A must read perspective from Melissa Etheridge: on Rick Warren, equality, common ground, and change.

[TheWraith]

Melissa Etheridge wrote a great piece for the Huffington Post. It's a really thoughtful and optimistic view of the inauguration and the Warren situation, based on her own experience talking to and meeting him.

During her conversation with Warren, he told her that he regretted his comments about incest and pedophilia in talking about Proposition 8; that it doesn't reflect how he thinks about gays, and that he believes "every loving relationship should have equal protection." She concludes by pointing out that there's a great many people whose problem is not hating gays, but rather fearing change, and that we have the opportunity now to make a difference and show people another way.

An uplifting message of hope for the new year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-etheridge/the-choice-is-ours-now_b_152947.html

[MercutioATC]

1. Ooh, this is gonna be good...

:popcorn:

[Hellataz]

36. I agree with her

I'm glad she came out publicly on this issue and showed some people that this warren issues isn't so black and white. I think her point isn't that Rick shouldn't be excused for things he's said or to forget he said them, but that this is a move towards a more tolerant future, even if it seems like a bumpy path for some, in the end we'll all get what we want.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Here's the man himself:

http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/blogs/newsandviews/index.html?contentid=1502

Video will probably be scrubbed soon. I screen grabbed the whole thing and downloaded the video.

[NMDemDist2]

3. my first question when reading this was

if he 'regretted his choice of words' why didn't he change the message the next week?

or did he? I certainly didn't hear about a "sorry, I f@#ked up" speech

:shrug:

[Raster]

23. that's 'cause he didn't give a "sorry, I fucked up" speech.

[NMDemDist2]

28. the hell you say!!! why color me SHOCKED

Shocked, I tell ya.

:banghead:

[tammywammy]

4. Down with Melissa Etheridge!!!

:popcorn:

[Maven]

5. Melissa Etheridge doesn't think for me and neither do you.

[dsc]

6. Once again this lady doesn't know what she is talking about

I love her music, honestly I do, but clearly she has no clue about current events. She demonstrated that at the HRC forum and is demonstrating it now.

[tinrobot]

16. Did you talk to Rick Warren after she did?

Is your information about this subject more current than hers?

[dsc]

30. His church's website is crystal clear

gays may not be members of his church unless they repent from their lifestyle. Ms Etheridge has no place in Warren's America.

[JTFrog]

55. Do you know what con men do?

They take you in a backroom and flatter you and tell you everything you want to hear.

Unless he makes those same statements publicly, he's just a con man.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

7. I wish I could return the CD I just bought of her's

[billyoc]

8. Shut up and sing, Etheridge.

[Chulanowa]

18. Where have I heard that before?

[billyoc]

21. Eww... I won't be saying THAT again!

:puke:

[yowzayowzayowza]

29. Went with the knobbies since we're obviously gunna need extrie room:

[RichGirl]

9. She's a smart woman.

She knows all rights come by votes. And you can't win people to your side by alienating them and excluding them and being intolerant of them. Obama including Warren will soften a lot of hearts....and in time, they may soften towards the gay community. But, alas, some would rather be right than happy!

[NWHarkness]

13. All rights come by votes?

And here I thought they were inalienable.

[mondo joe]

24. All rights come by votes? Learn some history, please.

Lawrence v Texas
Browder v Gayle
Loving v Virginia
Brown v Board of Education
Roe v Wade
Miranda v Arizona



Which rights do you think came by votes?

[bluedawg12]

57. We should fight to endure the tyranny of the majority? Epic fail!

Utter bullsh*t. I guess some people think civil rights was won by poularity contests in the 60's.

[bluedawg12]

54. In "time soften" towards the gays? I need to beg for my legal rights?

Fail.

[Critters2]

10. He told her he regrets his hate speech, but doesn't want to share it with the rest of us?

Right. Cuz the media wouldn't be interested in hearing about this.

Where's my yamaka?

[jonnyblitz]

11. boy, you DU GLBT antagonists sure are pushing the Melissa

Etheridge and her batshit crazy girlfriend blog garbage quite heavily. Unfuckingbelievable. :puke:

[Skittles]

17. aw, it is believable, jonny

but unbelievably sickening indeed :puke:

[boppers]

12. We should be grateful for our own schools, fountains, and counters!

Wouldn't want CHANGE to get into other people's lives.

