Gay City News: Obama's First Gift to Africa: Rick Warren

[Bluebear]

By: KELLY JEAN COGSWELL
01/11/2009

If you want to foster AIDS and kill queers in Africa, Rick Warren's the man for you. While Warren's characterization of queers (and Jews and Muslims) as godless perverts fuel bigotry in the US, the real effects of inviting Warren to preside over Obama's inauguration will be felt in sub-Saharan Africa.

He has missions all over the place, and he's rolling in dough and influence built on the best P.R. campaign I've ever seen. He hobnobs with Bono and Melissa Etheridge while liberal journalists regurgitate his press releases, crowning him a moderate evangelical and touting his AIDS campaign, which is little but a thinly veiled mask for his proselytizing work. The last thing he needs is more power.

In case you actually care, his campaign for AIDS prevention, in a region decimated by the disease, sneers at condoms, needle exchange, and sex education. He claims all those efforts merely slow the spread of AIDS, while his plan can stop it flat. The secret - abstinence before marriage, religious conversion, and, not included on his website, that perennial favorite, queer-baiting.

One of his closest allies in Uganda in his so-called fight against AIDS is Martin Ssempa, an evangelical preacher who blames queers for the disease, makes a show of burning condoms, and this spring organized a rally with the theme "A Call for Action on Behalf of the Victims of Homosexuality," where he spent most of his time railing against queers. As far as treatment goes, Ssempsa offers faith healing in his Pentecostal services if only victims believe enough and make a nice donation. In general, the bulk of his anti-AIDS activism seems to be legal battles to ensure that homosexuality remains illegal and the media continues to portray queers as sexual predators....

The most vulnerable of all are gay men. Warren has supported figures like the archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, who in 2006 and 2007 campaigned ferociously for anti-gay legislation which stipulated five years' imprisonment to anyone who had anything to do with a same-sex marriage ceremony, participated in gay organizing, or had anything to do with anything gay of any kind "directly or indirectly in public and in private."

Hate-mongering may have become a habit for Akinola. In 2005, he was implicated in the massacre of more than 650 Muslims by a Christian mob tied to the Christian Association of Nigeria. He was president of the group at the time. For all this, Akinola earned praise from Warren in an April 2006 Time Magazine article lionizing him as a defender of the faith, a "Nelson Mandela", and "a model for Christians around the world."


http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20238941&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=585504&rfi=6

[Skittles]

1. off to the Greatest with ye

yes INDEED

[racaulk]

2. It's just a two minute prayer!

Get over it already, you PUMA!

:sarcasm:

[QC]

3. HE'S JUST GOING TO SING ONE SONG!1!!!!11

[racaulk]

5. No, no, no. That's not Warren, that's McClurkin.

While I understand that's an easy mistake to make, you should get your homophobes that Obama chooses to associate with straight! (No pun intended.)

Gah! :eyes:

[QC]

8. HE'S ONLY GOING TO SING A TWO-MINUTE PRAYER!!!!1!1

[Divine Discontent]

38. but it's so much fun to use the McClurkin line we were told in the same context for Warren

it seems to be a pattern of not understanding the plight of tens of millions of Americans who are subjected to lesser rights, judgment at work/school/and many churches.

I hope Warren says something stupid again soon, so Obama can reject him as someone that he can no longer associate with, like how he did Wright.

[madrchsod]

4. just googled those guys.....

no wonder most of africa will never join the rest of the world. besides being raped for their mineral wealth these fucks make sure the people of africa never develop their minds. these are just a few that he mentioned and i`m sure there are many more.


opps....jesus is going to meet these guys at the gates and kick their asses back down to hell.

[girl gone mad]

6. Reading about Warren's dealings in Africa finally pushed me over the edge.

I replied to one of the myriad e-mails I get from the Obama camp daily and asked them to cease and desist requesting donations from me until and unless remove Warren from the inaugural line up.

And no, I don't think anyone will read it or care, but I did max out on my donations to Obama during the election and I won't be donating to him again until this matter is resolved appropriately.

[Luminous Animal]

29. Really? His crusades against queers...

in the great ole U.S.A. were A-OK?

[girl gone mad]

33. None of it is okay..

and I spoke out about it here and even wrote LTTEs criticizing the decision to include Warren. Reading about his work in Africa is what made me decide no more donations, until Obama specifically rectifies the Warren choice, though.

[Baby Snooks]

30. Just say no!

That is what abstinence programs are all about. Just say no.

http://thenewagenda.net/2009/01/02/rick-warren-abuse-is-no-excuse-for-women-to-seek-divorce/

The problem is while telling women to just say no, Rick Warren is telling women they have no right to just say no.

