Thursday, December 18, 2008

Why Rick Warren May Keep Me Home on January 20, 2009


I sit here reading, admittedly mesmerized by Obama's words that he spoke today in defense of his choice (and by the very nature of his defensive comments acknowledged that it was indeed his decision) to invite Rev. Rick Warren to give a prayer at his inauguration, and I begin shaking my head in agreement, murmuring to myself that he's right, we need to start behaving like grown-ups. After all, in just a few days I will be heading to Indiana where I will spend at least five days with my family - half of whom are Republicans.
Here is Barack Obama defending his invitation:
“I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans....[but] that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign’s been all about; that we’re not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable.”
But then I jumped back into my initial thought. While reading through the comments, I came across these words: "If he's going to invite the religious bigots, where are the racists? Aren't we supposed to include everyone?"

My initial thoughts on the invitation of Rick Warren to the 44th President's Inauguration were not at all excited or even willing to accept Warren's presence at the event. The inauguration, up to the point of this announcement, had been billed as a celebration of change for all Americans. It was in that hopeful spirit that a friend and I decided to drive to Washington D.C. to witness the historic occasion of the swearing in of the first president of color. I contacted a friend who lives near DuPont Circle and works as an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund and made early arrangements to borrow her sofa and floor space for several days. After checking into air fares, we decided to drive to D.C. - taking two days and enjoying the road trip. But lately I have begun to reconsider the trip. I have missed almost five days of work spread out over the last two weeks, trying to shake a case of bronchitis. The cost of the holidays, the issues that my friend and I are working through, and now the inclusion of a hate-filled pastor to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration, turns my stomach, and just may keep me home in January. I don't want to walk blocks and blocks in cold, windy, winter weather amid millions of other people with a friend who admittedly doesn't like crowds (I am not that crazy about being trapped amidst throngs of people, myself), only to listen to the words of a man who would deny my friend and me basic human rights.

Why wouldn't Barack Obama realize what an insult it would be to a group that, for the most part, eagerly supported him and his campaign? The GLBT community voted in overwhelming numbers for the Obama/Biden ticket. So to select a person who so hatefully denounced a basic right for an entire group of people (California's Prop 8) is a punch in the gut for those of us who worked so hard for Obama's election. So I haven't decided whether I will or won't drive to the nation's capital to witness history in the making, or whether I will stay at home and watch history being made with or without me....

Does anybody out there want two tickets to the American Indian Inaugural Ball? I guess I've made up my mind...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

So That More May Have a Happy Holiday...


'Tis the season and all that jazz... 'Tis better to give than receive... With the latter sentiment in mind I offer up a small collection of organizations that I have supported over the years, and I have faith that they do the most with whatever donations that they receive to improve life for the planet and all creatures who reside here. Here's my list of suggested organizations that could very much use any extra money you may have at the end of this year:

INDN's List is the organization that is nearest and dearest to my heart. Kalyn Free is a real-life hero to me and thousands of others who want to see Natives have a stronger political voice in this country. Why not support a progressive cause that is truly making a real difference in this nation? Visit the link and see the results that INDN's List has gained in just four years of existence.

Futures for Children is an organization that sponsors Native children in the American Southwest (primarily Navajo and Pueblo), but even if you don't have enough money to mentor a child (about $450.00/year), you can still help in many other ways. One excellent way that you can support the important work of the FFC is by shopping at the FFC online store. They have beautiful handcrafted items such as fetishes, pottery, jewelry, and kachinas. Most of the items are donated by the artists so most of the profit goes directly to helping support the programs that FFC sponsors on reservations and in pueblos across New Mexico and Arizona.

The Native American Rights Fund is a non-profit 501c(3) organization that provides legal representation and technical assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide - a constituency that often lacks access to the justice system. NARF focuses on applying existing laws and treaties to guarantee that national and state governments live up to their legal obligations.

Because I am a dog lover, I encourage donations to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Even if you can't afford to make an outright donation to your local SPCA, at least please remember when you are ready to add a pet to your family, that the SPCA is filled with great potential pets that desperately need a good home.

I was reared in the Quaker faith and although I am loathe to list a religious charity, I can with good conscience recommend the American Friends Service Committee and their sister organization the Friends Committee on National Legislation. I know that both of these organizations will use your donation to promote peace, justice and equality in this country (FCNL) and around the world (AFSC).

That about sums up my message for the holidays. If you are fortunate enough to have a job, a home and people around you who care about you, then count your blessings, and please consider making a donation to one of the above listed organizations or another organization of your choice. There are so many groups who are doing such important work and in these dire times, donations are down, so please give whatever you can. Give until it hurts, just a little bit. I guarantee that it will hurt so good :-)