Today, History unfurls as do so many stars and stripes – banners that suddenly seem so much less jingoistic than they have these last eight years. The presidents, past and future make their way down along with pundits, VIPs, loved ones, friends. Our own loved ones and friends are peppering that plush carpet of public that stretches from the steps of the Capitol’s west all the way to the Mississippi, or maybe the Pacific Coast, it seems.
Applause is polite, if restrained for Bush and his Republican guard. The change is palpable, immediate, as a deafening roar, a cathartic release greets Joe Biden and Barack Obama and entourage.
So the moment is upon us. Rick Warren is giving the invocation – Obama’s first misstep, according to many. Warren is the very divisive, very anti-gay preacher from Saddleback,
whose pop-culture tome, A Purpose Filled Life, the Chicken Soup for the Soul of lost-spirit-seekers at grocery store shelves across the land, made him millions.
Let’s give our new leader this: His call to all to the table is as genuine as it is generous. It is a fascinating politic that Barack Obama employs. One we have not seen in years. It’s as fascinating as the VIP crowd shot that caught the Clintons and Gores standing next to Laura and the twins Bush and Lynn Cheney.
This is our dream: A peaceful revolution. A table large enough to serve a bottomless cornucopia of clashing opinion and political intent. This is our transition. Rick Warren is but a blip against our dignity. This is not, as Diane Feinstein said, “Settled with violence.” We are a land ruled by “ballot over bullet,” at least until the last bullet knocks out the last American. We do, at least have that going for us.
This is our time. Yes, even us, gaywads. No matter who invocates. No matter who rules. We are our power and will be our own change. It’s always been that way, really; but still: Welcome to the new day.
And now, friends, Aretha is going to mop up that stage.
This article appears in January 16 • 2009.