default are helping to strengthen the "institution of marriage" and keep it "sanctified"? To paraphrase MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, "What are you thinking?!"
Again, when I consider the road ahead for me and my queer brothers and sisters, I know that we have a difficult path to walk. But I look to the prophets of the Old Testament, and I look to Christ, and I know that while many have faced huge obstacles, they leaned on their faith, pushed on through, and kept going. And just like Moses, just like Christ, just like Paul, just like Philip....there is also the hope that when us "others" start showing up, and saying, "Me, too!", the reward does come, and God's will is done...on earth as it is heaven.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Join The Impact and Fight for Rights
****PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED INFORMATION IN THIS POST***
All across the nation, we're gathering in communities big and small to organize and rally and make some noise to say we're dissed, we're pissed, and voting on the rights of a minority group is WRONG.
Go to www.jointheimpact.com and find your state and city to take part in this protest.
In Tallahassee, FL, we're gathering at the Westcott Building at FSU on Saturday, November 15th at noon. There will be a march toward the Capitol building with a rally in front of the old state capitol at 12:30pm.
This is part of the nationwide Join the Impact protest.
All across the nation, we're gathering in communities big and small to organize and rally and make some noise to say we're dissed, we're pissed, and voting on the rights of a minority group is WRONG.
Go to www.jointheimpact.com and find your state and city to take part in this protest.
In Tallahassee, FL, we're gathering at the Westcott Building at FSU on Saturday, November 15th at noon. There will be a march toward the Capitol building with a rally in front of the old state capitol at 12:30pm.
This is part of the nationwide Join the Impact protest.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Tit for Tat
The Mad Priest has posted a link to a website that is retaliation on one element of the religious right wing. Go sign the petition, and start putting the financial screws to those who think it is the will of God to stomp on the heads of the gay community by popular vote!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
And This is Why I Keep Coming Back
I suppose it is hard for some of my friends, or even some of you reading, to understand why I remain with Christianity or the Episcopal Church in light of some of the recent events.
Perhaps this Psalm...Psalm 70 which is the one we used at St. John's this morning...can give you some insight. For your benefit, I will give a play-by-play of my internal and external response to these words. The refrain is below...for those who want to sing along...
3Let those who say, ‘Aha!’ and gloat over me
Perhaps this Psalm...Psalm 70 which is the one we used at St. John's this morning...can give you some insight. For your benefit, I will give a play-by-play of my internal and external response to these words. The refrain is below...for those who want to sing along...
1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me!
2Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogther dismayed;.Let those
and altogther dismayed;.Let those
who take pleasure in my misfortune
draw back and be disgraced.
draw back and be disgraced.
(Sing refrain...and reach for the hankerchief in left pocket as tears form in eyes).
3Let those who say, ‘Aha!’ and gloat over me
turn back because of their shame.
(Reflect on Yes2Marriage group's news release, and sob as if at a funeral)
4Let all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you.
Let those who love your salvation
say evermore, ‘Great is the Lord!’
(Sing refrain, while wiping tears from eyes)
5But I am poor and needy;
come to me speedily,
(Nod in agreement. Tears are stopping)
6 O God! You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not tarry!
(Sing refrain with sense of calm and peace of soul).
Et voila! God continues to send the message that God remains with me until the end of the age.
Trust me, the reason I stay is because I belong. And it really doesn't matter two bits what any person thinks, or says, or tries to impose on me and call it the will of God. Because none of us really knows God's will. We just try our best to decipher it. And while those who are "Gloating in the name of God" today like to call upon the same old seven passages in the Bible that they say condemn me to Hell, I will tell you there are hundreds and hundreds of verses in Scripture that communicate an enormous love that is for me. For example, the above Psalm...which was almost like receiving a telegraph from the unseen God who knows all too well that I have been feeling pretty crappy since Tuesday night, and knew what I needed to see on this Sunday.
I have been in mourning. And now I want to be in motion. I want to fight back. And I look to God for the wisdom to know how to do it with love, strength and courage.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Putting All the Pieces Together
I'm still a bit numb from this election. And none too pleased that no matter how much I want to be part of the exuberance about Barack Obama's election, truthfully, I don't care. Because, in Florida, I am not free. I feel a little bit like a woman who's lover has taken her out on the town in the Big Apple and dumped her on New Year's Eve in Times Square. While the streamers and confetti fall and people blow party horns all around me and cheer, I am feeling like crap, like an island in a vast ocean.
