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What keeps going wrong?
Posted Nov 05, 2009 9:43pm
by User from San Diego, CA
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Zoe Nicholson's Blog
OPEN ~ openly queer, openly feminist, openly Buddhist ~ OPEN
I saw Outrage on Friday. Besides being supportive, I was curious. I am always looking for agreement, camaraderie, unity. I found the movie’s premise lost under the weight of the title. Even watching the movie makers on the View that morning, it wasn’t readily obvious that author and blogger, Michael Rogers was objecting to closeted people voting against their very people they have relationships with. Closeted gay men in politics are voting against HIV/AIDS funding, against gay marriage, against making crimes against LGBT people a hate crime. It is the chasm between their sexual orientation and their visible, measurable, callous voting record. Frankly, for me, it begs the question, would they be less stalwart if they were straight.
The characters in the movie, opening with Larry Craig, were all recognizable. Those of us who read gay news are aware of these men and their voting records. I have to admit, I have zero idea what this looks like to straight people. Heck, I got emails this week asking me if Adam Lambert is gay – straights see things very differently than I do. Governor McGreevey was bright, radiant – no really – like someone who just discovered deep spiritual relief. Governor Crist was slimy and resistant; what is the opposite of present?
A paragraph on women ~ Elizabeth Birch of the Human Right Campaign was terrific, moving and honest. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was open and relaxed. Oh but the wives, the terrified wives, standing next to the pathetic closeted husbands at counterfeit press conferences; Mrs. Craig, Mrs. McGreevey, Mrs. Crist. Actually there are thousands of straight spouses who are trapped infraudulent lives, holding their families together. How the gay spouse can do this is really beyond me. I kissed a girl, I liked it and I came out; all within about 5 seconds. And it is no secret that there are many, many lesbians and bi women in politics ( no I have not slept with all of them) but I can tell you that I have never seen them vote against LGBT rights or human rights for that matter.
But what really bothered me, deeply bothered me, was one clip of Larry Kramer, beloved founder of Act-Up. Certainly this brave hero of the LGBT movement said dozens of quote-ables during the taping but what they chose to show was Mr. Kramer saying that activism comes from rage, from anger. For me it was like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I have spent over 40 years working to deepen my understanding and practice that successful, lasting activism comes from love. You cannot convert the opponent by burning his car, breaking her windows, clubbing their kids. Fear will never create conversion. (aren’t we having a national conversation about torture on this right now?)
However, more importantly, the oppressed will become poisoned by the violence. The minority has to find love in their heart and become irresistible. That is the only way to create a healthy movement, a true lasting conversion and extinguish fear. I was fortunate to spend some time with Jeremy Gilley, the British filmmaker who is creating International Peace Day, through his film-making of Peace One Day and The Day After Peace. I told him that I am not as worried about those who die by gunshot as I am about those who pull the trigger as they live on with their hearts broken. Violence is intoxicating, contagious and another disease – like homophobia.
Tuesday, May 26 is California’s Day Of Decision. On Facebook, the White Night Riots video has been viraling around. I want to tell people that clearly those 1979 riots did not work or we would not be rising up for our rights in 2009. Releasing of violence may be billed as good for you but it isn’t. It is not some limited energy that must be spent. It is a viral, burgeoning disease that only attracts itself. If you are angry, you deserve to be loved. If you are homophobic, you need to love and be loved. No matter what happens on Tuesday, extinguishing anger with love is the only way that will last.
The characters in the movie, opening with Larry Craig, were all recognizable. Those of us who read gay news are aware of these men and their voting records. I have to admit, I have zero idea what this looks like to straight people. Heck, I got emails this week asking me if Adam Lambert is gay – straights see things very differently than I do. Governor McGreevey was bright, radiant – no really – like someone who just discovered deep spiritual relief. Governor Crist was slimy and resistant; what is the opposite of present?
