2008 Presidential Inauguration
Jan. 20th, 2009 05:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keilexandraI didn't expect to see the inauguration live, but I did--a lucky coincidence of class scheduling. I was struck by Barack Obama's inclusion of "non-believers" in his list of American faiths; it was an ironic moment in a ceremony of barely veiled religious pageantry. The "invocation" (aka prayer) by Rick Warren, "So help me God" in both Congressional and Presidential oaths, the noticeable shortening of Obama's middle name (Hussein) to simply "H." for fear of alluding to the oh-so-hated Islam--America is still a Christian nation, just as it was until today a white nation. I don't think I will ever live to see an openly atheist or agnostic President take the Oath of Office. I have been honored to witness the inauguration of the first President of color, and I have hope that the first female President is not far behind. But a non-Christian, an atheist President? That is still a pipe dream. Religion is too important to the everyday American. I can only leave it for the next generation to hope.
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-20 10:43 pm (UTC)A Muslim candidate would face enormous prejudice, but I think a Jewish candidate would be possible. Of course anti-Semitism still rages, but people seemed not to have much of a problem with Joe Leiberman. (On the basis of his religion, I mean; many of us despised him for other reasons!)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-21 12:15 am (UTC)I think (I hope) I will live to see a non-Christian president. But an atheist president--seeing the state of religious prejudice against my particular faith, no, I don't dare keep that slim of a hope.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-20 10:46 pm (UTC)Frankly, I think they should've ditched Warren and focused on Lowry, even if I was halfway worried for the first few minutes of the benediction that the man was about to fall over. (Sometimes it's a little disturbing to see that even heroes can get so old.)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-21 04:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-21 02:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-21 10:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-28 01:50 am (UTC)Openly gay, agnostic/atheist, single (though maybe married might be worse/better, living in sin and all that), minority woman.
Now that would be progress.
Funny story: I told this to my father and he said "Well maybe it will be you"
whereupon I started laughing and reminded him of my birthplace. Well maybe if Arnold S. (not even going to attempt that spelling) gets his way.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-28 01:56 am (UTC)For it to be you, Arnold would have to get that amendment through AND you'd have to come out of the closet. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-28 04:11 am (UTC)Which is rather surprising actually but I'd like to see the percentage of single females versus single males (I admit I skimmed rather quickly - it may be in there).
Oh dear transgender. There's definitely more than the evangelical right working against them. Also gay people - I've met non-religious people (some whose families are also non-religious) who are prejudiced against them. I remember telling some friends of mine that Dumbledore was gay only for one of them to remark (with a repulsed expression) "But all that time he spent with Harry!". I quickly corrected her ON HER GIANT MISTAKE OF EQUATING HOMOSEXUALITY WITH PEDOPHILIA. And she's never practiced a religion in her life. It makes me sad, it really does.
Coming out of the closet? Well that would require me to like someone first.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-28 06:07 pm (UTC)XD You could come out of the closet as asexual!
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-02 07:27 am (UTC)Okay. Screw Japan. I want to live in Iceland when I grow up.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-02 07:22 pm (UTC)