Rick Warren & The Invocation: The Discomfort of Inclusion

The morning after Barack Obama announced that he had selected Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inauguration, I found myself in an interesting argument between bites of sumptuous scrambled eggs. I sat down to breakfast and began ranting about how disappointed I was that a man who staunchly opposes gay marriage and compares it to incest, would be featured so prominently at such an historic "celebration."

My mate reminded me that Obama ran (and won) on a platform of inclusion.

I snapped back that Warren, at least this aspect of Rick Warren's ideology, was the epitome of exclusion. I was then reminded that Rick Warren represents the beliefs of many, many Americans. And although many of those Americans would never, ever support Barack Obama, nor do they intend to make any effort to insure the success of his presidency, their views should be represented in an "inclusive" celebration.Now I had him, or so I thought. I pointed out that to me it was like inviting a segregationist to set the spiritual tone of an inauguration during the early 60's.

I was right I was told. That is exactly what it is like. And that distasteful way of thinking would have represented a large swath of American opinion at the time.

Hmmmpf.

And then he asked, "Would you rather someone like Warren be giving the invocation or sitting in a cabinet position setting policy?" The invocation of course, but still I am uneasy about it because I worry that elevation of Warren's views is a "go signal" to less thoughtful or violent homo-phobics who will do things like this.

So, for me at least, inclusion of exclusion really stings. But would "inclusion" mean anything really without that discomfort? And the fact is that Barack Obama has embraced openly gay members in his transition team, and has selected Dr. Joseph Lowery, a civil rights icon who supports same-sex marriage, to deliver the benediction.

I can only hope that this is how a nation begins to pull together.

Our Lens Sept. 1

Hector Jackson (C), who impersonates the late US pop star Michael Jackson, gestures while he takes part in the "I do dance Thriller" event which attempts to break the Guinness World Record for the biggest mass "Thriller" dance, in Mexico City, on August 29. Up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in a potentially record breaking mass performance of Michael Jackson's famed "Thriller" dance on the day he would have turned 51.

Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

A long line of fire marches west towards the communities of Acton and Sunland-Tujanga on August 31 in Los Angeles, California. At least 18 homes were destroyed and 12,000 more homes and 500 commercial buildings are being threatened in the fire which already took two lives. The wildfire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station and the Angeles Crest Highway above La Canada Flintridge, has forced thousands of evacuations.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Chris McGrath, Getty Images

A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

Sayyid Azim, AP

Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

Jesse Grant, WireImage

A girl plays with tomato pulp during the annual "Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Bunol's town hall estimated more than 40,000 people, some from as far away as Japan and Australia, took up arms Wednesday with 100 tons of tomatoes in the yearly food fight known as the 'Tomatina' now in its 64th year.

Alberto Saiz, AP

Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

Spencer Platt, Getty Images

People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images

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