"We're not Going to Agree on Every Single Issue...."

During one of his speeches in his campaign President Obama said "it's not about me, it's about you," did he resort to mere flattery and chicanery to win the job? He probably didn't but he would learn in time that there is no pleasing everybody. President Obama thinks he's being just conciliatory by asking religious leaders of varying persuasions to participate in the "big day." But Paul Prather, contributing columnist at Kentucky.com, have said it the bast, "The quickest way to tick off just about everybody is to try to be evenhanded and open-minded. Nowhere is this more evident than when governmental leaders attempt to navigate a middle course between politics and religion."

Strike One: In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama celebrated America as a "nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers." Some Christians are taking issue with the approach to inclusiveness, the nonbelievers, saying the president misrepresented America's culture and heritage. By mentioning, for the first time in an inaugural address, the 16.1 percent of Americans who check "no"’ when asked about religion, Obama turned it into the most controversial line in his speech -- praised by The New York Times editorial board and cited by some Christians as evidence that he is a heretic, and in his well-spoken way, a serious threat. With that one line, the president "seems to be trying to redefine American culture, which is distinctively Christian," said’ Bishop E.W. Jackson of the Exodus Faith Ministries in Chesapeake, Va. "The overwhelming majority of Americans identify as Christians, and what disturbs me is that he seems to be trying to redefine who we are.’"

Strike Two: With his choice of the Rev. Rick Warren (Warren is the anti-gay-marriage pastor who Obama picked to lead a prayer at the presidential inauguration) to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama has found himself enmeshed in a new controversy involving a pastor, facing criticism this time from liberal and gay rights groups outraged at the idea of including the evangelical pastor at a Democratic celebration. Mr. Obama’s forceful defense of Mr. Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” has signaled an intent to continue his campaign’s effort to woo even theologically conservative Christians. As his advisers field scores of calls from Democrats angry because Mr. Warren is an outspoken opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage, Mr. Obama has insisted that a range of viewpoints be expressed at the inauguration festivities next month in Washington.

Strike Three: Joseph E. Lowery final passage. "And in the joy of a new beginning we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, and when white will embrace what is right. Let all those who'll do justice and love mercy say amen.

The rhyming phrase has long been spoken in African-American community. It was commonly heard during the 1960's and 1970's. 74 - year old Richard Arrington, Birmingham's first Black mayor, told ABC33/40, he believes critics fail to understand the intent of the prayer-- that race will no longer be an issue. This final passage drew some criticism for being "divisive", or "racialist", from conservative commentators.

Prayer at Inauguration.

My Thoughts:

Conservative Christians are mad at Obama because of his inaugural speech about including non believers and called him a heretic.

Conservative Christians are also mad because he invited Robinson to deliver a prayer and because Warren is happy about Robinson.

Gays and groups like Human Rights Campaign and People for the American are mad that anti-gay Rick Warren delivered the invocation at Barack Obama’s Inauguration.

Anti Gays are mad because gay bishop Gene Robinson was invited to deliver a prayer separate from the Inauguration.

Conservative commentators are mad at Joseph E. Lowery's final passage because it is regarded as "divisive & Racialist."

Conservative Muslims are mad because he has forgotten to embrace his Muslim heritage and merely mentioned in his inaugural speech, "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." To them, this is plain groveling.

Have I forgotten anyone else? Other religious groups? Other non-believers? Other Conservative groups?

Ai yai yai! My goodness! Just about everything seems to tick people off. A war within. HAH!


Give our new president a break.

"We're not going to agree on every single issue," Obama said at a Thursday news conference in Chicago, "but what we have to do is be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable, and then focus on those things that we hold in common."

This should all keep us at bay........for now.