I know I am a bit late putting in my two cents worth over the Rev. Warren situation, but my phone was turned off last week Monday (yes, I am on dial-up), so I was without the Internet and dailykos for a while.
I am sure I missed hundreds of diaries on this subject, but I feel the need to say something to my gay and lesbian friends.....
More below....
I want to say to my gay and lesbian friends that I'm sorry. I am sorry that after the horrible outcome of Prop. 8 that this had to happen. I am sure it feels like salt in your wounds and I truly feel for you.
Because I have been without the Internet for about a week, I was relying heavily on Keith and Rachel to keep me informed, and when I saw on Rachel's show last week who had been picked to do Obama's swearing in, I was devastated by it. I couldn't help but think of how my gay friends and my gay uncle felt about this development when I (as a straight woman) felt sickened by it.
I have to say that I feel that the way to universal acceptance isn't by tolerating intolerance. And rewarding intolerance by including someone with extreme intolerant views isn't going to make them see our side of things any sooner or better. If anything, I feel it will just reinforce their views making it that much harder to achieve the change our gay brothers and sisters so deserve.
I know, some of you are going to tell me this is the new politics, but, is it really? Aren't Democrats notorious for trying to work with "the other guys" and trying to see other points of view? Don't Democrats cave far too often on issues just to reach a compromise with "the other guy?"
In my 40 years on this planet I have seen many issues that I care about (civil rights for all, universal health care etc.) not make the advances I feel that should of been made in 40 years.
Yes, the republicans are to blame for much of the reason why things aren't changing fast enough, but backing down and making far too many compromises on the part of the Democrats doesn't help either.
I want real new politics and that starts by being tougher and not compromising and validating intolerance. We won for fuck's sake! It's the republicans who should be doing the compromising, not us! I mean really, does anyone really think that by having Rev. Warren as part of Obama's ceremony the republicans will suddenly be more willing to work with us for a change? I don't think so. So, what is the point of causing so much pain to so many people who not only supported Obama, but worked their asses off trying to get him elected?
Anyway, that's my two cents worth.
Great big (((HUGS))) to all my gay and lesbian friends and again, I am so sorry....