In adavance of the January 20th inauguration, I thought it appropriate to revisit the fairly heavy criticism Obama took over his decision to invite Rick Warren to deliver an invocation at Obama's swearing in ceremony.
Personally, I feel that gay people should be allowed to marry in whatever church will marry them and that the state should recognize that marriage. I too am uncomfortable with Warren's stance on gays and evengalicism, among many other stances I'm sure, and would much prefer to see a secular tone struck at the ceremony. However, I think that Obama is correct when he says he is the president of all americans, and, surely, as odious as some of Warren's views are, we can still have enough courtesy to engage with someone who is in fact moderate and concerned with finding common ground on helping humanity. Warren may in fact be the best of the bunch when one considers Hagee and Robertson and Falwell.
I fully expect Warren to deliver a moving and uncontroversial invocation and, ultimately, I agree with Obama's decision to ask him. It speaks well of Obama that he is willing to engage with the best in this fringe section of the American electorate, who in many cases, need to be calmed down after being furiously stoked by the republican party.
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