A paragraph on women ~ Elizabeth Birch of the Human Right Campaign was terrific, moving and honest. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was open and relaxed. Oh but the wives, the terrified wives, standing next to the pathetic closeted husbands at counterfeit press conferences; Mrs. Craig, Mrs. McGreevey, Mrs. Crist. Actually there are thousands of straight spouses who are trapped infraudulent lives, holding their families together. How the gay spouse can do this is really beyond me. I kissed a girl, I liked it and I came out; all within about 5 seconds. And it is no secret that there are many, many lesbians and bi women in politics ( no I have not slept with all of them) but I can tell you that I have never seen them vote against LGBT rights or human rights for that matter.
But what really bothered me, deeply bothered me, was one clip of Larry Kramer, beloved founder of Act-Up. Certainly this brave hero of the LGBT movement said dozens of quote-ables during the taping but what they chose to show was Mr. Kramer saying that activism comes from rage, from anger. For me it was like hearing nails on a chalkboard. I have spent over 40 years working to deepen my understanding and practice that successful, lasting activism comes from love. You cannot convert the opponent by burning his car, breaking her windows, clubbing their kids. Fear will never create conversion. (aren’t we having a national conversation about torture on this right now?)
However, more importantly, the oppressed will become poisoned by the violence. The minority has to find love in their heart and become irresistible. That is the only way to create a healthy movement, a true lasting conversion and extinguish fear. I was fortunate to spend some time with Jeremy Gilley, the British filmmaker who is creating International Peace Day, through his film-making of Peace One Day and The Day After Peace. I told him that I am not as worried about those who die by gunshot as I am about those who pull the trigger as they live on with their hearts broken. Violence is intoxicating, contagious and another disease – like homophobia.
Tuesday, May 26 is California’s Day Of Decision. On Facebook, the White Night Riots video has been viraling around. I want to tell people that clearly those 1979 riots did not work or we would not be rising up for our rights in 2009. Releasing of violence may be billed as good for you but it isn’t. It is not some limited energy that must be spent. It is a viral, burgeoning disease that only attracts itself. If you are angry, you deserve to be loved. If you are homophobic, you need to love and be loved. No matter what happens on Tuesday, extinguishing anger with love is the only way that will last.
Hey everybody, the new repair man is here. Bring your best tools, roll up your sleeves, put on your thinking caps. Hurry up and get in here, sit down, take out your lists. This new handyman is smart. He has a plan. He has skills. He has collected a support team and he is here to help us reach our goals.
Mr. Obama, here is my family. Each of us has done what we can to summon open hearts, empower able hands and invoke our best wishes.
The Catholic has been to Mass and said her prayers. The Jewish child has lit a candle with noble intentions. The Mormon boy has prayed for your success. The Muslim has asked Allah to bless this new beginning. The Native American has danced and drummed for your peaceful journey. The Christian has called on Jesus to walk beside you. The atheist and agnostic are dedicated to your hopeful vision. The Buddhist has hung prayer flags and chanted while holding you in their hearts. Each of us, in a private moment and in a public way, has offered you our very best.
You look around my table, my thanks-giving table, and you may wonder why there is so little family resemblance. We are very diverse; not by design, it just happened that way. Some of them are biologically mine, some have immigrated and some are adopted; though I have long since forgotten which is which. We are gay and straight. We are married and single. We all are able and we all are challenged. We speak different languages and hold one thing in common, we all want to be happy. We all want to be well and safe and free.
Actually, if you ask us individually, there is no exception; we all want the same thing. Where we stray, from time to time, is that we forget that our wellbeing is dependent on one another's wellbeing. We forget that we can only be as happy as we offer happiness to one another. We forget that we are, in truth, one another's neighbor.
So please, Mr. Obama, take the chair at the head of the table. We are so relieved that you are here. We offer all our talent, all our tools, all our sacrifices, our hope for the future. We shall do this together, starting now.
Mr. Obama, here is my family. Each of us has done what we can to summon open hearts, empower able hands and invoke our best wishes.
