White House: Don’t Pray Publicly, But Celebrate The GLBT Revolution
July 1, 2009 by Guest Writer 1
Filed under General, Politics
Earlier this year, President Obama failed to hold any event at the White House celebrating the National Day of Prayer, opting instead to simply issue a proclamation of the day. However, he took the initiative to declare the month of June “National GLBT Pride Month,” and on June 29th held an event at the White House to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the GLBT protests at Stonewall. His opening words to the appreciative crowd at this event were “Welcome to your White House”!
At every turn, the Obama administration is bending over backwards to show all the liberal activists his support, while casting aside the things that are important to conservatives, even to the point of subtly belittling them in his speech at the Stonewall Celebration event:
There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop. And though we’ve made progress, there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.
And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives — as parents and friends, as PTA members and leaders in the community. And that’s important, and I’m glad that so many LGBT families could join us today. [Applause] For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts…
It’s the story of an epidemic that decimated a community — and the gay men and women who came to support one another and save one another; and who continue to fight this scourge; and who demonstrated before the world that different kinds of families can show the same compassion and support in a time of need — that we all share the capacity to love…
Now, even as we take these steps, we must recognize that real progress depends not only on the laws we change but, as I said before, on the hearts we open. For if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that there are good and decent people in this country who don’t yet fully embrace their gay brothers and sisters — not yet.
That’s why I’ve spoken about these issues not just in front of you, but in front of unlikely audiences — in front of African-American church members, in front of other audiences that have traditionally resisted these changes. And that’s what I’ll continue to do so. That’s how we’ll shift attitudes…
The truth is, when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you — or, for that matter, I — [laughter] — would be standing here today. [Applause] So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country. That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress — step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you.
President Obama seems bent on alienating the conservatives in the United States by his decisions and speeches. Celebrating the GLBT revolution rather than calling our nation to unite in prayer demonstrates an erosion of moral values that has reached historic levels of penetration into our society.
National Day of Prayer a “Private” Event for Obama
May 10, 2009 by Guest Writer 1
Filed under General
The National Day of Prayer that takes place on the first Thursday of May was first signed into law by Congress in 1952. Presidents have differed in how they acknowledge the National Day of Prayer, whether they have simply signed something that officially recognizes the day, or actually held prayer events at the White House. For the past eight years, former President George W. Bush held interfaith prayer breakfasts in recognition of the day.
President Obama decided not to publicly participate in any prayer meetings, and but for his signature of official recognition, may as well not have recognized it at all. Conservative groups are very disappointed with Obama’s decision, considering the many crises facing the United States at the moment.
Here is some of what they have to say:
“We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration,” said Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, who for the past eight years has attended a White House ceremony with her husband. “At this time in our country’s history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer.”
Other groups are upset that President Obama recognized the day at all, claiming it violates the separation of church and state:
“It’s not his job to tell people to pray,” said David Silverman, national spokesperson for the organization American Atheists.
“We are very happy he did away with the George W. Bush-era celebrations and party, but we wish he wouldn’t do it at all. … When church and state are separate, separate is separate,” he said.
Is a White House endorsed event necessary on the National Day of Prayer? I would venture to say that it isn’t. However, when looking at the big picture, it appears that this is yet another step that alienates many conservatives who see that many of Obama’s decisions since he entered the presidency have been anti-life, anti-family values, and anti-conservative in almost all their forms.