This has been very hard. Wednesday, I couldn't look people in the eye because it was too painful, and I was crying all day long. Today, I am moving from tears to anger and bitter rage at the injustice of these actions. I'm hoping that by tomorrow, I will enter into calmness and preparation for decisive action.
As I said in a previous post, Amendment Two in Florida was not so much about outlawing gay marriage because gay marriage was already illegal here. But what was really happening with this vote was the straight majority was being allowed to decide if they wanted to treat me and my brothers and sisters the same, or differently, in the state constitution. The Marriage Amendment was the vehicle that was taking us down a road...either to fairness and equality for all, or the dead end of discrimination. We know which path we've been put on now.
One could rant and rave about the conservative Republicans who were big backers of this proposal. But, given that Florida did aid in Barack Obama's election, it is clear that a number of Democrats, and very probably church-going African-Americans, voted Yes on Amendment Two. Baptists, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals all heard sermons, or many of them did, from pastors who told them that in America everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others. And certainly, everyone needs to be terrified of gay people because they are the scariest people on earth, always wanting to be treated fairly and with respect. The horror!
The fact that Democrats could vote for this Amendment is disturbing. I thought you guys were the "good guys"? More devastating is the thought that African-Americans, who know what it's like to be kept down by the majority, would turn around and stick it to the gay community? How wrong! How prejudiced! How utterly human!
In the end, what I know is true about the vote is this: people will betray people. And I can't put faith in people to do the right thing even if I believe they have the right politics. Because I have experienced this disappointment before, and this time I have felt it most acutely. People fall short of the mark...all the time. God, on the other hand, remains constant. And God knows I am crying out for justice in this unjust, screwed up, messed up, prejudiced world.
This has been very hard. Wednesday, I couldn't look people in the eye because it was too painful, and I was crying all day long. Today, I am moving from tears to anger and bitter rage at the injustice of these actions. I'm hoping that by tomorrow, I will enter into calmness and preparation for decisive action.
As I said in a previous post, Amendment Two in Florida was not so much about outlawing gay marriage because gay marriage was already illegal here. But what was really happening with this vote was the straight majority was being allowed to decide if they wanted to treat me and my brothers and sisters the same, or differently, in the state constitution. The Marriage Amendment was the vehicle that was taking us down a road...either to fairness and equality for all, or the dead end of discrimination. We know which path we've been put on now.
One could rant and rave about the conservative Republicans who were big backers of this proposal. But, given that Florida did aid in Barack Obama's election, it is clear that a number of Democrats, and very probably church-going African-Americans, voted Yes on Amendment Two. Baptists, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals all heard sermons, or many of them did, from pastors who told them that in America everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others. And certainly, everyone needs to be terrified of gay people because they are the scariest people on earth, always wanting to be treated fairly and with respect. The horror!
The fact that Democrats could vote for this Amendment is disturbing. I thought you guys were the "good guys"? More devastating is the thought that African-Americans, who know what it's like to be kept down by the majority, would turn around and stick it to the gay community? How wrong! How prejudiced! How utterly human!
In the end, what I know is true about the vote is this: people will betray people. And I can't put faith in people to do the right thing even if I believe they have the right politics. Because I have experienced this disappointment before, and this time I have felt it most acutely. People fall short of the mark...all the time. God, on the other hand, remains constant. And God knows I am crying out for justice in this unjust, screwed up, messed up, prejudiced world.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Could It Get Any Worse?
Yes, it can!
I was sitting at Lake Ella, trying to console my bruised soul with an iced mocha and my friend, Diana, giving me hugs and listening to me vent my frustrations with an election that was not as joyous for me as I was hoping. Passage of Amendment Two really did a number on me...and to hear that things weren't going well in California with Prop. 8...sigh.
Then..."she" showed up.
"She" was a power-walking middle-aged African-American woman, with a big smile, and a confident stride that said, "I want to talk to you!"
Unfortunately, she did.
And her mission was to make sure that I knew that Jesus was the way and the truth and the life. And she had a pamphlet that would explain it all to me...in the words of one of country's great homophobes, Dr. James Dobson.
"Oh, honey, I really don't want this, thank you," I said, hoping that she would simply go on her way and leave me alone.
"Oh" her concern sooo sincere. "Are you not a Christian?"
Clearly, I must be because I didn't deck her for that one. But I could feel my body growing tense.
"Yes," I stated clearly, slowly, purposely. "I am a Christian. But I don't want that!" motioning to her pamphlets.