And of course that is why AIDS is so prevalent among women. Not only in Africa but here in the United States.

His table is beginning finally to reflect on Barack Obama. And it is not a nice reflection.

[Divine Discontent]

40. Thank you for what you did. It is highly agitating what this ass is doing in Africa. eom

[marshall]

45. It's ironic that Bush actually has a better record in Africa than Warren

Considering Warren is now part of the Obama entourage.

Then again, the world is getting more and more ironic.

[readmoreoften]

68. All a part of that "post-partisan" world we live in. It's so full of surprises!!!

:crazy:

(Since the right-wing isn't post-partisan yet, I'd be awesome if we could have a partisan represent the interests of the working class, women, and LGBT folks.)

[GinaMaria]

47. I did the same

told them why and have received no response. I cannot give my money or my time any more. Warren is an insult to every GLBT and female in our country. Hope he was worth it. I don't see him or his congregation phone banking, GOTV or donating to Obama, but I could be wrong.

[Zuiderelle]

7. If Obama was aware of this, it's horrific, and if he wasn't it's incredibly irresponsible.

Either way, not revoking his invitation to Warren now is unforgivable at best.

:grr:

[MNBrewer]

15. I think Obama's blackberry probably has the capability to Google.

Doesn't care, is my guess.

[Neshanic]

9. Well, there it is. It was there all along. Now act surprised.

[Bluebear]

17. .

[stevedeshazer]

10. Recommended.

[liberalmuse]

11. Gee, what a big surprise.

So Warren is only helping AIDS victims in order to get converts to his fucking cause? You know, anyone who needs a promise of a reward or fear of punishment in order to do good is not a good person at all. Some godless atheists (you know, the people who are going straight to hell when they die?) are kind to others for no goddamned reason at all. What a concept?

[Bluebear]

16. You said it, muse.

[ColbertWatcher]

26. But, he's not helping them. That was just a ruse. n/t

[sniffa]

12. How do I join

what do I do

[Bluebear]

13. ---

I love you, man.

[sniffa]

34. Backatcha

:hug:

[QC]

14. I'm through with you people!

After all I've done for you....

[MountainLaurel]

19. Hey now, don't go nuclear. n/t

[jonnyblitz]

21. you missed the whole point of her thread!11

:puke:

[LostinVA]

49. You really are an ungrateful homosexual

I treasure out straight allies.

[jonnyblitz]

57. the mod who locked that thread sure thought we were. nt

[racaulk]

59. How do I help out?

:rofl:

Good one, sniffa! :thumbsup:

[Balderdash]

60. LOL

:fistbump:

[bridgit]

18. During the campaign, Obama did say he would expand faith based initiatives such as they...

Obama: Expand faith-based programs

Barack Obama, arguing that it makes sense for the federal government to join with religious organizations to solve social problems, said Tuesday that he wants to continue President Bush's initiative to promote "faith-based" social welfare programs.

"Few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples and mosques," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said. Such partnerships can take place without violating the Constitution, he said. "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-01-obama-faith_N.htm

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Both McCain and Obama Favor Expanding Faith-Based Initiatives

Some version of President Bush's faith-based initiative -- which sought to expand opportunities for faith-based groups to partner with governments in the delivery of social services -- is likely to continue no matter who wins the 2008 presidential election. On July 1, 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announced his support for partnerships "between the White House and grassroots groups, both faith-based and secular" and unveiled his plans for an expanded program if he is elected president. Republican presidential candidate John McCain also has expressed his support for faith-based partnerships and has stated he "would continue along the model of" the current initiative should he be elected president. But how might they do that? The Pew Forum turned to two experts for answers.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/971/both-mccain-and-obama-favor-expanding-faith-based-initiatives

Shit! There's that Warren guy again!! He's freaking everywhere! Maybe time to get busier

Saddleback founder Warren driven to expand his reach

Rick Warren, founder of the Saddleback Valley Church, presents President Bush with the International Medal of PEACE during the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1.

WASHINGTON — Could California pastor Rick Warren possibly be everywhere at once?

It sure seems like it. There may be no escaping Warren's new campaign to stamp his vision of civil Christian discourse and social action on world culture.

You probably just saw him, maybe in August when he interviewed both presidential candidates on moral and social questions at his televised Saddleback Civil Forum.

The founder of Saddleback Church, the Lake Forest, Calif., megachurch (22,000 in attendance on Sundays), seems to be in the pulpit one minute, in Washington or Rwanda the next. His work is in every bookstore, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Online. On CD. On DVD.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-12-10-rick-warren_N.htm

Barack Obama is a smart guy. A church going family man. He knows his numbers and he knows his origin. My hope is that he understands America better than many others do. He counsels responsibility in men that where they are to become fathers, they remain true to their families and the health, education, well-being, and futures of their children. Not to just sire them and then leave.

