Melissa: The Choice Is Also Warren’s
This week, after meeting Rick Warren for the first time, Melissa Etheridge made an eloquent defense of Rick Warren, a defense made up of olive branches offered, but unfortunately, no real branches were offered in return.
Peace is a two-way street. Warren might have meant every word he said to Etheridge. In fact, from what Etheridge wrote, I believe he did. He is not of the mind that equates gays to pedophiles or those who commit incest. He only believes that Ethridge and her partner are not equal in the eyes of the Lord or the state as he and his partner are That doesn’t make him a monster or a hater. It only makes him a bigot: a person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right and intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own.
Ethridge said “He explained in very thoughtful words that as a Christian he believed in equal rights for everyone.” Unfortunately his thoughtful words to her did not translate into thoughtful words to his congregation. He told Etheridge that he believed in her right to equality, but his actions show that he will fight to keep her from bringing it to fruition.
Warren said “he regretted his choice of words in his video message to his congregation about proposition 8 when he mentioned pedophiles and those who commit incest. He said that in no way, is that how he thought about gays.” But no where in Etheridge’s compelling defense of Warren him did he say that he regretted pushing tens of thousands of those who respect his words to vote to disallow Etheridge’s right to marriage. He didn’t, because that is how he thinks about gays; undeserving of equal rights…under God or state.
Etheridge wrote that Warren “struggled with proposition 8 because he didn’t want to see marriage redefined as anything other than between a man and a woman.” That Warren can’t seem to make that leap over a semantic hurdle seems a pretty lame excuse for a man with such strong belief in God’s strength and equal rights. Somewhere in that “struggle” lies a lack of honesty. He believes in everyone’s rights right up to the point where it infringes on his own definition of marriage. Wonder what kind of legal fight he put up when one of his parishioners wanted to redefine their marriage vows so that “Until death do us part,” implied “until we’re tired of each other.” Did he back a law to disallow divorce?
I’m sure Etheridge’s private meeting with Warren was quite charming. But I also believe the best con men are the ones you’d never suspect to be conning you. Ask Bernie Madoff’s investors.
Etheridge entitled her piece, “The Choice Is Ours Now.” The fact is, it’s Warren’s. Warren’s belief that gays should have equal rights, but not the right to marriage, is both illogical and a moral failing that he has yet to learn from. True learning from that failure is a two step process. 1. Learn. 2. Apply what you’ve learned. Perhaps Etheridge can be helpful in teaching him the first. Only he can implement the second.
Etheridge’s olive branch to Warren is a grande gesture, but it still remains only half the equation. Warren speaking with Etheridge or at the inauguration isn’t necessarily the issue. What is, are the actions behind the words. No matter how charismatic, or Christian, or willing “to build bridges to the future,” until he offers an olive branch that involves telling his followers that Ehteridge has the same right to be married that he and they have, then his respect for Etheridge goes only as far as your music takes him.
What Etheridge has to ask herself is, while it’s nice to find out you have another fan, would she rather sell a CD or sell out?
Steve
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Warren is a BIGOT, and will NEVER CHANGE. He is NOT A CHRISTIAN - he is a scam, a fraud, a venomous leach living off the contributions of ignorant fools. His words are empty and meaningless. JUDGE THE TREE BY THE FRUIT IT BEARS! As long as he continues to spew hatred, he deserves to reap what he has sown. Hatred only grows more hatred. Goddamn Rick Warren to Hell.
Complaints about Warren’s veiws on gays are masking his broader views on the world and I wonder if its intentional. On Hannity he advocated the assination of the President of Iran. The bible says that goevernment exists to fight evil in the world, he says. How did Etheridge feel about that? He believes Government exists to serve religion. Did he charm Melissa into agreeing with that? He thinks that I as a non-believer should not be able to work for government. I work for a now profit that does government work, would Melissa support me being fired for my lack of religious belief? Maybe he stroked her ego a bit and made her feel okay about issues effect HER, but what of the rest of the world, it that okay?
Warren’s bigotry extends far beyond the Gay community. Why is it that so many inteligent people don’t seem to get that?
Being “born again” is a continuing process not a single event. Sometimes we are reborn in spurts, others more gradually. It is not seemly to impede another’s growth. Perhaps right now, this very minute, Reverend Warren is being dealt with by God, his long held prejudices challenged by the loving heart of the creator. I suppose that hell could be a place of redemption and reconciliation, for all of us. I wish Rick Warren much success with his journey and hope he grows to become a shining light opposing homophobia.
Mike Grellos last blog post..Losin My Religion
Mike Grello said, “Being “born again” is a continuing process not a single event.”
I agree with Mike; however, it seems Warren has a much different belief.
“While your behavior doesn’t determine whether you get into heaven, it does determine what you do once you’re there.”
Warren said people that murder will go to heaven, but they will be at a lower level.
Listen to his entire interview at Beliefnet to hear some of the unusual things he said.
http://tinyurl.com/6nr74c
Pff. Etheridge looking for a career boost by setting herself up as The One Who Took On Rick Warren. Prolly getting MAJOR hits to her website.
All she has to do now to get herself mentioned in the press is say something about something Warren said. Sells papers, snares eyeballs. Good for everyone.
It’s SHOW BUSINESS, not politics.
I missed this earlier. Thank you Steve. I have said the same to Randi Rhodes about Melissa E…
It is my belief that Rick Warren deserves no place on the national stage since he has verbalized such bigotted statements. Dialogue with him, sure. But Obama has made a nasty mistake by putting him on the national stage.