It was an innaugeration, almost a coronation. It would be the seating of dictator for life if some had their way. That's OK. Mostly it was civil, with a few low class moments and a few very bizarre ones.
The first holy man rambled on with what I assume to have been a prayer. I wondered if someone was going to have to shoot him to shut him up. Where did they get that guy? An embarrassment. If you want to give a holy man that sort of press, please don't pull him out of an animated cartoon.
Then, the guy at the end had his few minutes in the sun. Holy smoke. Racist or what? Come on man, what is your problem? So, amid messages of unity and the usual platitudes, we have this guy separating and pointing fingers. He obviously has a low opinion of white people. That's his right, but it was not the best venue in which to vent. They just seated a president who carried a strong majority of the white vote, and I assume the holy roller wanted Obama to win.
Hysteria ran high so not that many people were as offended as I was. Those who oppose the president may have picked it up, but even when their points have a some validity I think they kill their case in the delivery.
I've never liked the trend toward more and more pomp and circumstance when it comes to presidents. I am not a monarchist. I do not approve of making the office akin to supreme ruler. That is not what this country is supposed to be. Clearly most people disagree with me on that.
We are in the age in which it is assumed that government is there to handle everything. I always wished they'd handle less. Much less. That goes for domestic matters as well as foreign. Big authority is something I do not trust. It gives me the creeps. I'm glad if a lot of people are happy but I fear their zeal is based on a personality rather than on substantive principles.
After today, I can certainly see why many point to religions and their leaders as the root of much of the world's evils throughout history. Those guys were useless. Completely empty bags of wind who have neither reason nor ideals to justify their position in this ceremony. It also brought to mind how easily large numbers of people are swept into movements which ignore true rights and have caused a great deal of pain and suffering throughout the ages. Hopefully this mob's mentality is somehow directed in ways that lead to autonomous thought--thought of any kind.
Meet the Beatles.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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- John0 Juanderlust
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Rick Warren, who gave the invocation, is one of America's most influential spiritual leaders. He founded Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA, one of the largest and best-known churches in the world. He also founded the "Purpose Driven" movement, a network of tens of thousands of churches from all denominations in 160 countries. He has trained over 350,000 pastors worldwide. "Forbes" magazine calls him a "spiritual entrepreneur", saying if his ministry was a business, it would be compared with Dell, Google, or Starbucks in its impact. Rick and his wife, Kay, give away 90 percent of the profits from their books to charitable causes, including "Acts of Mercy", which serves those infected and affected by AIDS. I've heard him dubbed as the "Billy Graham" of the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteExcept for a minute and 19 seconds, I tuned it all out. I read the "prayer" mentioning blacks in the back of the bus.
ReplyDeleteOver on topix dot net, I have been absolutely railing against the NJ Government for removing three children from their parents because they did not like the kids' names. And about the woman charged as a terrorist for spanking her kids on a Frontier Airlines flight and throwing part of a bloody mary at the stew who yelled at her for it. Three months in jail as a terrorist.
I agree about the amount of pomp... the costs could have been better used elsewhere. On the other side, the people NEED this! Especially in such bad times, people need more of this "show" to get motivated. That's why some countries still have kings and queens and all the pomp, like all the show during church services. If it helps the people, then it's ok.
ReplyDeleteNow we just have to wait and see what promises can be kept.
Yikes X 3 !!!
ReplyDeleteFortunately the church I joined has none of the "pomp and show". No stained glass, robes, etc. Just music, prayer, and a message from the pastor which you can follow along with as you read it in your Bible...Not knocking the "pomp"; just saying it isn't necessary.
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