The Catholic has been to Mass and said her prayers. The Jewish child has lit a candle with noble intentions. The Mormon boy has prayed for your success. The Muslim has asked Allah to bless this new beginning. The Native American has danced and drummed for your peaceful journey. The Christian has called on Jesus to walk beside you. The atheist and agnostic are dedicated to your hopeful vision. The Buddhist has hung prayer flags and chanted while holding you in their hearts. Each of us, in a private moment and in a public way, has offered you our very best.
You look around my table, my thanks-giving table, and you may wonder why there is so little family resemblance. We are very diverse; not by design, it just happened that way. Some of them are biologically mine, some have immigrated and some are adopted; though I have long since forgotten which is which. We are gay and straight. We are married and single. We all are able and we all are challenged. We speak different languages and hold one thing in common, we all want to be happy. We all want to be well and safe and free.
Actually, if you ask us individually, there is no exception; we all want the same thing. Where we stray, from time to time, is that we forget that our wellbeing is dependent on one another's wellbeing. We forget that we can only be as happy as we offer happiness to one another. We forget that we are, in truth, one another's neighbor.
So please, Mr. Obama, take the chair at the head of the table. We are so relieved that you are here. We offer all our talent, all our tools, all our sacrifices, our hope for the future. We shall do this together, starting now.
It takes a lot to get me to Church on a Sunday morning. In this case, I noticed there were only 22 RSVP's to the Warren protest. Thankfully, many more were there, mostly from LA County and I, for one, an very grateful. Whoa - you shoulda seen the horses! What were they expecting? It was a full dozen mounted police, more on segways and a few on bicycles.
Possibly you read Melissa's Etheridge's 2008 Christmas greeting to the gay community. It is widely published on the web, on Huffpo in particular. She met Rick Warren and she is moved by him and has asked gay people to do charity work to for HIV/AIDS (though I would suggest to work against HIV/AIDS) instead of protesting this coming week. Her message is disturbing on so many levels that I can't help but respond.
Melissa Etheridge message includes ~ Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world. Maybe if they get to know us, they wont fear us.
The mere assumption that we would be marching out of anger is just over the top. Effective people march out of love. Forgive me for pointing to the obvious; King, Gandhi, Chavez and, very likely, YOU. We march out of love. We march, keep vigil, fast. We know that doing so out of love is the only way to make any inroads. And is she "showing up?" Her message says she, and her family, will be attending the inauguration. Her wife and kids will be in D.C.
Secondly, I had expected more from Ms. Etheridge until I saw her on Oprah, Melissa's partner is not a supporter of Marriage Equality. How odd it was to see Melissa trying to interrupt her and cover. We all know this is a family that can afford an attorney to draw up papers for inheritance, estate planning, adoption. My guess is that any ER or maternity ward would not deny either partner access in THIS FAMILY.
The final thing, which hurts even more, is that Melissa is not taking into her heart all of the groups Pastor Warren speaks against. We are more than gay. We are human beings. We are citizens of the world.
Rick Warren ~
holds women in second class positions in marriage
teaches that even abuse is no reason to divorce
women who have had abortions are Nazis and their wombs are Auschwitz
I want to stand in front of M.E. and say, "I am a bi-sexual woman who is divorced and has had two abortions, exactly which parts of me should be ok with Pastor Rick?" We are complex human beings and the march of love is inclusive. We do not seek to dissect ourselves but honor all segments of who we are, our society and our world. I am more than gay - I am a woman, who believes no one is free until all of us are free. I will miss Melissa's music lifting my heart.
I have to celebrate when good news comes through CNN. I believe that what you focus on expands so you can bet your bottom dollar I really stretch good news as far as it will go. Today it has been reported that the Obama Team has invited Reverend Gene Robinson, openly gay bishop, to deliver a prayer at an inauguration event on Sunday and Reverend Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of the Disciples of Christ to give the invocation at the National Cathedral on Wednesday.
This is good news. This is very good news, however, if Rick Warren had not been asked to deliver the central invocation, it would not be news at all; it would just be another illustration, in a long list of illustrations, of inclusion in the Obama choices. So why is it news? Why is the Warren thing so BIG? Actually with these two additions of Watkins and Robinson, its easier to see. The issue is that Warren trades on exclusion, hate-language, judgment and identifying that there is an unacceptable "other."