[AtomicKitten]

14. A thoughtful opinion piece. Thanks for posting it. n/t

[Undercurrent]

15. Thanks for posting.

I posted it too, and oops! Didn't see your post first.

[Raster]

19. That's just super-duper reverend warren...would you stand up in front of your congregation and say

the same thing? How about this Sunday? Not to a semi-influential, gay, semi-celebrity, but to your congregation. Oh, and rev, would you please invite the press so everyone can plainly and clearly hear what you have to say...you know like you did before when you basically called us pedophiles and perverts. I want to hear you publicly say that you were wrong and you fucking apologize--in front of God and everybody.

[mzmolly]

20. This brings tears to my eyes. What an amazing story.

I would think it lovely if she were to play at the inauguration.

Thank you so much for sharing.

K and R. :kick:

[yardwork]

22. I'm happy for her. Google "token torturer."

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Did you know that the good Pastor Rick has all her albums?

[Metric System]

26. More importantly, did you know that Melissa has a new album out RIGHT NOW? Go buy it!!!

*Melissa DOES NOT speak for me.

[Asgaya Dihi]

27. regretted his comments about incest and pedophilia?

Maybe, but it didn't get any less weird. Now he thinks they are pizza.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-young/pastor-rick-warren-likens_b_152637.html

Edit for the humor impaired, a quote from his update to the story.

For you kids who are looking for a well-unpaid career in the satire biz, you might want to consider the Warren pizza story as a nice template on how satire works at its best. Pointing out the absurdity imbedded in the truth that, while not necessarily hysterical, it is close enough to the truth, that it could actually be fact. That, ladies and gentleman, is the power (and sometimes confusion) of satire.

[HamdenRice]

31. Thank you for Melissa's grown up, mature perspective! Wonderful article!! KRNT!

[Shiver]

32. She's entitled to her opinions

I'll believe it when Warren says this on national television, or even during/before the invocation.

And if anyone thinks that is gonna happen, I've got a Kenyan prince on hold who can make us both rich...

[alteredstate]

33. K & R

[S_E_Fudd]

34. Good for her...

She has obviously taken Obama's message to heart...

K&R

[Marrah_G]

35. I disagree with her.

[warrior1]

38. Great

Now is he going to preach love and tolerance in his church? Help to overturn prop 8? Fight for hate crime laws to protect the minority? How about marry gay couples in his church?

It sounds good Melissa, but I'll wait for the changes before I believe.

Actions speak louder that words.

[Jennicut]

37. You know I am starting to think Rick is going to have some guilt on his conscience

the more he is around people with different points of view then his. Not that I would have invited him to the inauguration but he has never had a backlash this big before. I don't think he will change his views on gays but it may give him something to keep him up at night.

[warrior1]

39. From Americanblog

In new video, Rick Warren accuses gays of "hateful attacks," "hate speech," "Christ-ophobia," and of being "evil"
John Aravosis (DC) · 12/23/2008 09:00:00 AM ET · Link
12 Comments · reddit · FARK · Digg It! · Stumble It! · facebook

Merry Christmas from Rick Warren! You're all hateful, evil, and not even Christian!

Barack Obama's good buddy Rick Warren recorded a video yesterday, talking about the outcry over his being chosen to given the invocation at Obama's swearing in. And it's a doozie. Warren's big mouth, and apparent ego, is pretty much guaranteeing that this controversy will continue all the way up until the inauguration and beyond.

In the new video, Warren accuses gays of "hate speech," of launching "hateful attacks" against him, and he then says that gay and lesbian Americans have "Christ-ophobia," a clear effort to mock the term "homophobia." He goes on to explain that gays are "afraid of any Christian," suggesting that gay and lesbian Americans - gay and lesbian Obama voters - are not Christians. He then goes on to call gays criticizing him "evil." All this from a man who compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, and who explicitly bans "unrepentant gays" from his church membership.

(He also adds that bloggers are "rude" and "need to get a life." I don't really care about that part, it's just more evidence that we're getting under Warren's skin, and that he's not quite ready for prime time.)

Now that Obama has tied his horse to Rick Warren, and Warren is now speaking out and accusing gay and lesbian Obama supporters of being hateful, evil, of not being Christians, and of fearing all Christians and apparently Christ himself - mind you, we're told by Obama's pastor friend that we're not really Christian only three days before Christmas - it's time for Barack Obama to answer some questions about the very vocal Mr. Warren.

