Separation of Church and State

Here's a question: Why is religion involved in inauguration of the President? I was pretty sure that here in America we believed in the separation of church and state. Others have sued over this same point.

To compound the problem even more, of course, Obama picked Rick Warren to deliver the invocation. Rick Warren rises prominently to near the top of my list of "people I don't like," largely for his role in support of Proposition 8 and other activist stances against gay marriage, despite the fact that he loves "gays and straights." Obama of course defended his choice, saying the two don't have to agree on everything. And pat him on the back, he let a gay bishop perform the invocation at a lesser ceremony that was held Sunday.

Nevertheless, the honor bestowed upon Warren seems a bit high and mighty for someone with such a die-hard anti-civil rights belief. There have been recent protests in Atlanta and California.

Come on, Obama, I know you're trying to show us damn liberals that you're not afraid to go center, but surely you could have picked someone other than Warren. Or maybe you could have brought up the point that religion doesn't belong in the inauguration. Have a separate service, if you're so inclined, but in this day and age, is there really a need for opening prayers and swearing on the bible?

I firmly believe in working with people who have different beliefs, but sometimes you just need to tell people they are wrong. And actively destroying a small bastion of gay marriage is wrong. Don't stand there and condone it, Obama. Stand up for your beliefs.

Picking Rick Warren just doesn't seem like the voice of hope and change to me.