Let me use myself as an example of my thinking. I am a Buddhist and I would never expect a Buddhist to give the invocation as it is a small minority in the US. I expected a Christian. The president-elect is Christian. Most Americans are Christian. Heck, some of my family and friends are Christian. But never in a million years would I settle for a Christian speaker to call Buddhists, Nazis. Never would it be ok for a Christian speaker to call Buddhists pedophiles. To go even further on this line of thinking, it means they wouldn't even be much of a Christian if they promoted anti-Buddhist talk and would not let Buddhists in their church.
Why is this so position controversial? Why is this even indefensible (Ms. Etheridge)? It is obvious ~ Warren is all about exclusion, trades on hate, hands out name-calling like a Vegas blackjack dealer, made millions telling people that their lives are not enough. Does he really represent Christianity to Obama? JEZZZZUS.
So don't ring me up and ask me if the invitations to Revs Robinson and Watkins make this all ok. This is not the time ~ anymore than thinking that Palin, being a woman, would make me happy when Hillary Clinton was not the presidential nominee.
If you run for office talking about inclusion, than choosing an inclusionary person to give the central invocation is really obvious choice. President-elect Obama, you are so smart - there is no denying it - you get all this. DO SOMETHING, proportional, as they say.
I really don't know what to think ~ do you? I really don't know what to do ~ do you? Shall I watch Philadelphia again or go see Milk again? I lived through the Life and Times of Harvey Milk. When can we just breathe and call this place home?
I started this campaign season just being anti-Bush. I made a button that said, "Vote Democratic." John Edwards seemed to really care about the poor, so do I. Hillary Clinton's Beijing 1997 speech was all I could hope from any woman who made it that far up the political ladder. Biden, Kucinich, Richardson, Dodd ~ okay, okay. Obama was interesting but too young, too unknown, no record in Illinois on my issues. So I got on the Hillary train and was increasingly thrilled, day after day, imagining what it would mean to my life and the lives of every woman in the world for her to be POTUS.
Obama won the nomination and, while the press pressed Hillary to concede, while past conquered nominees took weeks to step aside, it appeared that three days was too long for Hillary to concede in the minds of the media. From my hindsight, I wish she had taken longer. Three days was not enough to wash away the hopes and dreams of a Hillary Clinton Presidency. I felt robbed. Love being what it is, she asked and I supported Obama. My younger friends were buoyant. My centrist friends were smug. My tried and true feminist friends were abandoned.
So what could we do? Lets wait and see. Oh yes, wait and see, though during the campaign he was cautious and measured; he will be progressive, pro-minority, pro-diversity, pro-woman, pro-social justice and it will all take shape once elected. Let me be really clear here: this was his electorate telling me this. These are the people with Obama stickers on the car, buttons on lapels and poised for an historical celebration. These are the prophets of change and predictors of massive global consciousness.
What has happened so far? Not much. "He is not in office yet." (I can hear you) But actually, he has made dozens of decisions. The cabinet is five women out of fifteen seats. (fewer than Bill Clinton did 16 years ago) He appointed Larry Summers to his economic advisory board. This is the man who was fired from Harvard for saying that women may not have an aptitude for math and science. Please note that you can find language about advancing women in math and science on both the Obama website (under women issues) and the Democratic Party Platform.
Take a look at the "shovel-ready' work and weigh it with three factors; 1) women are paid 77 cents on the dollar, when they have work, 2) most of these jobs are traditionally male and by a very large percentage are held by men and 3) many of the middle and lower class homes are headed by women. Creating all of these jobs is great but, to be of use to the whole country, they must include a preponderance of work for women, the passage of the fair-pay act and balanced benefits for families such as paid sick leave, affordable health insurance, maternity leave, day care and family justice.