Does Obama agree with Rick Warren that gay and lesbian Americans have been "evil" and "hateful" in this affair?

Does Obama agree that gay Americans are not Christians?

Does Obama agree that gays have "Christ-ophobia"?

Keep fanning those flames, Mr. Warren.


http://www.americablog.com/

[Jennicut]

40. Ah, never mind. A leopard can never change their spots. He is an idiot.

But I knew that already.

[Political Tiger]

46. John Aravosis is a LIAR!

I took the time to watch the video in which Aravosis makes these false claims that Warren said this and that about "the gays," and one need not be a rocket scientist to see that John Aravosis is simply LYING in order to cause more trouble.

He's counting on people not watching the video and just relying on his characterization of what Warren said and sadly he seems to be correct.

How can we take a stand against Reich-wing propaganda when we are willing to be taken in by left-wing propaganda?

How can we take a moral stand against people like Rush Limbaugh for telling lies when we applaud people like John Aravosis for doing the exact same thing?

[Political Tiger]

41. I'm glad she's speaking out and not just playing the victim.

Melissa Etheridge has always been a strong advocate and activist for gay rights, and she's being very courageous for taking action instead of just whining, especially considering the ugly backlash she going to receive from some people.

[ClarkUSA]

42. Melissa Etheridge "gets it"... now she will be reviled as an homophobe at DU along with Barack.

:eyes:

[OwnedByFerrets]

43. And, when her back was turned and before her perfume was out of the room...

he says this ......Warren accuses gays of "hate speech," of launching "hateful attacks" against him, and he then says that gay and lesbian Americans have "Christ-ophobia," a clear effort to mock the term "homophobia." He goes on to explain that gays are "afraid of any Christian," suggesting that gay and lesbian Americans - gay and lesbian Obama voters - are not Christians. He then goes on to call gays criticizing him "evil." All this from a man who compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, and who explicitly bans "unrepentant gays" from his church membership.

http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/blogs/newsandviews/index.html?contentid=1720

I dont think he is ready to PLAY NICE, to steal a phrase from some hero's of mine.

[Political Tiger]

44. Did you watch the video?

Apparently not because Warren did not say any such thing.

It's sad that some people are willing to lie and spread lies simply for the sake of causing more division and discourse.

[OwnedByFerrets]

45. I was taking another DU'ers word for it....

I cant watch vids at work. Should I remove this post as incorrect? Did he not say these things?

edit"
I went back and read the entire thread and it seems as if he just wasn't man enough to use the word "gay" but there is no doubt what his meaning is. So, I will leave the post as is.

[Political Tiger]

48. Not as they are characterized.

Warren did not single out gay people as the OP states. He never mentioned gay people at all. He never said gay people were this or that.

This is not a defense of Warren, but we should be careful of being taken in by lies because then we look foolish, IMO.

[OwnedByFerrets]

53. I saw no lies. Just because he didnt use the word GAY,

doesnt mean he didnt mean gay. But, you have your opinion, I will keep mine.

[Political Tiger]

58. So now we are all mind readers?

By putting words in his mouth and lying about what he said, he comes out looking like the good guy!

We come out looking like a bunch of reactive idiots who have to make up lies in order to demonize him. He wins.

[bluedawg12]

60. I have seen no public retraction from Warren. He's lied to gays before.

[bullwinkle428]

47. Sorry, Melissa - I really enjoy your music, but you're drunk on the Warren Kool-Aid

[warrior1]

49. John isn't lying

I saw the video and that's what Rick said.

[Political Tiger]

50. Where did he single out gay people

in that video?

[warrior1]

52. ..because

we are the ones talking 'bout this issue?! Who else would he be talking about. I don't get you. Defend Obama if you must, but Warren is indefensible.

[Political Tiger]

56. Only gays are "the ones talking 'bout this issue?"

Nobody else? Just gay people?

[warrior1]

59. and people who support

equality. Clear enough?

[Political Tiger]

61. So why does Aravosis single out gay people

other than to cause trouble?

[warrior1]

62. Why don't you ask him.

[bluedawg12]

51. Yeah, the work of a foot soldier for the "new cause"

when Warren opens his fat mouth to accept gay mariage and apologize for the hate speech this might have a small amount of meaning.

[snooper2]

63. Melissa Etheridge

is dead to me :rofl: