now people are getting to the good stuff...

[thoreau]

whiskerfish forwarded me a link via email to the challenge from the Courage campaign to host a debate on gay marriage between Rev. Rick Warren and Rev. Eric Lee. Quoting the Courage Campaign, "Rev. Eric Lee is a courageous leader on marriage equality in the faith community and in the African American community. Representing the SCLC, founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Lee expressed his strong opposition to Prop 8 in October by taking a stand with the Courage Campaign against the Mormon Church's heavy involvement in the Prop 8 campaign."

Now see - this is a positive development. This is the step beyond screaming about the Warren invitation; and actually using it as an opportunity to educate and change minds and hearts. The best way for folks to understand that Warren is a frighteningly out of touch religious leader is for him to demonstrate it himself.

I personally watched his interview on MSNBC and thought he'd done a fair amount of that for himself already - but then - as I've said before - I'm hardly the one that needs convincing here. Someone this media hungry is bound to open his mouth and spew something so utterly out of touch and wrong; he'll quickly fall off the national spotlight.

All of us on the side of marriage equality, rather - equality period KNOW that Warren is a steaming pile of moldy dung. Now that we've had a week or so to throw a collective tantrum - I'm glad we are moving on to proving to the rest of our peers in California the very same thing. and that won't happen by us blogging about what a Nazi he is - because well - everyone that reads my blog and your blog already agrees.

The real opportunity we've been handed by Obama's decision to involve Warren - is the opportunity to showcase the bigotry and wrongness of his opinions to the audience that didn't hear it during the Prop 8 campaign. It's a chance to educate folks in the central valley and the counties that voted 70% Yes on 8. And perhaps that 25% of San Franciscans that voted Yes on 8 as well. Despite how angry people are over Warren's involvement? I think it hands our side of the argument a divinely inspired educational moment that if we are patient will create a spotlight on the bile behind Prop 8 and help lead us to freedom.

Comments

[phreddd.livejournal.com]

Courage
Optimism
Naivete (a little is OK)
Strength
Truth
Reason
Understanding
Creativity
Tenacity
Innovation
Vision
Energy

Thank you, Robert.

[timzilla.livejournal.com]

Preaching to the choir aside, that all depends on how articulate and reasonable he can seem.

I have always thought that those idiots like Phelps with their shocking signs and hateful rhetoric were the best allies we've ever had. No one in their right mind wants to be associated with them.

When Murrow televised McCarthy and people saw how insane he was and the sickening ridiculousness of his witch hunt, it had to end.

If it is newsworthy, if enough people see it and if Warren shows his true colors, then it's going to go far in helping people come down on the right side of history. If.

History is all about the "ifs" in the end....

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

I found him laughable in front of Anne Curry on NBC honestly - but its harder to laugh and say you aren't a homophobe when you are debating another preacher. Warren is dangerous ground - you are right though. He's polished and has the "kool aid" in his veins - he's positively 100% convinced he's right. its up to smart questions and contrast to his opinions that can shed light on just how wrong he is. I'm glad that some folks are seeing (finally) the Warren pick as an opportunity rather than as a defeat.

[happyengineer.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking along similar lines. I had never heard of Rick Warren before the Obama / McCain non-debate during the campaign. I didn't know he was one of those evangelicals fond of saying hateful things about the LGBT community. Now that Obama's picked him to play a role in the inauguration, news outlets are picking up on the controversy. Straight people are saying he should apologize for some of the things he's said. (Mind you, I haven't seen any quotes. All I know is what I've read on blogs, that he's been hateful. I haven't cared enough to Google the specifics.)

So because of Obama's choice, Warren has been getting some mildly critical attention from the mainstream press. I think it's a good thing.

[audrabaudra.livejournal.com]

I kind of wondered if this wasn't a strategy from Obama's camp from the outset: Showcase a proponent of equality and let his views try to stand up for themselves in the "marketplace of ideas," not just with his own followers.

We'll see how it goes, won't we?

[budmassey.livejournal.com]

It will be interesting to see if your theory holds true. I think the majority of Americans will simply say "damn right"!