The media may be having a hay day with the ridiculous circus surrounding Governor Blagojevich as it unfolds day to day but this is not the meat of the matter. Widen the lens and note that this continuous cavalcade of unscrupulous idiots, who have been at the helm of Illinois for decades (Ryan, now in prison, was Speaker of the House in 1982) have held up a federal amendment which would include women in the US Constitution. Silly hair-dos, foul language, a wife who is in on the street talk - that is not the story. Appointing Burris to be the Junior Senator for Illinois is not the story. The overwhelming damage to the advancement of humanity, the parade of leaders who care nothing for social justice, the suffering of the citizens of Illinois and the US is the story. JESUS CHRIST ~ SOMEBODY TELL THE STORY AND IMPEACH THIS GOVERNOR AND END HIS LINNEAGE.
So I entered the contest to be one of the ten people to attend the inauguration as Obama's guest. Now that simultaneously seemed ironic and proper. Here is what I said,
"I am 60, I am a Democrat and I voted for you. I hope you choose me to attend the inauguration and celebrate your presidency. If you do not choose me, I will be at the Saddleback Church with a sign protesting the appointment of Pastor Rick Warren to lead our country in prayer and to mark the beginning of your eight years in office. He says that I am liken to a nazi and my womb is the comparable to Auschwitz, as I had an abortion many years ago. He says that since I am bi-sexual, I am equivalent to a pedophile. I suggest you ask Pastor Warren to hold a Parliament of Religion like the one held in Chicago 1923. It is time for all of the religions of the earth to have a meeting."
So either way - you know where to find me on the 20th.
I started this campaign season just being anti-Bush. I made a button that said, "Vote Democratic." John Edwards seemed to really care about the poor, so do I. Hillary Clinton's Beijing 1997 speech was all I could hope from any woman who made it that far up the political ladder. Biden, Kucinich, Richardson, Dodd ~ okay, okay. Obama was interesting but too young, too unknown, no record in Illinois on my issues. So I got on the Hillary train and was increasingly thrilled, day after day, imagining what it would mean to my life and the lives of every woman in the world for her to be POTUS.
Obama won the nomination and, while the press pressed Hillary to concede, while past conquered nominees took weeks to step aside, it appeared that three days was too long for Hillary to concede in the minds of the media. From my hindsight, I wish she had taken longer. Three days was not enough to wash away the hopes and dreams of a Hillary Clinton Presidency. I felt robbed. Love being what it is, she asked and I supported Obama. My younger friends were buoyant. My centrist friends were smug. My tried and true feminist friends were abandoned.
So what could we do? Lets wait and see. Oh yes, wait and see, though during the campaign he was cautious and measured; he will be progressive, pro-minority, pro-diversity, pro-woman, pro-social justice and it will all take shape once elected. Let me be really clear here: this was his electorate telling me this. These are the people with Obama stickers on the car, buttons on lapels and poised for an historical celebration. These are the prophets of change and predictors of massive global consciousness.
What has happened so far? Not much. "He is not in office yet." (I can hear you) But actually, he has made dozens of decisions. The cabinet is five women out of fifteen seats. (fewer than Bill Clinton did 16 years ago) He appointed Larry Summers to his economic advisory board. This is the man who was fired from Harvard for saying that women may not have an aptitude for math and science. Please note that you can find language about advancing women in math and science on both the Obama website (under women issues) and the Democratic Party Platform.
Take a look at the "shovel-ready' work and weigh it with three factors; 1) women are paid 77 cents on the dollar, when they have work, 2) most of these jobs are traditionally male and by a very large percentage are held by men and 3) many of the middle and lower class homes are headed by women. Creating all of these jobs is great but, to be of use to the whole country, they must include a preponderance of work for women, the passage of the fair-pay act and balanced benefits for families such as paid sick leave, affordable health insurance, maternity leave, day care and family justice.
