http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/17/obama.warren/index.html This article discussed the nomination of Rick Warren, an influential Evangelical Pastor, as the man to head Barack Obama's inauguration. Many in the humanitarian community, such as People for the American Way President, Kathryn Kolbert and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights campaign have spoken out against this decision. I feel that it is our responsibility at citizens to defend our beliefs, and mine include the separation of church and state. I also believe in total equality for all human beings. Rick Warren does not endorse equality for gays, lesbians, and transgenders. We are at a cross roads in this nation and Barack Obama has an opporutunity to help us renew our national pride. It has to start from the very beginning. Rick Warren does not represent the majority. He is not the person we need to speak for our people. We must present ourselves to the global community with consideration. I do not support the nomination of Rick Warren as speaker at the upcoming inauguration and I think that other people may not as well. We need to do what we can as citizens of the United States, to make ourselves heard in the hopes of a nation-wide progression. Let your President know that you do not support the public indoctrination of Rick Warren and that a new selection should be considered. Thank you for your time.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/17/obama.warren/index.html This article discussed the nomination of Rick Warren, an influential Evangelical Pastor, as the man to head Barack Obama's inauguration. Many in the humanitarian community, such as People for the American Way President, Kathryn Kolbert and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights campaign have spoken out against this decision. I feel that it is our responsibility at citizens to defend our beliefs, and mine include the separation of church and state. I also believe in total equality for all human beings. Rick Warren does not endorse equality for gays, lesbians, and transgenders. We are at a cross roads in this nation and Barack Obama has an opporutunity to help us renew our national pride. It has to start from the very beginning. Rick Warren does not represent the majority. He is not the person we need to speak for our people. We must present ourselves to the global community with consideration. I do not support the nomination of Rick Warren as speaker at the upcoming inauguration and I think that other people may not as well. We need to do what we can as citizens of the United States, to make ourselves heard in the hopes of a nation-wide progression. Let your President know that you do not support the public indoctrination of Rick Warren and that a new selection should be considered. Thank you for your time.
We the undersigned, dissaprove of the nomination of Rick Warren as speaker at the inauguration of Barack Obama. Warren does not represent mainstream America and should not be the one to set the tone for the changes and trials we face as a nation. Thank you for taking the time to view my petition. I hope that some of you feel as though this issue is worth pursuing.
We signed the "Citizens Against Rick Warren's Inauguration Speech" petition!
# 343:
4:58 am PST, Feb 26,Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 342:
3:25 am PST, Jan 26,Anita Kofta, Wisconsin
# 341:
1:47 pm PST, Jan 20,James Sheridan, Washington
Rick Warren's prayer was awesome!! You can end this petition now.
# 340:
4:56 pm PST, Jan 19,Jude Arsenault, Canada
i am gay and find him extremely offensive!!there are other reasons too.i do not admire this person.i dislike him.
# 339:
8:16 am PST, Jan 19,Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 338:
12:05 pm PST, Jan 16,Jenifer Paulousky, Massachusetts
After the incredible video of Rick Warren enticing the followers of Jesus to emulate the followers of Hitler, I'm not sure at all how we could possibly allow this man to represent the Christian faith at the Inauguration. Please consider a more sensible, less offensive choice to represent our country on this important day!
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2009/01/rick-warren-follow-jesus-like-nazis.html
# 337:
7:28 am PST, Jan 16,Jim Craft, Alabama
"I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him."
- John F. Kennedy
# 336:
8:12 am PST, Jan 14,Dan Haynes, Montana
Obama would not invite a Nazi to the inaguration and then try to convince Jews that "We need to be inclusive", yet he invites Warren whose views are just as extreme. He invites a person who thumbs his nose at dying and starving people by throwing abstinence at them as a "solution" to their disease and overpopulation. There is no need to negotiate with the extreme fringe when many in the mainstream are available and willing to move us forward.
# 335:
5:08 pm PST, Jan 13,Mark Tucker, Oregon
Rick Warren? This is the kind of jackass you want us to associate with "hope" and "change?" You shouldn't have an invocation at all, Mr. Obama; it's a clear violation of the First Amendment. You know, that little document you're about to swear (or affirm) to uphold? Yeah. That document, in letter and in spirit, prohibits any religious influence whatsoever in matters of state. But if you must pander to those who place their imaginary friend ahead of others' rights, you can do better than that bigot.
# 334:
10:25 am PST, Jan 13,Todd Benson, California
Keep religion and politics separate.
# 333:
7:32 pm PST, Jan 12,Beverley Drummond, Wisconsin
# 332:
1:58 pm PST, Jan 12,Michael Yoscary, New Jersey
Why is separation of church and state such a difficult concept..it really shouldn't be. Keep religion in the churches where it belongs. Religious leaders should not be mixing with politics especially when their message is one of exclusion.
# 331:
11:53 am PST, Jan 12,Victor Allen, Idaho
Rick Warren is a hate monger and a highly divisive person. I strongly object to his participation in Obama's inauguration ceremony.
# 330:
11:19 am PST, Jan 12,Louis Ogden, Virginia
As a non-believer, I don't think the choice of Rick Warren is a good idea. We have had eight years of the merging of church and state - it is past time to follow our Constitution.
# 329:
7:02 am PST, Jan 12,Michael Fowler, Arizona
I am tired of the xtians' imaginary omnipotent Friend and His Snakeoil Salesmen.
Enough.
# 328:
6:58 am PST, Jan 12,Name not displayed, Indiana
I agree! It's time for change, and choosing a non-evangelical to head up the inauguration would be a start!
# 327:
6:31 am PST, Jan 12,Robert Zellers, Indiana
Rick Warren is a bigot and should have no place in the inauguration of a president who should be opposed to any type of bigotry and intolleration.
