Thought for the Day (Encore Edition)

[bcholmes]

[...] I received a phone message from one of my strongest supporters. She was a small-business owner, a mother, and a thoughtful, generous person. She was also a lesbian who had lived in a monogamous relationship with her partner for the last decade.

She knew when she decided to support me that I was opposed to same-sex marriage, and she had heard me argue that, in the absence of any meaningful consensus, the heightened focus on marriage was a distraction from other, attainable measures to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians. Her phone message in this instance had been prompted by a radio interview she had heard in which I had referenced my religious traditions in explaining my position on the issue. She told me that she had been hurt by my remarks; she felt that by bringing religion into the equation, I was suggesting that she, and others like her, were somehow bad people.

I felt bad, and told her so in a return call. As I spoke to her I was reminded that no matter how much Christians who oppose homosexuality may claim that they hate the sin but love the sinner, such a judgement inflicts pain on good people -- people who are made in the image of God, and who are often truer to Christ's message than those who condemn them. And I was reminded that it is my obligation, not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society but also a Christian, to remain open to the possibility that my unwillingness to support gay marriage is misguided, just as I cannot claim infallibility in my support of abortion rights. I must admit that I may have been infected with society's prejudices and predilections and attributed them to God; that Jesus' call to love one another might demand a different conclusion; and that in years hence I may be seen as someone who was on the wrong side of history. I don't believe such doubts make me a bad Christian. I believe they make me human, limited in my understandings of God's purpose and therefore prone to sin. When I read the Bible, I do so with the belief that it is not a static text but the Living Word and that I must be continually open to new revelations -- whether they come from a lesbian friend or a doctor opposed to abortion.

— Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope

Comments

[maevele.livejournal.com]

Since we have to have a president who is religious, I'm glad to have one who can think on it that way.

[rosefox]

Hell, I'm happy to have one who has lesbian friends.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

Knows he has lesbian friends.

[rosefox]

I thought about phrasing it that way, yes. I struggle to think of any lesbian other than Mary Cheney who might be willing to consider the current president her friend, though.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Maybe, if you discount the rumors about Condi Rice ...

[tide-and-time.livejournal.com]

Interest excerpt. He still made a point of saying just prior to the election though that he did not support same-sex marriage and was not in favour of it.

[herbmcsidhe.livejournal.com]

At least he is willing to admit that his reasoning may be wrongly based.

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

it must be nice to have a thoughtful president who can conceive of the nuances in ethical arguments. for a change.

[herbmcsidhe.livejournal.com]

There may be more hope for this man than I previously would have credited.

[expanding-x-man.livejournal.com]

Well, he is admitting he could be wrong on gay marriage and being pro-choice. OK. At least, he can admit he might be wrong.

I am not a fan of Obama, although I do wish him well. He will need it.

I just find it strange that he is so religious, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Nearly all the candidates these days must profess religion. Apparently, he is sincere? Who knew?