The media may be having a hay day with the ridiculous circus surrounding Governor Blagojevich as it unfolds day to day but this is not the meat of the matter. Widen the lens and note that this continuous cavalcade of unscrupulous idiots, who have been at the helm of Illinois for decades (Ryan, now in prison, was Speaker of the House in 1982) have held up a federal amendment which would include women in the US Constitution. Silly hair-dos, foul language, a wife who is in on the street talk - that is not the story. Appointing Burris to be the Junior Senator for Illinois is not the story. The overwhelming damage to the advancement of humanity, the parade of leaders who care nothing for social justice, the suffering of the citizens of Illinois and the US is the story. JESUS CHRIST ~ SOMEBODY TELL THE STORY AND IMPEACH THIS GOVERNOR AND END HIS LINNEAGE.
So I entered the contest to be one of the ten people to attend the inauguration as Obama's guest. Now that simultaneously seemed ironic and proper. Here is what I said,
"I am 60, I am a Democrat and I voted for you. I hope you choose me to attend the inauguration and celebrate your presidency. If you do not choose me, I will be at the Saddleback Church with a sign protesting the appointment of Pastor Rick Warren to lead our country in prayer and to mark the beginning of your eight years in office. He says that I am liken to a nazi and my womb is the comparable to Auschwitz, as I had an abortion many years ago. He says that since I am bi-sexual, I am equivalent to a pedophile. I suggest you ask Pastor Warren to hold a Parliament of Religion like the one held in Chicago 1923. It is time for all of the religions of the earth to have a meeting."
So either way - you know where to find me on the 20th.
Today I went to a knitting store in Orange County, my county. I asked the clerk about a certain yarn, did it have to be doubled. She showed me her splendid rainbow shoulder bag which looked tie-dyed like something from a Grateful Dead concert. I jokingly asked if she was on acid at Woodstock when she made it. She whispered, "some people ask me if I am gay." I said, "You should tell them yes, it could be fun." Lowering her voice even further, she said it would not be funny as it was a Christian store. I relied, "It wouldn't stop me."
I live in the infamous OC. Home of St James Anglican Church, which does not allows gays. Home of Disneyland which offers insurance to gay families. Home of the Angels, the Mighty Ducks, the Clippers. Home of Loretta Sanchez and Dana Rohrabacher. The epicenter of the NO ON 6 Campaign, temporary safe-haven for Anita Bryant, home of Rick Warren's church in Lake Forest.
There is no mistake about the world famous OC; mega conservative, fundamentalist Christian, republican with great beaches and world-class waves. If you visit the website of Rick Warren's church you will find teachings promoting the submission of the wife to the husband. In addition to classifying gay people with pedophiles and practitioners of incest, he has been very vocal that women who have had abortions are no different than the Nazis and their uterus, he likened to Auschwitz.
It is nice that Melissa Etheridge wants to have a détente with Pastor Rick. She thinks that it is important that he meets some gay people who have families and family values. I hope they have a prosperous exchange. But here's the point. Why not pool your resources, gay and straight, Christian and compassionate and have a Summit of Understanding. Why not hold a Parliament of Religion like the one in 1923 in Chicago. Invite people of all faiths to promote understanding and demonstrate the ability to sit and talk and be civil(ized). Invite some women who have had abortions, some doctors who have done abortions, some gay families, some gay ministers and, even, some of those super conservative Anglicans and super-liberal Unitarians.
That is where all of this should be going. That is the organic coalition that would truly demonstrate CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. But you DON'T offer this renown bigot, outspoken hate-monger, homophobic, misogynistic man in the Western world, the biggest pulpit in history and say it is just a gesture of inclusion and goodwill. We are not that stupid and, frankly, neither are you Mr. Obama. You know this is an outrage.
So here's an idea ~ put together a team for the invocation; three or four people who actually represent and LOVE the diversity of America. Please do not put forth the worst of us who needs to be educated, explained and apologized for; this man who can validate every family who judges and condemns their gay relatives. Put forth a face, or set of faces which tell all the world who we are, who we hope to be, who inspires the change we can believe in.
I live in the infamous OC. Home of St James Anglican Church, which does not allows gays. Home of Disneyland which offers insurance to gay families. Home of the Angels, the Mighty Ducks, the Clippers. Home of Loretta Sanchez and Dana Rohrabacher. The epicenter of the NO ON 6 Campaign, temporary safe-haven for Anita Bryant, home of Rick Warren's church in Lake Forest.
