Obama picks Dick

President-elect Barack Obama announced his pick today of Megachurch pastor Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation January 20th . The selection of Warren while controversial is nonetheless not surprising. It was convenient for Obama's Republican detractors when he was named the "most liberal Senator of 2007," but his votes in favor of FISA and the bank bailout as well as his opposition to gay marriage leave many progressives scratching their collective heads.

Warren's outspoken support for California's gay marriage ban, Prop 8 as well as his garden of Eden variety of fundamentalist evangelicalism (he preaches that domestic abuse is not a biblically valid reason for divorce) has already led to some criticism.

“In honoring Mr. Warren, the president-elect confers legitimacy on attitudes that are deeply contrary to the all-inclusive love of God,” said Episcopal Bishop John Chane of Washington. “He is courting the powerful at the expense of the marginalized, and in doing so, he stands the gospel on its head.” [More...]

Heidi's Victory Garden

Just as Iraq has been occupied for five years, I myself have been occupied... preoccupied.

It has been an extended period of personal loss.

Standing as a visible metaphor is our garden. Once diversely vibrant and full of life which sustained; corn, squash, carrots, tomatoes... the works.

The yard is still full of life, of the type that chokes other life off; weeds, crabgrass and blackberry vines.

It's a jungle out there.

Last year I began a clean-slate campaign to eradicate this unwelcome wilderness. I got as far as laying waste to the entire lawn. I hit a snag trying to remove the last of the hops. They've been in the ground a good four years or so. I never knew they were bamboo's evil twin, spreading like wildfire underground. Try as I might, I just couldn't get the mother plant out before the long, dark and wet Winter set in.

An out of town friend stopped by yesterday for a little TGIF, a country girl as it happens to be. I showed her the pitiful site which is our outback. She couldn't help but pull up a weed here and there, root and all. I shamed myself into action this morning. I would conquer this mother of all hops today. My implement, a trenching shovel. But no matter how deep I dug, she clung tight to the earth. This thing had a tap root reaching half way to the 2008 Summer Olympics. I decided to cut my losses and cut the mother out of the hole I was beginning to dig. One by one I played moyel on the roots with a limb trimmer. Eventually, I came to IT... a tap root so thick, I considered getting a chainsaw. Wedging the tool between my legs like some sort of Thighmaster, I finally separated the shrub from the soil.

I... Am... Mighty!

Today, I broke ground on a Victory Garden. And I hearby name her "Heidi." As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!

But this victory did not come without loss. Somewhere amidst the struggle, I lost my wedding band. Somehow, I'm at Zen with it. Some time in the past, I'd be having a cow, but now... I know what's important. My ring is a symbol of what's most important. Absent the token, what's most important still is present. My Partner and I have already talked about replacing this, the reminder of what is truly irreplaceable.

I am reminded of a scene from Harold and Maude. The infatuated lover bestows upon the object of his affection a token of his esteem, a ring he made at the fair bearing the words "HAROLD LOVES MAUDE." Full of gratitude, she tosses it into the water saying, "So I'll always know where it is."

My Partner is also my college sweetheart, and as for his golden gift, I'll give finding it the old college try. It's really not lost however, nor even misplaced. For now, it's a treasure in Heidi's Victory Garden.


[Update: One week later...]

Rally for Equality

"Don't wear loafers to a protest, son!"

What was I thinking? Maybe it's demonstration fatigue. For the labor rally on Monday, I was dressed for bear. I had on my full metal jacket of parkas, was well layered beneath that and was wearing my boots, to boot. This evening, I was traveling by bus rather than bicycle so I was less focused on the weather, which turned out to be pissy.

The call to action came from Basic Rights Oregon and was promoted on KPOJ. The rally was in response to the blocking of Oregon's new Domestic Partnership legislation by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman just days before the new law was to go into effect. Mosman's injunction stays in effect at least until his court hears further argument regarding an effort to keep the Oregon Legislature passed domestic partnerships on hold, pending a vote of the People.








Some 1500-2000 demonstrators easily filled the brickwork of Terry Schrunk plaza under a steady drizzle, spilling up onto the sodded and sodden slopes comprising the rest of this city square's amphitheater. The numbers were encouraging and not surprising given the broad coalition that actively supported the event. Beyond GLBT interest groups there were members of labor unions and peace groups (including my friends from Veterans for Peace, Local 72) as well as well as supporters from the faith community.

And there were candidates... Both leading Democratic candidates to challenge Gordon Smith for his US Senate were there, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley and the Democratic activist with a hard left hook, Steve Novick. City Councilor turned Mayoral candidate Sam Adams was there as were City Council candidates Nick Fish and John Branam whose 1000+ signatures for Voter Owned Election qualification are awaiting verification. I saw Oregon Attorney General candidate, Greg Macpherson in the crowd and former Governor Barbara Roberts on the stage.

As I tramped through the mud, cursing my tractionless choice of shoes, I couldn't help wondering... hoping really that the GLBT community will return this show of support. Not that queer folk aren't already well represented in the communities of faith, justice, peace and labor... It's one thing to show up when your own tribe is threatened, but I know for a fact that a lot of straight folk were in attendance and not because their close friend or relative is gay or because they're running for office.

Gay Marriage

Edwards Supports Gay Marriage

... but it's the wrong Edwards [more...]

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"it's something that I struggle with. Do I believe they should have the right to marry? I'm not there yet. [...] I think it's from my own personal culture and faith belief. [...] I struggle myself with imposing my faiths [...] it's just part of who I am." [John Edwards, Feb. '07]

Sounds like a case of 'good cop, bad cop' to me. Members of the GLBTXQ# community can support Edwards for President with a clear conscience since his wife is so preciously progressive.

I suppose we can look to Obama's wife for the same kind of backdoor support.

"I'm a Christian, and so although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman." [Barack Obama, Sep. '04]

And so sadly, i get no warm fuzzies when i ponder any of the first tier presidential candidates. Either they're being honest, in which case i really question their ability to govern a secular society, given their "struggle" to keep their church out of our bedrooms) or they've chosen their fucus [sic] group tested response, and they're sticking to it.

My ideal candidate would say something to this effect: "You know, i've got no problem with gays getting married. In fact, i think marriage strengthens families... all families. But as President, i will not push for gay marriage. As the people's representatives however progress on this issue, it would be my pleasure one day to sign equal marriage rights into law."