A lesbians take on the Reverend Gene thing

[Balderdash]

First things first. I'm excited to see the back end of George W. Bush, the worse President
EVER. He brought our nation more calamity and disgrace than I ever thought possible and he
did it with the help of Republicans who ran the show right into the ground.

Secondly, I am so proud of us, we elected the first black man President, these Americans at
this time and this place, we did it. I hope that we can do all that we want as Democrats
and Progressives, nay liberals (wear it proudly). We're asking Obama to take on an awful
lot and he will need our help. I celebrate with a lot of hope for our country his Inaugural
tomorrow.

I saw the concert yesterday and was moved to tears during the whole thing. I don't remember being
that moved since watching MLK on those same steps give his famous speech. But then I found out
that Reverend Genes' Invocation wasn't televised. That sure did jerk the rug out from under
me. I don't know why it didn't happen yet and I'm open because I know that the religious right
has a lot of power. Right now it's between HBO, who says it isn't their fault and the PIC who
says it isn't their fault. It's someones fault and I don't have much faith in either. I don't
blame Obama. I'm not happy about his lukewarm embrace of a group of people who went whole out
for him but that's not really a new thing for us GLBT folks.

I don't want to take away from anyone's joy, after the last 8 years we should all be dancing
in the streets and I am but there's this bit of me that is sad and feels left out. I'm hoping
that Obama will bring the change that "we" can believe in, I wish I felt like I have a place
at the table too.

I want to know why Reverend Gene Robinson's Invocation was left out after we were lead to believe that it would be included. Why is that so hard to understand?

[Uzybone]

1. You make it sound like Rev Gene didn't give the innvocation

He gave a great prayer, but HBO did not televise it. HBO did not televise a lot of other things that went on that day. The invocation was given, the people who went to the event heard it. The people who watched it on HBO, or didn't watch it at all, missed it.

[Balderdash]

2. I heard that he gave a great prayer

but it wasn't televised and the Rick Warren Invocation will be.
A lot of the people who were there didn't hear it either because
of speaker issues. Rev Warren will be heard around the world.
It's troubling to say the least that the bone thrown the GLBT
community wasn't handled well. And I'm not saying the Rev Gene
is bone, more like last minute appeasement gone awry.

[Recursion]

14. Actually it wasn't sent out over the PA

Though there is a credible claim that it was a mix-up between NPR and HBO (I think) over who had control of the PA during that time.

There have been more than a few audio mix-ups so far; the National Anthem singer's audio didn't cut in until "What so proudly we hailed".

[Born_A_Truman]

15. It was on the PA....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x261653

Watch the video (you can hear the microphone/PA). The problem was one or more of the large speaker towers didn't work part or all of the time, but it was on the PA.

[Neecy]

3. I was disappointed, too

I watched mainly so I could hear Rev. Robinson's invocation. I knew that it was a bone thrown my way and I thought it might help clear my head of the Warren anger.

Gee, that worked well, didn't it?

I'll just add that I'm watching MSNBC and they just interviewed Josh Groban. He went out of his way to say how honored he was to sing with a gay choir during the broadcast and mentioned how much he respected our fight for equality. Wow. That made me feel a little better, even though I don't think the choir was identified during the broadcast.

[Balderdash]

4. "Gee, that worked well, didn't it?"

Yeah, not so good. :) The only choir identified during the concert
was the Navy Glee Club for some reason.

I wanted this pretty bad too because the Warren thing is just so massively
wrong IMO. Eh, there is a thread up now saying that Reverend Gene's prayer
will be replayed tomorrow on the Jumbotrons. I hope it happens.

[dsc]

5. that is big for Groban

who is reputed to have problems being associated with gay things. Glad to see it. I have loved his voice ever since he was on Ally McBeal.

[renate]

7. that surprises me, because of how he spoke today

I've never heard him being interviewed before seeing him on MSNBC just now, and I thought it was nice the way he made sure to mention them and the struggle that the community continues to go through. I assumed it was not only his personal sentiment but also his way of maybe trying to make up for the dis that Robinson was given.

He does have an amazing voice. And he seemed really charming. I have a new little crush. :loveya:

[Hanse]

6. "It's someones fault"

Well there's your problem.

[Balderdash]

8. ?

[Hanse]

10. You want to lay blame...

on something which appears to be nothing more than a typical live TV snafu.

[Balderdash]

11. I do want to know what happened. So?

I feel like you think you're attacking me but I don't understand why.
You don't want to know what happened? Cool, go talk to someone else.
You're really not offering any discussion or debate even.

[donco6]

13. It *is* someone's fault

When you throw a sop, at some point the sop should actually be thrown. You don't answer the Warren debacle with "but we're having Gene Robinson on Sunday" and then you DON'T have Gene Robinson on Sunday. Someone should have made sure that Gene Robinson was on the telly. But what it tells me is that no one even cares enough to make sure the sop is delivered adequately. That's not good.

[Lord Helmet]

9. "I don't want to take away from anyone's joy ..." Right.

[Balderdash]

12. How is my post taking away from your

joy? Go dance in the streets, have fun and celebrate.
After the last eight years, we all deserve to celebrate.