I've read the GayCitynews piece a couple times just to be sure. A glancing ref to "abstinence before marriage" without even mentioning "abstinence" with respect to what? -- while leading to the incendiary, "perennial favorite, queer-baiting" without even a nod to the truly most vulnerable inhabitants of Africa: the children of infected mothers made so by heterosexual incursions upon their mother's person, too many of them unwanted results of heterosexual interaction.

No one wants to discount the injustices foisted upon a group that simply does not have them coming. But to not understand the means by which HIV/AIDS transmission occurs is to discount a whole other class of people in Africa and elsewhere trying to grapple with these horrendous effects of a killer continental epidemic and oh BTW...

Rick Warren isn't one of them, not imo:

Approximately half of the world's HIV-infected population is female, and the rate of infection is increasing in this population <1>. Mother-to-infant transmission of HIV continues to be a dire issue in endemic areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean <1,2>. Currently, heterosexual transmission is the primary route of HIV infection <1>, and studies of discordant couples in Sub-Saharan Africa highlight a growing problem of female to male sexual transmission events <3,4>. Because virus contained in vaginal secretions likely comprises the inoculum from which transmitting variants are selected in mother-to-infant transmission during partuition, as well as through sexual contact, identifying the specific properties and genotypes of virus expressed in this compartment will aid in the design of strategies to prevent HIV transmission.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2515106

The HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa is the most devastating disaster to befall the continent. Within the last two decades, the AIDS virus is responsible for ten times more deaths in Africa than all wars combined. Sale of coffins is booming in many African countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia from the high death toll of AIDS. According to UNAIDS (the UN agency responsible for HIV/AIDS), about 25 million persons live with HIV/AIDS in Africa, and 13 million have already died of the disease. In the next ten years, most of the HIV positive Africans will die painful deaths without access to life saving treatment. Africa accounts for 95% of the 13 million orphans worldwide. More than 95% of all new infections in children 15 years or below occur in Africa. At least 95% of all mother-to-child transmission occurs in Africa. By the year 2010, at least 40 million African children will have no father or mother to assist them as they go through their most critical formative years in life. For the first time in many traditional African societies, the extended family system is no longer adequate as many orphans have to fend for themselves.

http://www.africaeconomicanalysis.org/articles/gen/aidshtm.html

[Bluebear]

20. 'Few are closer to the people than our churches' - yeah, in 1850. nt

[bridgit]

24. You're saying Barack Obama is a deluded failure before the fact understood n/t

[Baby Snooks]

31. But it's the fault of the gays....

The gays lure all these poor heterosexual men into having sex with them and so it's the fault of the gays. That attitude is prevalent in the African-American community here in the United States. Promoted by "men of god" like Kirbyjohn Caldwell. Blinded by their ignorance and their homophobia. They're a dangerous lot. And made more dangerous by Barack Obama having included them at his table. His table. Not ours.

http://thenewagenda.net/2009/01/02/rick-warren-abuse-is-no-excuse-for-women-to-seek-divorce/

And not ours is everyone's. Not just the gays and lesbians. Everyone's.

At least everyone who believes in equality and equality under the law. Which Rick Warren does not. Women must submit to men. Says so in the Bible. And of course if the man is bisexual and the woman contracts AIDS then obviously its the fault of the gays who lured the man into having sinful sex with them. Pray the gay away. Pray it all away. Even domestic abuse/violence. The woman must put up with the abusive/violent husband. It's her obligation. Says so in the Bible.

People who take an attitude about this just being a "gay thing" really need to realize it is not a "gay thing" but a "people thing" and realize that Rick Warren is a threat to all Americans.

As for the Bible, there is probably more moral guidance in Aesop's Fables than in the Bible.

The root of all evil seems to be not in money but in the Bible. It certainly is the root of all prejudice.

[GinaMaria]

48. There seems to be something missing here

arguing that it makes sense for the federal government to join with religious organizations to solve social problems, <\i>

Warren isn't solving social problems he's exacerbating them.

[Horse with no Name]

22. Thank you for this. n/t

[IndianaJones]

23. it gets more and more disgusting with this guy. nt.

[foxfeet]

25. Keep the pressure on Warren and make sure the info gets out there.

Obama's clearly not going to withdraw the invitation, so we need to get the facts about Warren into the MSM and keep them there.

