Inaugural Irritant: Why Rick Warren’s Prayer Left Me Cold

[Adsos Letter]

SOURCE: Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Author: Rob Boston

January 21, 2009 The prayer I had just heard didn’t sound very inclusive to me.
I hadn’t planned to attend the Inauguration of Barack Obama on the National Mall, since I’m not a huge fan of big crowds and cold weather. But yesterday morning at 9 I found myself on the Mall, surrounded by 1.5 million others, staring at a jumbo screen.

How did this happen? Blame it on my 14-year-old daughter. Claire was determined to be on the Mall for the Inauguration, and when I balked at taking her, she played a trump card: She pointed out that all of her life I’ve lectured her about the importance of getting a good education and paying attention to current events. In light of that, how could I deny her the opportunity to witness history in person?

I couldn’t. So we got up early, bundled up, tossed some snacks in a bag, grabbed our digital cameras and hit the Washington Metro. (My wife and 11-year-old son opted to stick with viewing the Inaugural at home on television.)

As we joined the throng trudging down 18th Street toward the Mall, I couldn’t help but be thankful that Claire had talked me into this. The spirit was festive; you could feel a current of energy running through the crowd. Telling my grandchildren 30 years from now that I had watched it on television just wouldn’t cut it.

link: http://blog.au.org/2009/01/21/inaugural-irritant-why-rick-warrens-prayer-left-me-cold/

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This short essay is worth a read, as are many of the comments following.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Thank gawd for Lowery.

[Eurobabe]

2. So did a name change for a space??

and two capital letter? Do tell....

And yes, I hated that stupid über-religious crap too. I don't care what people choose do believe, but let's keep the Church and State separated.

For those who need a primer about what happens when you mix the two, suggest you watch The Tudors on Showtime. Church + State = DISASTER

[Adsos Letter]

3. Eurobabe...

that sounds so much more appropriate than your previous name :D

Yeah, wanted to make the name a bit more readable; still, they wouldn't let me put an apostrophe between the "o" and the "s" in Adsos, so it still sounds like some kind of SOS letter...which it isn't...but I digress... .

I really would like to have changed it to something else, but I am without any artistic inspiration lately. :(

Anyone who wants to know about the dangers of mixing religion and politics need only look to the "blue laws" in the south at the turn of the century, when sabbath (Saturday) keepers were put on chain-gangs in Tennessee and Kentucky for working on Sunday.

If you want to get really serious, just check out a book on the Thirty Years War.

Eurobabe...Eurobabe...I like it!

[Eurobabe]

4. Thanks Adsos!

I know re: religion and politics, I am reminded of it frequently, tons of TV specials, etc. I guess the US is going to have to learn the hard way, again. *sigh*

[silverojo]

5. Because I think religion has no place in such an event - n/t

[Adsos Letter]

6. Agreed.