Holy carp, people: SYMBOLS ARE IMPORTANT.

So there are tons of running around telling folks on this forum how unimportant the Rick Warren thing is, "It's only a few minutes." "It's just a gesture, it doesn't mean anything." Da-da-da-da-da.

When in fact, WHY was Barack Obama's election so important to MILLIONS? Because of the SYMBOL of Obama as the first African-American president. The SYMBOL which meant: "This person is not like all of the ones who came before; he is different, and will bring to the office of the President a new worldview." THAT is why you were crying on election night. Because of the SYMBOL and the deeper meaning you read into it.

And what I'm saying is that the SYMBOL of Warren giving the invocation seems to be giving the deeper meaning of, "This homophobic, misogynist preacher is going to bless the inauguration, and, by extension, the entire administration of this president."

Nice symbol to choose. :eyes: NOT.

Honoring someone symbolically matters. Of course the prayer giver won't be writing laws or heading departments, but he is given a high profile symbolic honor.

I don't believe in putting a lot of stock in symbolism.

Seriously, I suggest you check out George Lakoff, or google "cognitive linguistics," or maybe even spend some time with Joseph Campbell's "The Power of Myth." Human beings interpret and perceive their world through a symbolic and narrative filter. It's an essential part of our base psyche.

Surely black folks could just overlook that as a meaningless gesture. And it would be the ultimate in "reaching across the aisle."

Warren doesn't represent a violent movement, just an ignorant one.

the Christian hate crowd doesn't openly advocate violence, but they enable it. Gay bashers take their attitudes from people like Warren who declare that gays and lesbians are worthy of civic consideration and are somehow less than human.

All the people like Warren, the Catholic bishops, and the leaders of the Mormon Church have blood on their hands.

Thats EXACTLY what you just said, based on your logic.

You said, without going into any specific topic, that people who preach a certain ideology peacefully still enable others to become violent under the banner of said ideology.

Thats was exactly the logic behind your statements, there is no getting around it.

I am certainly not nor will I ever be embarassed by anything I have to say around here, EVER.

does anyone not get it yet?

Please provide concrete example of what you mean by "Obama doesn't think that way" because that statement means nothing to me.

"This homophobic, misogynist preacher is going to bless the inauguration, and, by extension, the entire administration of this president."

You haven't heard Obama saying anything like this about anyone, and you won't.

lots of people like Warren. Voters.

Just words?

Remember that?

I think you're mistaken about how he thinks or claims to think.

This comes under the heading of chosen symbol, and in my view, Obama has chosen badly, truly disappointingly. Yuck.

hardly anyone would know much about Warren, or even know he's speaking.

We learned that a long time ago. Ignoring hate will not make it go away.

That was a terrible symbol, being with a unrepentant terrorist.

This whole thing is stupid.

It is a 2 minute prayer which has no consequences to the nation whatsoever. Lets worry about Obama's actual accomplishments in office, not these empty gestures.

an inauguration by it's very nature is a symbolic event.

Because it looks to me like pretty much a wash.

confusedly,
Bright

and i think that there have already been actual appointments to administration posts that are of substance. some people here are feeling that distinction.
and some people here are seeing cabinet picks slimed completely, without substance, based on similar symbols.
i thought we were the smart guys, capable of complex thought. guess not.
guess the community i thought i had was a mirage, too.

Not arguing he's homophobic but misogynist is a new one on me.

And females can have NO leadership role at all. Also, he's anti-choice -- no abortions in ANY CASE. EVER.

He's also anti Science (Evolution, etc.).

Y'know, I'm not Christian but I have read the Bible and I'd like to know when exactly Jesus's teachings about compassion and tolerance became wedded to this passal of extreme-right views.