There is no mistake about the world famous OC; mega conservative, fundamentalist Christian, republican with great beaches and world-class waves. If you visit the website of Rick Warren's church you will find teachings promoting the submission of the wife to the husband. In addition to classifying gay people with pedophiles and practitioners of incest, he has been very vocal that women who have had abortions are no different than the Nazis and their uterus, he likened to Auschwitz.
It is nice that Melissa Etheridge wants to have a détente with Pastor Rick. She thinks that it is important that he meets some gay people who have families and family values. I hope they have a prosperous exchange. But here's the point. Why not pool your resources, gay and straight, Christian and compassionate and have a Summit of Understanding. Why not hold a Parliament of Religion like the one in 1923 in Chicago. Invite people of all faiths to promote understanding and demonstrate the ability to sit and talk and be civil(ized). Invite some women who have had abortions, some doctors who have done abortions, some gay families, some gay ministers and, even, some of those super conservative Anglicans and super-liberal Unitarians.
That is where all of this should be going. That is the organic coalition that would truly demonstrate CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. But you DON'T offer this renown bigot, outspoken hate-monger, homophobic, misogynistic man in the Western world, the biggest pulpit in history and say it is just a gesture of inclusion and goodwill. We are not that stupid and, frankly, neither are you Mr. Obama. You know this is an outrage.
So here's an idea ~ put together a team for the invocation; three or four people who actually represent and LOVE the diversity of America. Please do not put forth the worst of us who needs to be educated, explained and apologized for; this man who can validate every family who judges and condemns their gay relatives. Put forth a face, or set of faces which tell all the world who we are, who we hope to be, who inspires the change we can believe in.
I watched a very interesting movie tonight, Gandhi, My Father. It is the tragic story of Harilal Gandhi who could not please his father and died a beggar, a drunk, a widower who left his children. No matter how much we might elevate M.K. Gandhi, he was just a man whose vision operated within the confines of his exquisite lens. Harilal wanted everything his father had and had the luxury to renounce. Bapu, the Father of India, was strict, unforgiving and could not let his son drink deeply from life to make his own decisions on what to embrace or renounce. It was as if Gandiji expected his son to merely adopt his hard-earned lessons; rather than learn them himself. He seemed to think that since he learned something, Harilal could/should just accept the outcome without learning it himself.
But make no mistake, Harilal wanted father-love, mother-love, wife-love, child-love ~ family. He wanted family. I wonder if children of famous people might really find this story maddening ~ not comforting at all. In the light of the news today I cannot help but make layered parallels with that of the gay son or daughter wanting father-love, mother-love, a lover, children ~ family. Isn't that really what all of the prop 8, Rick Warren, gay issue is about?
There is a group of people who want to just be welcome at the table of humanity. They want to have a partner, children, dinner, a productive life (could I be so deliberate as to say a "purpose driven life"?). And there is push back from people whose tables have no room for difference. Gandhi named the unwanted Indians, the lowest caste, the harijan ~ the children of god. He inversed their fate of being born as an untouchable, not welcome at any table but their own, by naming them god's favored.
Rick Warren's Saddleback Church is that table which wants no harijan. Homosexuals may not join. Does he really think that his god will not invite homosexuals to the heavenly banquet? If Rick does have some inside line on that, I am certain that lots of people would not want to be at that table by their own choice.
My own seeking soul has traveled the world through a library card; searched religions, faiths, beliefs, for years and years. If Barack had asked me, or YOU had asked me, who would be a great choice to offer the invocation at this historic inauguration, I would have answered to chose someone whose table is wide, magnetic, inviting, universal and, most importantly, excludes no one.
The Tao Te Ching states that beginnings set the pace for all that unfolds in its wake. Please do not give up asking that Rick Warren be replaced as the international bell ringing in the Obama years. It could not be more important.
