Comments on: GUESTVIEW: Obama inauguration: An interfaith invocation to answer the critics

By: Hattie Williams

Hattie Williams — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:01:52 +0000

A second Kudos to Matt Weiner!I was just discussing with a colleague at how disappointed I was at the lack of representation from other religions at the ceremony. I’m UU. We welcome everyone. Lately new members have been flocking in stimulated by Obama’s success, encouraged that we are becoming more accepting of diversity. The exclusion of different faiths is terribly disheartening and contradictory to the progress he represents.

By: Joan Kirby

Joan Kirby — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:41:04 +0000

Good thinking Matt. It might be difficult to have a genuine Interfaith Prayer in the midst of the Inauguration but the thought is one that surely has to see light at another public event.

By: Penny Joy Snider-Light, Peace Representative, World Peace Prayer Society, NGO-affiliate of UN

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:22:30 +0000

Thank you, Matt for raising your voice about the need for embracing “interfaith” at such a pivotal moment as the upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama.At the Democratic Presidential Convention, you will remember that there was a clear interfaith presence.It would have been lovely, appropriate and important for Barack Obama to set the tone for his new administration by inviting interfaith voices to share and bless his Inauguration.I am surprised that he chose not to do that. It’s not in keeping with how I’ve come to see him, so in the grand scheme of things – I am disappointed.I know that including the myriad of faith traditions on the planet would have been difficult – probably impossible – given time constraints, etc.However, surely he could have easily included representation from the three religions representing the Abrahamic traditions.How lovely to have included Jewish, Muslim, and Christian representation – all sharing this most unique moment in global history.Particularly, also, when tensions are so high in the Middle East.I look forward to Barack Obama’s administration.Undoubtedly, he will be an extraordinary President.Likewise, it would have been in keeping with that sense of “extraordinary” had he invited religious diversity to share and bless his Inauguration.May Peace Prevail on Earth!

By: Rev. Danielline Martinez

Rev. Danielline Martinez — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:22:39 +0000

Thank you, Matt! -For reminding us that true inclusion means creating and sharing in a space in which we can agree to respect our differences, having the humility and wisdom to know that we can learn from one another while remaining true to ourselves and our traditions.

By: brian lee

brian lee — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 02:49:32 +0000

i hope robinson does not do the damage to obamas celebration ,as he has done to marginalize his denomination.

By: Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:47:10 +0000

An interesting comment about Esperanto. I would point out however that Esperanto intends to be a common language, and not a “single” world language.You also might like to see http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid= -8837438938991452670Otherwise http://www.lernu.net ?

By: Aisha al-Adawiya

Aisha al-Adawiya — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:49:01 +0000

Kudos to Matt Weiner!What a great idea to have an interfaith invocation. What President-Elect Obama’s election has done to galvanize the country toward positive change, so would such a simple act of allowing fellow Americans to experience, even for a moment, the richness of the various faith traditions that reside within our midst.Yes you can!

By: Mar Cardenas

Mar Cardenas — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:21:36 +0000

I believe Obama’s maternal grandmother was Unitarian.It was also in an Unitarian church that he said good-bye to her, last December.In the answers that Obama gives in an interview about religion, it seems like his beliefs are more aligned with the Unitarian principles than with strictly Christian principles.Would the Unitarian ‘Open Minds, Loving Hearts, and Helping Hands’ be considered too liberal?I am very happy about Robinson’s inclusion in the inauguration ceremonies, I learned about him in the documentary “For the Bible Tells Me So”.A Unitarian minister would have also been a good choice.Now that one of my children has ‘come out of the closet’ this week, I will continue the struggle for equality with even more ‘ganas’, as a straight ally.