# 326:
10:12 pm PST, Jan 11,Tina Sokol, Texas
# 325:
8:34 pm PST, Jan 11,Isaac Gruber, Texas
# 324:
8:25 pm PST, Jan 11,Justin Zellers, Indiana
I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him. - John F. Kennedy
# 323:
4:19 pm PST, Jan 11,Jack Chandler, Canada
I am a US citizen who swore to uphold the US Constitution when I enlisted in the US Marine Corps. There is no place for religion at any civil function. Please uphold the Constitution and support the rights of ALL Americans including those who do not have a religion.
# 322:
3:52 pm PST, Jan 11,Paul Pettyjohn, Oregon
# 321:
2:41 pm PST, Jan 11,Paul Tidroski, Florida
Rick Warren is a divisive bigot and has no place in this inauguration.
# 320:
1:31 pm PST, Jan 11,Jennifer Locke, Mississippi
A more inclusive, less controversial figure could easily be chosen from among the UCC or UU churches. If there must be an inaugural prayer, please choose a pastor who can speak for us all rather than one who thinks most of us are sinners and will burn in hell.
# 318:
11:38 am PST, Jan 11,Name not displayed, California
Rick Warren is a vile liar and should not be given any sort of public platform by our new president. I want to see the change that was promised, not the same old two-faced liars.
# 319:
11:17 am PST, Jan 11,David Brenneman, New York
I think this guy is a lunatic. I don't think there should be any "God" stuff in the Inauguration ceremony.
# 317:
11:04 am PST, Jan 11,James Rooney, California
Typical political LIAR. What kind of Change does this represent."Hey buddy got any spare change"
His selection of Rick Warren is a slap in the face to the grassroots and his base. What this tells me though is that we can count on at least 4 years of superstitious ignorance. As if we haven't had enough over the last 8 years. I am already making plans on replacing Barack and will do so. No more contributions for this type of ignorance. This is the same irrespnsible actions we have seen from Nancy Pelosi. When she took over as Speaker of the House. We expected her to reign in the Bush admin. We got nothing from her except more of the same and now things are worse.
# 316:
10:48 am PST, Jan 11,John Marley, Wyoming
Having Rick Warren head Obama's inauguration strongly implies that the new administration will have little more respect for SOCAS than the last. This is clear pandering to the religious right, and a betrayal of the base of supporters who elected Obama.
# 315:
10:14 am PST, Jan 11,Benjamin Smith, Maryland
# 314:
10:01 am PST, Jan 11,Debra Bowden, Illinois
When I supported Obama for president, and had hope in his words of change, I thought the wall of separation of church and state would once again be restored. Then Obama chooses Rick Warren who does not respect the Constitution, does not endorse equality for gays and lesbians, and is a creationist to boot! I am very disappointed in Obama's choice for the inaugural invocation. While in my own opinion prayer has no place in a public government event or ceremony, I understand that most of the people in this nation are god believers so they must be appeased. However, there are many respectable liberal-leaning ministers or priests who Obama could have chosen other than a homophobic bigot from the Religious Right.
# 313:
9:05 am PST, Jan 11,Catherine Sanders, Pennsylvania
# 312:
7:57 am PST, Jan 11,Name not displayed, Texas
# 311:
5:50 am PST, Jan 11,ROBERT SELTZER, Illinois
# 310:
4:35 am PST, Jan 11,Harry Race, Arkansas
This is an inexcusable attempt to appease a small section of people while ignoring a much larger section.
# 309:
10:23 pm PST, Jan 10,Douglas Henry, California
I feel that Rick Warren's inaugural debut is a clear violation of SOCAS, and that this is ten steps backwards for the civil rights movement, as he is clearly in favor of discriminating against homosexuals, and this is the new wave of dominion theonomy.
# 308:
2:14 pm PST, Jan 10,Roxie Schliesman, Wisconsin
# 307:
6:25 am PST, Jan 10,BiLL Fowlie, Maine
# 306:
5:19 pm PST, Jan 9,Dave Bart, Louisiana
Let me know what you think!
# 305:
12:20 pm PST, Jan 9,Eleanor Quigley, Virginia
President-Elect Obama,
Family members who have been ardent supports of your campaign feel betrayed by your decision to have Pastor Warren deliver the inaugural invocation. Please re-consider this decision and re-affirm your commitment to inclusiveness and the elimination of hate-speech.
Thank you.
Eleanor Quigley, Alexandria, VA
# 304:
9:41 am PST, Jan 9,William Fischer, Massachusetts
Dear President Elect Obama;
I am deeply disappointed with your invitation to Rick Warren on account of his dangerous hate speech. Rev. Warren has not renounced his hate speech and your giving him this validation is a serous setback to human rights for gay individuals in our country and around the world. This was a missed opportunity on your part. You could have had an evangelical preacher who was explicitly not bigoted, supported human rights for gay individuals and couples and moved genuine democracy forward. I hope you can see that you have wounded and endangered many, many people who were staunch supporters and now feel betayed by decision. I hope you find and opportunity in the first year of your presidency to make meaningful amends to the human rights community your actions have betrayed.
Sincerely,
Dr. Willliam F. Fischer,Ph.D.
# 303:
11:04 pm PST, Jan 6,David Jung, California
It's called separation of church and state. As nice as Mr. Warren's arguments sound, there was once a period in human history when religion and social "activism" were intertwined-- the Dark Ages.
# 302:
2:51 pm PST, Jan 6,Gareth Samuel, California
Of all the inflammatory right wing religious, bigoted and homophobic preachers you had to go and choose this one. What were you thinking Mr Obama. Couldn't you have found someone slightly less controversial?