She looked at me with worry.
"Well, y'know, God loves all people..."
"Yes, he does."
"And he is the truth and the life and the way."
"Uh-huh, yeah."
"Have a blessed day!"
"Right."
Once she was gone, I broke down in tears again. That was only the fifth time I'd cried, and it was only 1:30 in the afternoon. And I kept hearing the question, "Are you not a Christian?"
Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
I was sitting at Lake Ella, trying to console my bruised soul with an iced mocha and my friend, Diana, giving me hugs and listening to me vent my frustrations with an election that was not as joyous for me as I was hoping. Passage of Amendment Two really did a number on me...and to hear that things weren't going well in California with Prop. 8...sigh.
Then..."she" showed up.
"She" was a power-walking middle-aged African-American woman, with a big smile, and a confident stride that said, "I want to talk to you!"
Unfortunately, she did.
And her mission was to make sure that I knew that Jesus was the way and the truth and the life. And she had a pamphlet that would explain it all to me...in the words of one of country's great homophobes, Dr. James Dobson.
"Oh, honey, I really don't want this, thank you," I said, hoping that she would simply go on her way and leave me alone.
"Oh" her concern sooo sincere. "Are you not a Christian?"
Clearly, I must be because I didn't deck her for that one. But I could feel my body growing tense.
"Yes," I stated clearly, slowly, purposely. "I am a Christian. But I don't want that!" motioning to her pamphlets.
She looked at me with worry.
"Well, y'know, God loves all people..."
"Yes, he does."
"And he is the truth and the life and the way."
"Uh-huh, yeah."
"Have a blessed day!"
"Right."
Once she was gone, I broke down in tears again. That was only the fifth time I'd cried, and it was only 1:30 in the afternoon. And I kept hearing the question, "Are you not a Christian?"
Yes, I am. Yes, I am. Yes, I am.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I Am Your Neighbor
At last, the election is over and our nation can make way for a new leader and one who, I think, will be a vast improvement over what we’ve endured for the past eight years. Barack Obama seems to be a man willing to go back to an old standard of past Presidents: get people together who are ideologically different to help develop the strategies and policies that will lead the nation. Wow! What a concept!
And it’s a good thing, too. Because, unfortunately for him, he is taking over from the toddler President who has thrown all the toys all over the room, kicked the stuffing out of every teddy bear, and scribbled in magic marker on the furniture. Now the adult has to clean up after the eight-year temper tantrum. Good luck! Can we get the bucket brigade in to help ya scrub the ink off the coffee table?
From observing his victory speech last night, I sense that our President-elect is not gloating about this victory. He knows there’s a big mess behind that Oval Office door. Another sign, to me, that we may finally have a leader again, and not a spoiled brat.
As pleased as I am to see this change coming to our highest office in the land, I am more somber than some others about last night’s election results. Because change, as it affects me and all other gay people, is still elusive. In fact, it feels as if it is out-of-reach.
The voters of Florida, Arizona…and it seems California, too…have written into their state constitutions a ban on gays and lesbians being allowed to marry their partners. In Arkansas, they’ve decided gay people can not adopt children…just like Florida! In Florida, the marriage ban goes so far as to say anything that is “marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof” will be banned. Proponents have said this will not affect domestic partnership laws in some jurisdictions of the state. I will tell you that they have said that with their fingers crossed behind their backs. They may not start their attack on those policies today or tomorrow…but it will come.
I am reminded of the psalmist who wondered why God has turned his face away. I am feeling that level of “WTF?!” How long must “my people” be the left-behind, the ridiculed, the used for political expediency, and always told to take our seats at the back of the bus of change? I wonder when it will get through to those who do not experience what it is like to be an outcast to see that the ones who you cast out are your neighbors? When you look into our eyes, do you not see the light that shines out? Do you not know me? Why does a phrase like “gay marriage” cause your heart to harden, your ears to close, your eyes to go blind with fear?
God moves in most mysterious ways, and I’m sure has a purpose in what has occurred. May I remain open to learning what is next for me. And to never allow the whims of 62-percent of the population of a state to disrupt that relationship. You can define marriage, but you do not define me.
And it’s a good thing, too. Because, unfortunately for him, he is taking over from the toddler President who has thrown all the toys all over the room, kicked the stuffing out of every teddy bear, and scribbled in magic marker on the furniture. Now the adult has to clean up after the eight-year temper tantrum. Good luck! Can we get the bucket brigade in to help ya scrub the ink off the coffee table?
