People for the American Way also has a petition protest circulating. -----Original Message----- >From: Susan Brison <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Dec 19, 2008 5:41 PM >To: "Callahan, Joan" <[log in to unmask]> >Cc: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Barack Obama and Rick Warren > >Dear Joan--and others on the FEAST list-serve, > >I was in a self-imposed media blackout for the last 48 hours and so >first learned of Obama's invitation to Rick Warren to give his >inaugural invocation when I read your post this afternoon. I am >utterly outraged, especially as someone who has supported Obama since >last January. I am also appalled by the (relative) lack of public >protest in response to this. (It seems like Joe Biden's gotten more >grief for his choice of a puppy breeder.) > >I encourage all of you to write op-ed pieces and to send your >responses to www.change.org—Obama's transition website. (There are >several places listed on this site where you can weigh in, including >"It's Your America," "Submit Your Stories," and "Join the >Discussion.") Please also send responses to: moveon.org, >mybarackobama.com, and any other websites you can think of. > >I also learned just this afternoon that, when Obama was asked about >the Warren pick in a news conference yesterday, he replied, "let me >start by talking about my own views. I think that it is no secret that >I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It >is something that I have been consistent on, and something that I >contend -- intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency. > >"What I've also said is that it is important for America to come >together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social >issues. And I would note that a couple of years ago, I was invited to >Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views >that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian >rights, when it came to issues like abortion. Nevertheless, I had an >opportunity to speak. And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my >campaign's been all about; that we're not going to agree on every >single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an >atmosphere when we -- where we can disagree without being disagreeable >and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans. > >"So Rick Warren has been invited to speak. Dr. Joseph Lowery, who has >deeply contrasting views to Rick Warren on a whole host of issues, is >also speaking. During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, >there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. >And that's how it should be, because that's what America's about. >That's part of the magic of this country, is that we are diverse and >noisy and opinionated. And so, you know, that's the spirit in which, >you know, we have put together what I think will be a terrific >inauguration. And that's, hopefully, going to be a spirit that carries >over into my administration." > >I refuse to accept that the prominent airing of bigoted opinions such >as Rick Warren's blatant homophobia is "part of the magic of this >country." I'm reminded of an occasion, in 1993, when I got a call >from the Montel Williams TV show asking me to put them in touch with a >female student who had been raped. When I asked why they wanted me to >do this, I was told "well, we have an accused rapist who's agreed to >be on the show telling his side of the story, and so we wanted to have >the other side represented as well." (Of course, I declined to help >them out with this.) As someone who has been a professional academic >for 25 years, I take seriously the obligation to present all sides of >any controversial issue. But whether gays and lesbians should have >full civil rights is not a controversial issue, any more than whether >rape is a bad thing, or whether women, Blacks, or other historically >discriminated against groups should have full civil rights. > >Joan, you wrote that "every LGBT list I am on is overflowing with >responses that run through disappointment, rage, alarm, to despair." >I have certainly experienced disappointment, rage, and alarm in the >short time since I learned of this development, but I haven't yet >succumbed to despair (although I may yet). Thank you for getting the >word out to this list-serve, and please let me know of other actions >we can all take in response to this outrageous news. > >All my best, >Susan > >Professor Susan J. Brison >Department of Philosophy >Faculty Associate of the East Wheelock Cluster >(office) 603-646-9097 >(home) 603-646-9098 > > Eva Kittay Department of Philosophy SUNY Stony Brook [log in to unmask]