[ColbertWatcher]

28. The GOP-controlled media barely covered Palin's Dominionism ...

... how can we get them to mention their new Golden Boy's scandals?

[ColbertWatcher]

27. How do we get the GOP-controlled media to cover this? k+r, n/t

[Boomerang Diddle]

32. WOW! Obama is responsible for all this?

Maybe he really is the Messiah!
:sarcasm:

[machI]

35. Rick Warren is not on my 'Friends List'

Rick can take a long hike alone in bear country for all I care.

[machI]

36. K&R

[Divine Discontent]

37. We cannot have BLINDERS on & think "oh it's just a stupid prayer - move on!" THIS is the effect we

get in larger doses by him being associated with the American president who's black. Africa is a nation under siege from the right wing with millions flowing into the continent, and their stunning bigotry towards GLBT people being pushed fervently!

1776Forever and ColbertWatcher have been posting some great stuff about Warren's insidious plans for Africa and his history - and when you lift up a hate monger like Warren who will be seen as the spiritual head of America (he's giving the prayer for the great Obama's inaugural - what else could they EVEN think!?) then, Houston, we have one mighty problem.

I will have to keep others involved that I know, on this issue - and I know everyone who cares here will do the same. Warren is a threat. I forgive President-Elect Obama for this, I do - but it's a mistake that effects the lives of hundreds of thousands in Africa, and ultimately effects us when the bigot gets Obama-face-time.

Thanks Bluebear!

[dmallind]

50. By extension then

So is Lowery the spiritual head of America. Why is it only Warren who is giving all theis glory and not teh other preacher on the same agenda?

[Divine Discontent]

67. because you cannot invite 2 people to an inauguration and expect that one of them who has

accused millions of voters of being perverse swine that voted against the guy that Warren wanted to win and while it's great to see Rev. Lowery, outrage is going to be given by including someone that is so offensive and comes across as a charlatan and one who spews hatred and is a leader in the assault on Africa.

And to go more directly at your question - Lowery is not running around the world as far as I know, and being know as the minister giving the invocation for Barack Obama and pushing a hateful agenda in Africa. He is given plenty of relevant 'moral' authority in African church leaders minds because of who chose him to be giving such an important (to spiritual types) assignment.

[dmallind]

72. But again we see a different response to a similar role

I don;t care for Warren either obviously, and I would prefer he not get the opportunity to speak. But to imagine that he is some nobody who has no say or influence and who now can wreak havoc simply because Obama asked him to pray for one event is just silly. This is a guy who has one of the top 5 churches in the nation, has sold more books than just about anybody not named Rowling Grisham or King and is a top-end A-list celebrity in all religious circles right now. He's not going to get any more credibility or fame than he already has. I mean honestly who here did NOT know Warren before he was invited? Who here knew Lowery (some no doubt on the older civil rights side, but he's hardly a comparable celebrity)? So whu is the focus so much on one more appearance for Warren rather than on a massive boost in name recognition for Lowery? Why is it that Warren is seen as now officially speaking for Obama but Lowery isn't?

[Divine Discontent]

73. 'He's not going to get any more credibility or fame than he already has.'

Sorry, being placed as the minister of choice by the first black president gives him plenty sway in the future and in Africa.

[Starry Messenger]

39. This is what Dominionism looks like.

This just gets more scary with every passing day. I really hope this gets picked up by the MSM someday. But the media here always treats anything with "religion" in it like it's radioactive. It should be obvious by now that most of these con men use "charity" as cover for their greedy, evil deeds.

[ima_sinnic]

41. since e-mails go unanswered, I am printing out & snail-mailing this entire thread

along with the original gaycitynews article, to Obama. I've already asked for a refund of my campaign donations, which were made under the delusion that "change" was something more than a clever slogan and did not include corporatist pigs in the form of the DLC running things.

Unless things turn around DRASTICALLY in the next 4 years, I will be changing my registration to Independent and working hard for a third-party candidate. The Super Capitalist Liar Party, whether R or D, can kiss my progressive butt.

[Rockholm]

42. But, but....It's only a two minute prayer.

Yeah, right. Obama has royally f'ed this one up. Warren is nothing but a hate-monger.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. More truth on Warren

And it is as racist as it is homophobic. Some white missionairy going to tell them Africans to act like christians or die. I am honestly amazed that so many are comfortable with that image.

[Baby Snooks]

44. You think all the slaves were Christians in Africa?

The slaves were brought here and to other "Christian" countries, under the "chattel law" of the Bible that made them nothing more than cattle to be traded, and told to convert. Just in case it turned out they had souls. Which most really didn't believe they did to be honest.