From observing his victory speech last night, I sense that our President-elect is not gloating about this victory. He knows there’s a big mess behind that Oval Office door. Another sign, to me, that we may finally have a leader again, and not a spoiled brat.
As pleased as I am to see this change coming to our highest office in the land, I am more somber than some others about last night’s election results. Because change, as it affects me and all other gay people, is still elusive. In fact, it feels as if it is out-of-reach.
The voters of Florida, Arizona…and it seems California, too…have written into their state constitutions a ban on gays and lesbians being allowed to marry their partners. In Arkansas, they’ve decided gay people can not adopt children…just like Florida! In Florida, the marriage ban goes so far as to say anything that is “marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof” will be banned. Proponents have said this will not affect domestic partnership laws in some jurisdictions of the state. I will tell you that they have said that with their fingers crossed behind their backs. They may not start their attack on those policies today or tomorrow…but it will come.
I am reminded of the psalmist who wondered why God has turned his face away. I am feeling that level of “WTF?!” How long must “my people” be the left-behind, the ridiculed, the used for political expediency, and always told to take our seats at the back of the bus of change? I wonder when it will get through to those who do not experience what it is like to be an outcast to see that the ones who you cast out are your neighbors? When you look into our eyes, do you not see the light that shines out? Do you not know me? Why does a phrase like “gay marriage” cause your heart to harden, your ears to close, your eyes to go blind with fear?
God moves in most mysterious ways, and I’m sure has a purpose in what has occurred. May I remain open to learning what is next for me. And to never allow the whims of 62-percent of the population of a state to disrupt that relationship. You can define marriage, but you do not define me.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
While the Nation Cheers...
....I am glum. Not because of Obama; that's a good thing. It appears we will finally be out from under the tyranny of the GOPodpeople come January.
But what happens with the presidency isn't all that practically important to my every day life. Not the way state and local politics affects me. And apparently, Floridians are a frightened group of people, terrified that gay people are going to get---eeek----married!
As of 10:30pm....Amendment Two was passing with almost 63 percent of the vote. Words to describe the betrayl I am feeling escape me. Rumor has it, even "liberal" Leon County voted 56-percent in favor of this hateful amendment. 56-percent?! What's wrong with straight people?
But what happens with the presidency isn't all that practically important to my every day life. Not the way state and local politics affects me. And apparently, Floridians are a frightened group of people, terrified that gay people are going to get---eeek----married!
As of 10:30pm....Amendment Two was passing with almost 63 percent of the vote. Words to describe the betrayl I am feeling escape me. Rumor has it, even "liberal" Leon County voted 56-percent in favor of this hateful amendment. 56-percent?! What's wrong with straight people?
Monday, November 3, 2008
What's in a Word?
I heard from one of my California relatives that Proposition 8, which I refer to as Proposition Hate, will likely pass. This will mean that Californians will write discrimination against the gay and lesbian community into its state constitution. A very sad statement, given that California is viewed by so many as "liberal"...a deep-blue state. From what my relative says, and she and many of the family are voting No on 8, the hang-up is with the word "marriage". If this were gay "civil unions" that would be OK. But "marriage"...ummm...errrrr....you mean two men or two women with rings, and white, and bells, and cake, and flowers, and garters, and bridesmaids, and groomsmen and horse-drawn carriages, and....???
I know. It's absurd. The whole "show" of weddings, that is.
In California, as in Florida...and probably Arizona, too...the proponents of discrimination have tried to convince frightened people that they should be very, very afraid of gay "marriage" because us queer folk are trying to "redefine" traditional marriage. This argument is so crazy that I don't know quite where to start, but I'll give it a shot.
First, the anti-gay marriage gang keep pulling out the creation stories from Genesis to back up their arguments. "God created male and female" and he instructed them to "go forth and multiply". In both creation stories (yes, there are two) God never said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife". In fact, I would argue that Adam and Eve were actually a heterosexual domestic partnership! But besides all that, if you read the rest of Genesis, you get a pretty clear understanding that our ancestors from way, way, way, waaaaayyy back when had polygamous relationships (Abraham and Hagar and Sarah...Jacob and Rachel and Leah...) So, if I were the anti-marriage gang, I might not want to "go there" with the Biblical backing of my b-s about "traditional" marriage.
