Obama Chooses Rick Warren: What about Gay Rights?

A recent controversy is this: Mr. Obama’s choice for the man who will give prayer during the inauguration.  His name is Rick Warren.  Due to this choice, Mr. Obama is currently under fire from Democrats.  Rick Warren has strong conservative views on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.  But what does this choice mean?  Does it change Mr. Obama’s stance?  No, it doesn’t.  It is indisputable that Mr. Obama is pro gay marriage, and, in explanation for his decision, has said so.

Gay rights advocates are outraged with Mr. Obama’s decision.  I’ll admit there is a level of disrespect in Mr. Obama’s decision, perhaps, particularly after the passing of Proposition 8 in California, a major loss in the gay civil rights movement.  At first, I too was angry, questioning.  Stop and think for a while, and put everything into perspective.  Hear out Mr. Obama’s justification (link provided) before any judgement is made.

 A CNN reporter in her commentary of Mr. Obama’s inauguration decision jokingly said, “You can’t make everyone happy.”  Frankly, it’s impossible to make everyone happy.  Rick Warren was an advocate of Proposition 8 in California.  He was a major part in the passing of the bill.  To say the truth, I disagree with Mr. Warren’s ideas.  I believe them to be unconstitutional.  And yet, I support Mr. Obama’s decision to choose Mr. Warren.  I believe that, in choosing Mr. Warren, Mr. Obama has helped America make a step forward.  No, you can’t make everyone happy, but what Mr. Obama is doing here, is bringing together people.

 I have said before that the best course of action regarding homophobia is to hate the ‘sin’ but not the person.  And I believe this is precisely what Mr. Obama is doing here.  We all believe different things.  However, we, as a society, will never move forward, will never truly be able to accept other people for who they are, if we constantly bicker amongst ourselves.

 Let’s not be hypocrites.  Let us not shun others for what they believe, even if what they believe may inherently harm us.  An eye for an eye will make the world go blind…  Instead, embrace; fire is best fought with water.  In lieu of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi, two of some of the greatest civil rights activists, the peaceful approach is the most effective.

 Mr. Obama, thank you for making this step forward as our next President of the United States.