DISQUS

louisgray.com: louisgray.com: Obama Gives You a Seat at the Table on Change.gov

  • Jake McKee · 1 year ago
    Absolutely fantastic move!
  • William E.. Kelly · 11 months ago
    On President elect Obama's appointment of Pastor Rick Warren to give the inauguration invocation, while he can hardly be viewed as a close friend of the gay community. I would urge that our gay citizens take a deep breath.

    President elect Obama's appointments have indeed bravely and boldly crossed party and ethnic lines to be inclusive of a diverse America by making them meaningfully visible in the process of democratic self-governing. So far, we have seen him reach across the isle to Republicans, Democrats and Independents. We continue to witness appointments of qualified citizens from a plethora of cultural and religious heritages and ideologies that comprise the strengths and weaknesses of this great nation. Clearly, the President elect aims to make room on the stage for a rich and diverse uniquely American mix.

    Obama's appointment of Pastor Rick Warren to give the inauguration invocation, opens communication to an otherwise kind and giving man, albeit one who can hardly be viewed as a friend of gay equality and marriage. So, as a gay man, I can view this as an honest attempt to increase the dialogue between gay and heterosexual citizens to find common ground that will move our cause forward or I can view this as an attempt to support the President elect's own views on gay marriage. The truth is, I applaud Obama's promise to unite a richly diverse citizenry to end a failed and destructive government of divisive cultures and ideologies. The caveat is that he also needs to make room at the table for the gay citizens within our nation's communities to complete a circle of constructive dialogue participants. The gay community is upset over Rick Warren's appointment and awaits signs Obama fully intends to include gay citizens by also giving them highly visible roles and a meaningful voice in his administration. I would suggest that our energies are better aimed to seeking that end and not to more divisiveness. Let's not start out on the wrong foot by being unnecessarily confrontational to no constructive end. Shouldn't we use this opportunity to step up to the plate on this issue and have a dialogue with the incoming administration?


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