I don't hate Rick Warren. I don't think Obama is now a terrible person. [View All]

I am just astounded at the outcry over the selection of Rick Warren to give the invocation. The man is going to give a short prayer. Obama has not selected him to set policy or anything more than speak for a few minutes. So what? Deal with it.

I am a progressive. I believe in equal rights for all. I disagree with much of what Rick Warren says, but not all of it. There are very few, if any, people that I know, publicly or privately, with whom I do not disagree with, sometimes vehemently, on one or more subjects.

Does this mean I should ostracize these people? Afford them no platform or respect?

Should I just now give up, crawl into a hole, or start a protest movement because Obama had the audacity to pick a person with whom I might disagree with, perhaps vehemently, to participate in his inaugural? Maybe I should throw my support to some other, more open-minded, non-bigoted person than Obama. Just tell me who that might be.

Obama is delivering on his promise of inclusiveness. This means dealing with people that we do not agree with 100%. This means dealing with people with might disagree with 90%. Maybe that 10% of common ground might really mean something at some point.

I hope with all my being that Obama is President of all the people. I am sick and tired of the slicing, dicing, and dividing of our country. We do not need a Bush-in-reverse.

I'm beginning to think that after eight years here, that my time at DU is coming to an end. I will judge Obama on the totality of what he accomplishes over the next months and years. I have neither the interest nor desire to "micro-manage" his every announcement and move. I am confident that he will be the leader that I expected and that he will change our country.

Give the man a chance.