Filed under: gay rights, politics | Tags: civil right, dr. laura, frank rich, gay marriage, gene robinson, paterson, rick warren
In yesterday’s Times, Frank Rich wrote a reasoned, “over it” commentary on the Right’s lackluster response to the marriage equality victories in Iowa and Vermont. Rich begins with a critique of NOM’s spoof-ready commercial against gay marriage, and then builds his argument to include the lack of media attention from conservative outlet Fox news and the abrupt about-face of religious leaders like Rick Warren and conservative talking head, Dr. Laura Schlesigner.
It seems to me that the debate is shifting from “Should gay marriage be legalized?” to a larger dialogue about the separation of church and state. Beneath all the strong emotions of both the most liberal folks and the most conservative ideologues has been a resistance to disseminate the real meat of the debate: that marriage is a civil right, separate from the religious institution so narrowly focused upon.
Episcopal bishop Gene V. Robinson invoked this argument today. As did Governor Paterson in the legislation he put forth last week.
Reminds me of the recent words of Sean Penn at the Oscars, chiding the bigots who continue to rail against gay marriage. ”For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight,” said Penn, “I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support.”
Here’s his speech in case you want to view it again (it’s really moving, as is Milk screenwriter Lance Black’s acceptance speech):
Filed under: gay rights, politics | Tags: hitler, homophobia, obama inauguration, rick warren
This one is jaw-dropping.
Citing the revolutions of Hitler’s Youth, then Chairman Mao’s followers’ blind devotion to Communism, and finally–to top it all off–proudly introducing the notorious, genocidal president of Rwanda, Pastor Rick Warren urges thousands of his religious followers to give themselves to Jesus in the same, blind way. “What would happen if North American Christians said, ‘Jesus, we are yours.’?”
Are these appropriate analogies for Christians? Should Christians devote themselves to the cause like Hitler’s Youth?
