As I pointed out yesterday, I am just mystified as to why President Obama thought inviting the homophobic pastor Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation was appropriate. I managed to listen to about 30 seconds of his blather before hitting the mute button on the television. Heart over at Women’s Space is a stronger woman than I and managed to take in the whole thing and offer this completely spot on analysis:
There are no women in this prayer, except the women and girls who, according to Warren’s belief system, belong to President Obama. Warren’s prayer is thoroughly and completely male in its references, in its sentiments and in the way it portrays the divine– as a Father who made everything there is all by himself in order to glorify himself. And it is male in the way Warren subsumes the lives of Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama into Barack Obama’s life. This is the only place for women in Warren’s world.
Unlike Gene Robinson’s prayer, shot through with references to women and girls, other than Obama’s immediate family members, here there are references only to men. For Warren and men who think like him, believe like him, all women and girls, whether leaders, co-creatrixes, the mother of Jesus, family members, are erased, made to be invisible, subsumed within the language of the patriarchal dream.
Hardly a comforting opening vision for the Obama years. On a far more positive note however, the White House website now has a web page on women’s issues that does indeed inspire optimism by addressing issues such as:
- Empowering Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS
- Supporting Research into Women’s Health
- Supports a Woman’s Right to Choose
- Preventing Unintended Pregnancy
- Reducing Domestic Violence
- Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws
- Fighting Gender Violence Abroad
- Fighting for Pay Equity
- Investing in Women-Owned Small Businesses
- Caring for Women Veterans
This is a remarkable and historically women-positive starting point which we hope is far more reflective of Obama’s commitment to women than Warren’s patriarchal spew and we look forward to seeing this agenda come to fruition.
2 Responses to “Despite Deeply Misogynistic Warren Invocation, White House Website Offers Strong Women-Positive Obama Agenda”
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Preventing unintended pregnancy? Is this a dodge for “ensuring prompt and unblaming access to abortion”. I also note, here and elsewhere, the gay and lesbian community skipping over :”misogyny” in their description of Warren. The “progressive” left only recognizes homophobia and racism. Women, once again, don’t matter. Warren is a misogynist. A woman hater. A beater apologist.
There was only good thing about Warren at the inauguration, he was entirely out of place and it really showed. Anyone who was defending him beforem, has no legs today. Ms. Alexander, the poet, and Dr. Lowery had enough elegance to cary the day.