The Year of Moving Forward

The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC

Monday, January 19, 2009

Almost Divine

1 Day. One day, and our country is racing toward becoming a more perfect union.

Picture credit Hell for Leather magazine

This is a picture of Walter Villa on a 250 RR Harley-Davidson/ Aermacchi in 1976 at the Nürburgring. The person who posted the picture said, "And yes, that numeral 1 on the number-plate means what you think it means."

And number 1 for our country ascends to the presidency in 1 day.

Programming Note: Bessemer Opinions will no longer be posting comments of a hateful nature. This site is not a community forum for debate. Bessemer Opinions is about moving forward, both in our community and in our country. Comments that bring people or groups of people down, without cause, do nothing to help our community or country.

"Almost Divine". Those are the word used by Dianne Mills to describe the convergence of the Martin Luther King Jr, holiday with the inaugural ceremonies of Barack Obama. Dianne hosted a party yesterday to celebrate.

But today is reserved for tributes to Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch this video tribute from Park Community Church in Chicago. Oh, it's different.



Read my post from last year, since Health Care (and war) is still an issue: Martin Luther King Jr: Pro Public Health and Anti War .

If King were still alive, I am sure he would be offering an inaugural prayer. Instead, it was offered by Bishop Gene Robinson yesterday. Here it is. Even if you are not particularly spiritual, read this prayer, as it embodies the spirit of our nation, and if we all heed its words, our nation will soar.

Good afternoon,

Before this celebration begins, please join me in pausing for a moment to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.


Oh God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears, tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die a day from malnutrition, malaria and AIDS.


Bless this nation with anger – anger at discrimination at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants; women, people of color; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort at the easy simplistic answers we prefer to hear from our politicians instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed any time soon and the understanding that our next president is a human being, not a messiah. Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.

Bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the ways we care for the most vulnerable. And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of the president of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, inspire him with President Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for all people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady calm captain. Give him stirring words, we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color blind reminding him of his own words that under his leadership there will be neither red nor blue states but a United States. Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him strength to find family time and privacy and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods. And please God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents and we’re asking far too much of this one, we implore you oh good and great God to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand that he might do the work that we have called him to do. That he might find joy in this impossible calling and that, in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

Amen.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

There you go Joe. TYPICAL DEMOCRAT. -You can post something as long as you AGREE with me. If you don't, we wont post it-. I hope you realize that THAT is the nature of our National Ultr-liberal media. They report what they want people to hear or see. If it goes against thier philosophies, they don't allow it. You are now doing the same thing.
Well, it has been fun.

Joe said...

John,
I posted this because I want you to understand something.

I am a progressive. This is a progressive blog. That means I want people to embrace progressive views. That is what I believe is best for our country.

Why should I allow other views to be posted?

I have posted progressive views on the forum on al.com, the posts get deleted. I am not allowed to post my views on republican blogs. Rush Limbaugh does not allow progressives to promote their views. Sean Hannity does not either.

I do not want to use my time to respond the same old destructive ranting over and over.

Write something postive, it will get posted.

Anonymous said...

Joe, I am going to try to be nice, yet tell you that it is indeed views similar to yours that are destructive. I know you cannot see it that way, but the liberal view IS the destructive view. It is the view that dismantles our military, it embraces tolerance but the cost is great. We CAN'T just accept EVERYBODY'S differences. There are some things that have to kept at bay. True this is America, the land of opportunity, but we still have to protect what we hold so dear.

I liken your views to the little league baseball player who gets a trophy JUST because he PLAYED. Well, that is the nice, and loving and thoughtful and accepting thing to do, but the fact is the kid didn't DESERVE a trophy. Yes but he PLAYED, right? Maybe so, but if he does not match up to what is required of an all star, he shouldn't get a trophy.

There are some things we HAVE to say NO to, or it will kill our country.

Abortion - NO. You were a doctor Joe. You know Science. You know how quickly there is a heartbeat in that fetus. In the womb or out of the womb, that is a HUMAN LIFE and we will soon be allowed to kill 'em easier than we ever have before.

Gun Control - NO. It is our right protected by the 2nd ammendment, but soon that right will be taken away.

Government Health Care - NO. This is a disaster waiting to happen. It WILL bankrupt our country.

Gays in the Military - NO. It will be detrimental to morale.

Legal Gay Marriage - NO. The breakup of the family has been bad enough. This will cause irreversible damage to our already confused younger generation. Plus, marriage is between a man and a woman. Always has been. It is scriptural.

On and on I could go. While you probably support most of these views, the fact is they are ALL VERY DESTRUCTIVE to the future of our country.

If your blog and the mainstream media and the local news continue to snuff out the TRUTH, the end is nearer than we think.

Thank you for letting me post.

Joe said...

Alan,
I am not going to start a back and forth argument with you. But as to the issues you bring up:

Abortion-It is a tragedy every time it happens, but there will always be abortion. The question is whether those who choose to have one, whether it is legal or illegal, will be able to have the procedure done safely. Disregard for the health of the mother (like McCain)is deplorable.
Gun Control- no one is calling for this, nor will it happen. At least the part about taking your guns away. That is a phrase promoted by the NRA to scare people. If you have strong enough faith in God why do you need guns anyway? But why anyone would oppose gun registration (which is not taking away your guns) and restrictions on sales of certain types is beyond me.
Health care- as our civilization advances, we learn that health care is a right. We've already determined that for the elderly and for children. Universal health care will make us a more compassionate people. It does not have to bankrupt the country.
Gays in the military- open your eyes, they are already there. And in every country where it is allowed with openness, there has been no problem.
Same sex marraige- divorce is the enemy of marriage, not love. Your comment about causing confusion among the younger generation is ridiculous. My kids grew up through middle school and high school knowing I was gay, and with a partner. They turned out fine. If I had been allowed to marry, I don't think it would have confused them.
But thanks Alan for bringing up issues in a non-judgemental way.
Now, Obama will be sworn in in just a few hours. He will be your president and mine. Our country needs you to support him. Even if not on policies, support his call for service. Volunteer in your community. In a way that helps those less fortunate than you. We are one.

Anonymous said...

And I will support him. I just think we could be headed down a LONG dark road. I truly have concerns. I guess we'll see.

lipscomb bohemian said...

joe...alan
the dialog between you 2 is already a new beginning. despite the differences in opinion you are able to achieve some unity here as far as the nation goes. at least you are willing to quietly listen to each other. we can all benefit everywhere from doing just that.
also
we will do well to recognize what we all have in common rather than focusing on our differences.