Saturday, December 20, 2008

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Now) ?

Lee Stranahan was right in his first rate piece in the Huffington Post citing Obama's contention that our politics are too small for our problems. Like Stranahan, I think Warren is dead wrong, (See:Is it Time to Remove the Legal Rights of Marriage? ) . I also think that we need to show that we are bigger than they are when it comes to this and other issues for two important reasons: 1. Because it is the right thing to do; and 2. Because it will help us to build a mighty wave of public support to sweep away this wall of oppression.

It is time for the gay community to change its mindset. They must begin to see themselves, not as victims, but as winners, in control of their own destiny. We have won the election, and we have lost an early skirmish (Prop 8) in the on-going battle.

More important, at Barack Obama's new American table, the gay community is already seated. It is not standing at the door waiting to be invited in. Quite the opposite.

With the Warren invitation, Obama has invited the Evangelicals to dine at that great American table of diversity as well. This will be a test of their ability to move toward a more tolerant world view. Rick Warren can start by toning down his own rhetoric.

Those of us who support equal rights for all Americans need to set an example. We need to embrace the "Big Politics" that Obama has called for. We need to offer a vision and an openess that is better than the example that the evangelical community has provided. If we set that example, the America people will come to our position, just as surely as they did during the past election.

We need to open our arms to them, invite them to join us at the table . . . and invite them to ask of themselves . . . what would Jesus do?

"Leap of Faith"


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