At the risk of sounding schizophrenic...While I respect President-elect Obama's decision to ask Rick Warren to speak at his inaugural at a political level, I don't necessarily have to like it at a personal level.
Here's the thing: Election Day was a rather two-sided affair. At 8pm California time, we were celebrating the election of Barack Obama. The previous eight years of fascist drama had come crashing down. Hugs ensued and tears of joy were shed here in my home. And then, as the night wore on, we were sucker-punched. Prop 8 was winning, and within 24 hours the votes to defeat it were no longer there.
We protested, we rallied, we got up and dusted ourselves off... On to the courts! Put that sucker on the ballot again and overturn it!!
Inauguration Day was supposed to be a day where we could forget about the right wing zealots. It was to be a day to celebrate the great and sweeping victory that Barack Obama won for progressives around the nation - a nation that rejected outright the previous eight years of hate and divisiveness. Our spirits were on the rise again. As the change of power approached, we began to think that, eventually, this new president would guide the way out of the bigoted morass.
And now, again, we feel sucker-punched. We were looking forward to a great celebration. And while it may still be, there will be a cloud over it. An asterisk, so to speak. Just like Election Day.
