Thursday, December 18, 2008

First Time For Everything

For once (God help me) I agree with Aravosis:

Great, then where are the racists, Mr. Obama? We don't see you embracing too many of them in the name of learning to agree to disagree. Or does your
desire to create a new "atmosphere," and reach out to our enemies, stop when it's your own people, your own children, you'd be betraying? Funny how you only reach across the aisle when it's someone else's family, gay families in particular, getting the shaft.



Obama's reasoning falls short in this light. While racism isn't anywhere nearly as widespread as anti-gay-activism-apathy within the American electorate, Rick Warren's abject comparison of same-sex relationships with man-on-beast relations is beyond the pale and is hurtful to "Gay Americans" (TM pending by Jim McGreevey). However, unlike John, I am not surprised in the least. Only those staring directly into the sun (The Son?) couldn't see this bus coming.

And the gay community looked mournfully toward Hillary, who only looked at them with a sad, knowing smile. . .

Now, I'm not saying I think the approach of reaching out to both sides is unwise; on the contrary, I think it's politically very wise for any politician to reach toward the center of America. I also don't think this is the "only" time, as Aravosis notes in the quote above, that Obama has reached across the aisle. He's keeping Gates on, remember.

However, a full consideration of Warren's remarks makes him poisonous to the sensibilities of gay people. Well, you get what you pay for.

Let's hope this marks the advent of common sense within gay political circles.

Yeah, right.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd probably have a lot more sympathy if these weren't the same liberal bloggers who destroyed Geradine Ferraro over alleged "racism" against Obama only a few months ago. How do you like that comeuppance, Mr. Avarosis?

Anonymous said...

John (the commenter, not the asshat Aravosis) makes a good point. There was some truly poisonous shit going on this cycle and much of it concerned liberals tearing apart other liberals. Ever since, it's been "outrage here" and "boycott that" and the whole atmosphere has been tainted. There's a bizarre goosestepping mentality with liberals now that, while it's always been there to an extent, is now far more pronounced and if you're not willing to lock step then it's you who's going under the bus, the big, psychedelically swirly liberal bus.

It seems the outrage over this is far out of proportion to what it actually is. It's an invocation. At his inauguration. So what? I mean, the man was only officially elected President a short time ago and everyone so quick to throw him under the bus because of this choice, a choice many wouldn't even have cared about if the outrage wasn't so immediate and clamoring.

More to the point, Obama has chosen many good, intelligent people to actually serve as part of his government cabinet. Indeed, it's looking like an openly gay man will be put forth for Secretary of the Navy. So the fact that so many knickers are in such a twist over this largely ornamental choice AND the fact that the benediction is being given by a Methodist minister with a long history of fighting for civil rights and who's publicly declared his support both for gay and lesbian clergy as well as same-sex marriage just makes this hue and cry seem utterly askew and, frankly, somewhat disgusting.

Anonymous said...

I agree with, QJ. I think the outrage shows why gay rights proponants have proven largely ineffective. A simple, 'we think Warrens views concerning gays are wrong, and hope this disappointing choice provides an opportunity to discuss why gays are in need of civil rights protection,' . . ., and then make substantive points, would have been the way to go.

Tommy

Anonymous said...

I think the outrage shows why gay rights proponants have proven largely ineffective.

I think it's more the opposite. For too long, gay people have sat back and let Democrats get away with anti-gay stuff. Granted, Obama has made good cabinet selections and selected a pro-gay pastor to deliver the benediction. Also, it will be more important to see how Obama is and leads as president. Further, I'm sure some people have overreacted to this choice. But just as Obama wants to have his administration off and running on Jan. 20, I think it's good for gay people to be off and running in preparation for Obama's presidency as well. If nothing else, people are saying we aren't going to wait another two years or four years for Democrats to keep their word, or to use political expediency as an excuse.

Anonymous said...

I recommend this excellent post:

"But we are never going to win the fight for gay marriage and transform the United States into an inclusive country where gays and lesbians have equal rights until we get all the fairy-tale believing bigots on our side.

I wish it weren't that way, but it is. We have to accept it and get about changing minds and then the laws will change as well.

Fairy-tale believing bigots will not see things our way if we keep them outside the process. We have to welcome them into the conversation and let them play ball.

Rick Warren adds a touch of credibility to Barack Obama's inauguration for thousands of people who'd rather pretend this isn't such a big deal. They'd like to ignore this moment in history. They want to stay angry and bitter and opposed to change.

And now they can't because their hero is gracing the event with his and the Lord's presence. . . ."

http://www.outinleftfield.com/

Tommy