But make no mistake, Harilal wanted father-love, mother-love, wife-love, child-love ~ family. He wanted family. I wonder if children of famous people might really find this story maddening ~ not comforting at all. In the light of the news today I cannot help but make layered parallels with that of the gay son or daughter wanting father-love, mother-love, a lover, children ~ family. Isn't that really what all of the prop 8, Rick Warren, gay issue is about?
There is a group of people who want to just be welcome at the table of humanity. They want to have a partner, children, dinner, a productive life (could I be so deliberate as to say a "purpose driven life"?). And there is push back from people whose tables have no room for difference. Gandhi named the unwanted Indians, the lowest caste, the harijan ~ the children of god. He inversed their fate of being born as an untouchable, not welcome at any table but their own, by naming them god's favored.
Rick Warren's Saddleback Church is that table which wants no harijan. Homosexuals may not join. Does he really think that his god will not invite homosexuals to the heavenly banquet? If Rick does have some inside line on that, I am certain that lots of people would not want to be at that table by their own choice.
My own seeking soul has traveled the world through a library card; searched religions, faiths, beliefs, for years and years. If Barack had asked me, or YOU had asked me, who would be a great choice to offer the invocation at this historic inauguration, I would have answered to chose someone whose table is wide, magnetic, inviting, universal and, most importantly, excludes no one.
The Tao Te Ching states that beginnings set the pace for all that unfolds in its wake. Please do not give up asking that Rick Warren be replaced as the international bell ringing in the Obama years. It could not be more important.
I went to bed last Tuesday elated, relaxed, invigorated and ready for the future. An African American had won the election and minorities would have doors thrown open, children forever imprinted with the picture of little African American girls in the White House, a job well-done and a new puppy! It was all just fantastic.
But since Wednesday morning I have become increasingly crushed. I came "out" thirty-two years ago. I have been open, spoken on behalf of all oppressed people. I was prepared for the catholics and conservatives that populate my Orange County neighborhood to vote for prop 8. I always found it knda fun - to be this big ole fat white lady who proudly said, "I have been L, G, B, and, now, settle for queer."
Dr. King told us about his dream on my 15th birthday and I gave it my best - to judge by character not skin color. But last night, on ABC news, I saw an African American women explain that homosexuality is against the bible so 80% of African Americans voted Yes on 8. I wonder what is my lesson; what should I conclude from this? I have been on the verge of tears for two days - am I just supposed to be ok with this?
As you might guess, my phone has rung and my email box is filled with my feminist friends just besides themselves with joy about President-elect Obama. I just can't get off the phone fast enough - and don't know what to say. I feel heart-broken. I have forty-five years into asking white people to not let skin color enter into their decision making about society. I have thirty-two years into not being straight. All I can really tell you is - I feel like I just broke-up. I am so lonely over this.
But since Wednesday morning I have become increasingly crushed. I came "out" thirty-two years ago. I have been open, spoken on behalf of all oppressed people. I was prepared for the catholics and conservatives that populate my Orange County neighborhood to vote for prop 8. I always found it knda fun - to be this big ole fat white lady who proudly said, "I have been L, G, B, and, now, settle for queer."
Dr. King told us about his dream on my 15th birthday and I gave it my best - to judge by character not skin color. But last night, on ABC news, I saw an African American women explain that homosexuality is against the bible so 80% of African Americans voted Yes on 8. I wonder what is my lesson; what should I conclude from this? I have been on the verge of tears for two days - am I just supposed to be ok with this?
As you might guess, my phone has rung and my email box is filled with my feminist friends just besides themselves with joy about President-elect Obama. I just can't get off the phone fast enough - and don't know what to say. I feel heart-broken. I have forty-five years into asking white people to not let skin color enter into their decision making about society. I have thirty-two years into not being straight. All I can really tell you is - I feel like I just broke-up. I am so lonely over this.
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Loss and Resolve: Lessons from Maine
Posted Nov 05, 2009 4:18pm
by Julia Rosen, Online Political Director
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Posted Nov 05, 2009 4:18pm
by Julia Rosen, Online Political Director
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