Second, which is like unto the first, marriage has been defined and redefined by heterosexuals throughout the centuries. It wasn't about love; it was about heirs and ownership of women and children. Much of what the "think about the children" argument comes down to is paternal ownership of a child. Not that children need a mommy and a daddy, but more like daddy needs to take care of what is "his". My father, an old school lawyer and judge, was always concerned about heterosexual couples having children out of wedlock because, in his mind, this created a legal catastrophe for the children because daddy wasn't committing to taking care of his "property". In today's world, with so many single parents, and lesbian and gay couples with children, to not have laws in place that recognize the multiplicity of relationships would actually do more harm than good for children and their legal protection.
Finally, for us in Florida, gay couples can not get married right now. Even if we have a commitment ceremony, and a clergy person of some faith tradition or another blesses that union, as far as the state authorities are concerned...we are just roommates. That's in statute FOUR times in Florida, and this is a red-state! Our courts aren't about to flip on this one.
And what if we were allowed to marry? Well, many rights guaranteed to heterosexual couples would also be available to gay and lesbian couples. I am still waiting for the explanation of how someone else's relationship status has any bearing on anyone else's relationship status. What are you anti-gay gangsters losing....besides control over my life?
I wrote a letter in support of an op-ed piece by Rev. Brant Copeland who gave the Biblical reasons to Vote No on Amendment Two (Florida's Proposition Hate). A person responded to the Tallahassee Democrat's website, saying "Susan Gage thinks the gay marriage ban is anti-Christian. I think Susan is a sick person!" Well, friends, if my sickness is one that conveys a message of God's love for all of God's children then I hope it consumes my body, mind and spirit!
Californians, Floridians, and Arizonians: don't be led down the path of discrimination because of the word "marriage". Vote No.
I know. It's absurd. The whole "show" of weddings, that is.
In California, as in Florida...and probably Arizona, too...the proponents of discrimination have tried to convince frightened people that they should be very, very afraid of gay "marriage" because us queer folk are trying to "redefine" traditional marriage. This argument is so crazy that I don't know quite where to start, but I'll give it a shot.
First, the anti-gay marriage gang keep pulling out the creation stories from Genesis to back up their arguments. "God created male and female" and he instructed them to "go forth and multiply". In both creation stories (yes, there are two) God never said, "I now pronounce you husband and wife". In fact, I would argue that Adam and Eve were actually a heterosexual domestic partnership! But besides all that, if you read the rest of Genesis, you get a pretty clear understanding that our ancestors from way, way, way, waaaaayyy back when had polygamous relationships (Abraham and Hagar and Sarah...Jacob and Rachel and Leah...) So, if I were the anti-marriage gang, I might not want to "go there" with the Biblical backing of my b-s about "traditional" marriage.
Second, which is like unto the first, marriage has been defined and redefined by heterosexuals throughout the centuries. It wasn't about love; it was about heirs and ownership of women and children. Much of what the "think about the children" argument comes down to is paternal ownership of a child. Not that children need a mommy and a daddy, but more like daddy needs to take care of what is "his". My father, an old school lawyer and judge, was always concerned about heterosexual couples having children out of wedlock because, in his mind, this created a legal catastrophe for the children because daddy wasn't committing to taking care of his "property". In today's world, with so many single parents, and lesbian and gay couples with children, to not have laws in place that recognize the multiplicity of relationships would actually do more harm than good for children and their legal protection.
Finally, for us in Florida, gay couples can not get married right now. Even if we have a commitment ceremony, and a clergy person of some faith tradition or another blesses that union, as far as the state authorities are concerned...we are just roommates. That's in statute FOUR times in Florida, and this is a red-state! Our courts aren't about to flip on this one.
And what if we were allowed to marry? Well, many rights guaranteed to heterosexual couples would also be available to gay and lesbian couples. I am still waiting for the explanation of how someone else's relationship status has any bearing on anyone else's relationship status. What are you anti-gay gangsters losing....besides control over my life?
I wrote a letter in support of an op-ed piece by Rev. Brant Copeland who gave the Biblical reasons to Vote No on Amendment Two (Florida's Proposition Hate). A person responded to the Tallahassee Democrat's website, saying "Susan Gage thinks the gay marriage ban is anti-Christian. I think Susan is a sick person!" Well, friends, if my sickness is one that conveys a message of God's love for all of God's children then I hope it consumes my body, mind and spirit!
Californians, Floridians, and Arizonians: don't be led down the path of discrimination because of the word "marriage". Vote No.
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