Bless us with Anger

Yesterday* was the realization of over a year’s worth of work done by millions of Americans in an effort to right the course of their country. As 2 million Americans flooded the national mall in DC, millions more tuned in at home to witness one of the most impressive moments in our history. Like everyone else I was truly moved. Another speech though that went almost unheard was that of that of Gene Robinson, known as "the gay bishop", an openly gay preacher. The prayer he gave opened an event that was carried by HBO, but HBO did not air the prayer. While conspiracy rumors swirl around the gay blogoshphere, HBO claims it was an honest mistake. You can read the whole speech here and I encourage you to before reading the rest of the post.

As much as it was about Obama, what yesterday* also meant to me was the end of an era that inspired more anger than any since probably the days of vietnam. And yet it wasn't enough to keep anything from happening it seemed. The protests seemed to have no effect, the shoe option wasn't on the table back then... There has been so much to be angry about for so long.

For 6 long years we have been blessed with anger. Anger at the indifference to the lives of average Americans shown by our leaders. Anger at the treatment of our poor, our sick, our wounded military men and women. Anger at the lies that we have been expected to swallow.

We have been blessed with tears. Tears for our fellow citizens lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, New Orleans and New York. Tears for the lives lost in the Middle East and in Africa and elsewhere by those who do not share our heritage but for whom we must feel compassion if we are to retain our humanity.

We have been blessed not with discomfort but with horror, and with humiliation. Horror at the atrocities that have been committed in our name, in the name of a country that was for so long the biggest source of hope in the world. Humiliation that it was we who allowed our former president and his administration to deceive and distract us, to lead us into war. Humiliation that we consented to the barbaric treatment of prisoners. Humiliation that we agreed it was necessary.

And now it feels like it's finally over, the long national nightmare, the "regin of error" of George W Bush. But after the celebration is over the new fight is to stay motivated. It will be hard to stay involved, to stay indignant over the frustrations caused by Obama. But they will come, and we need to stay vigilant to keep him honest. He's not a savior by any right, he's just a better man for the job. And it's our job to keep him on the right path, even when we're most tempted to give over our trust and relax our activism. In those moments, in the words of Gene Robinson, God, bless us with anger.


*Obviously I didn't get this post finished until a week later. I've got quite a few half finished that I'll try and get posted soon.