Did Rev. Lowery Just Go All “White Devil” On Me?
Like so many others I was in the moment, proud of my country, proud of Barack Obama lost in thoughts of, “Could this really be the beginning of a different era?” Then the Rev. Joseph Lowery took the podium to deliver the benediction and his voice, so full of age and wisdom and the experience of battles fought and lost and won – and today’s backdrop of a huge battle won – and he began:
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
There was history and tone and rhythmn – I was coming under the pastor’s spell – what a great way to end the ceremony of the day.
Then there was a surprise. The pastor got a little more giddy-up going and I think I saw a twinkle in his eye. He sounded downright cool when he said:
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around … when yellow will be mellow … when the red man can get ahead, man; …
He smiled, and I was smiling – “when the red man can get ahead, man;” – and I’m thinking what rhymes with “white?” And the pastor finished:
… and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.
And … my smile faded. My eyebrows arched, I muttered a “Hmphh.” I guess bein’ white, ole Pastor Joe thinks I don’t have any moral sense. And, if I’m not mistaken, I think he just put together a construction that lines up the browns, the blacks and reds and yellows on one side and the unrighteous white man on the other.
On this day of celebrating an American step forward, Joe Lowery seemed to be thinking in the past.
Obama Inauguration: News Roundup – Stories From Around the Planet
New York Times
- Obama is sworn in as 44th President
- Analysis: Speech spanned history and confronted Bush
- Opinion, Timothy Egan: Man in a Hurry
- Hope mixes with doubt as world reacts
- Obama team moves into White House
- Still calling Dr. Gupta
Washington Post
- Obama sworn in as 44th U.S. President
- Obama halts all regulations under review
- Analysis by Broder: Obama asks Nation to rise to the challenge
- “He’s for the whole world”
Chicago Tribune
- A New Era of Responsibility
- Analysis: Blunt criticism of the past
- While Obama sworn in, Blago fingerprinted
- Link: Inauguration Breaking News Blog
Other U.S. & World Coverage
- For thousands there was only one place to be – Christian Science Monitor
- Obama vows to meet U.S. challenges – BBC
- Analysis: The speech translated – Times of London
- Obama takes office as Republicans’ scapegoat – Pravda
- Let the remaking of America begin today – Guardian (U.K.)
- Obama: We are ready to lead – Jerusalem Post
- Obama makes history – Agence France Presse
- President Obama – Los Angeles Times
- Obama takes reins of presidency – Associated Press
Transcript: Rev. Joseph Lowery Benediction | Obama Inauguration | January 20, 2009
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou, who has brought us thus far along the way, thou, who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand true to thee, oh God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day.
Drudge: Dick or Curmudgeon?
Like it or not, the Drudge Report has an effect on the national news cycle. Just watch it for a couple of days or a week. Drudge’s culling of the news and his spinning of the stories into catchy and sometimes spot-on headlines influences everything from blogs to the nightly cable newsertainment shows.
Drudge more than “leans” to the right on most days and his story selection and headlines reflect that – especially today.
Let’s give it a day or two before we start comparing President Barack Obama’s inaugural address to the best from history, but it’s undeniable, it was great. The historic moment of the son of a Kenyan immigrant being elected the first African-American president is lost on no one.
So what story lines is Drudge serving up today?
- Obama, Chief Justice flub oath of office
- Bush mocked
- Carter snubs Clintons
- Stock market down over 300 points – Cold Welcome for Obama
Something tells me that Matt didn’t spring out of bed today and feel good about being an American.
At any rate, this is one of those days that even the Drudge Report’s formidable effect on the news cycle can’t take the wind out of America’s sails. Outlook for tonight’s cable infotainment – Fox excepted – looks positive.
Text: Pastor Rick Warren, Inauguration Invocation | January 20, 2009
(Source: Christianity Today)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.
History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven. Read more