Rick Warren is just another reminder of the "good old days" which should cause African-Americans in particular to reject him and his "religion" but instead they seem to embrace him and his "religion" the way they do the "religion" of Joel Osteen and Kirbyjohn Caldwell. It is so nice to be able to feel included finally by hating someone else instead of being hated.

Like the lady told me, "I'm a Christian and I do not approve of homosexuality."

Like I told the lady, "I'm a Christian and I believe in the Curse of Ham so what you do or do not approve of doesn't matter."

I don't think she "got it" but then most don't. All they see is they can hate someone the way they have been hated.

Rick Warren if nothing else has brought a lot of things out in the open, hasn't he? He hates everyone, really, but white Christian men. Preferably Protestant. Preferably fundamentalist. And he uses the Bible to justify the hatred. Covering up the hatred with "Christian" love.

It's all myth, people. Just myth. The god of Abraham and the covenants.

The real religion, if there is one, is the one the slaves left behind in Africa. Where we all came from.

When this started, it was merely a "gay thing" to a lot of people. It has become a "people" thing which the media has ignored. Because the media likes the sensationalism of the "gay thing."

Other ministers, other faiths, women's organizations, so many others have protested the inclusion of Rick Warren. But it is just a "gay thing" even to Barack Obama.

It is more than just a "gay thing" and the fact Barack Obama doesn't realize it is in itself rather scary to think about.

[keepCAblue]

55. Yet, in spite of his obvious racism ...

Warren was invited to headline the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service. Unbelievable.

[kwassa]

46. Rick Warren compares Archbishop Peter Akinola to Nelson Mandela

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187221,00.html

Archbishop Peter Akinola
By Rick Warren Sunday, Apr. 30, 2006
Time Magazine

(excerpt)

Akinola has the strength of a lion, useful in confronting Third World fundamentalism and First World relativism. He has been criticized for recent remarks of frustration that some felt exacerbated Muslim-Christian clashes in his country. But Christians are routinely attacked in parts of Nigeria, and his anger was no more characteristic than Nelson Mandela's apartheid-era statement that "sooner or later this violence is going to spread to whites." I believe he, like Mandela, is a man of peace and his leadership is a model for Christians around the world.

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke:

sorry, I had to get that out of my system.

[Deep13]

51. con artist

I wonder if his speech will be followed by an infomercial for his book.

[ronnykmarshall]

52. You will not RUIN THIS for the rest of us!!!!

[NorthCarolina]

53. K&R n/t

[1776Forever]

54. How many of us are trying to get this message out? I hope someone in PE Obama staff is reading this

Just read my journal for all the links I have on it. This is the truth people! The man (Rick Warren)is a legend in his own mind! He wants to rule the world with his little Kingdom - just read the Time Magazine article! :kick:

[xchrom]

56. recommend

[William769]

58. And the really sad thing is...

There seems to be a unlimited supply of kool-aid still flowing.

[Balderdash]

61. K&R nt

[Rudyabdul]

62. Bishop Gene Robinson....

The Inaugural committee has invited Bishop Robinson to give the opening prayer at the inauguration, according to the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/12/gene-robinson-gay-bishop_n_157076.html">Huffington Post. For some of you it might not be good enough. You are still going split hairs over this.

[William769]

63. Forgive me for splitting hairs over civil rights.

I know you don't understand that comment. :eyes:

[QC]

64. Read the story again: Robinson is not appearing at the inauguration.

It's best to have your information straight before trying to pull a neener neener.

[LostinVA]

65. No, the Bishop is not giving the invocation at the Inauguration -- that would be Rick Warren

And, pray tell, what hair would we be splitting?

[Bluebear]

74. No, Robinson is NOT giving the opening inauguration prayer. RICK WARREN is.

[newtothegame]

66. Thanks n/t

[HughMoran]

69. Rick Warren is a piece of filth

Of this there is no question.

[orleans]

70. too late to recommend. recommending in spirit. n/t

[Charlie Brown]

71. yes, he's an ass; and, what's more, he and Obama are not really friends

Their "friendship" is the result of an erroneously-viewed symbiotic relationship that both figures believe exists between them.

Warren believes he will attain more influence and wealth by his "friendship" with Obama.

Obama believes he can gain a foothold on the voting-power of evangelicals and religious conservatives with Rick Warren on board.

In reality, they're both playing the fool. Apart from token gestures like the invocation, Warren will have no influence in the administration; and the megachurch-crowd will remain almost entirely Republican, regardless of what message Obama tries to send out.

I wish Obama would put to rest this ridiculous scheme of trying to get evangelicals to vote Democrat, and simply reject Warren and the exploitation-racket he represents.