Inauguration tales.

I skipped class to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama. Should be no surprise to anyone who knows me... this is the third time I've skipped this year for presidential reasons, lol. Definitely, definitely worth it though.

The Marshall Center was holding an inauguration party in the Ballroom, with big screens, food, etc. Me, Theresa, Cici, Kim, Heather S, Lauren A, and Leo all ended up watching it together. It was an amazing experience. I got there about an hour early, in time to watch everyone arriving on stage. It was really, really exciting. I was just in awe of it all. I had my camera (well, really it was Jordan's camera) and as soon as I can get my computer to read this stupid SD card, I'll post pics. I shot a movie of his swearing-in, too, and I'll post it as soon as possible.

Being there with so many people watching Obama's inauguration was almost as good as watching it in DC... maybe even better, since we weren't in a sea of 2 million people out in 20 degree weather, lol. All eyes in the room were fixed on the screen. Hundreds and hundreds of people were there, and every news station around (including Telemundo!) brought a news crew. Cameras were lined up around the perimeter of the room. We all stood when they asked everyone to please rise, we bowed our heads together to pray, everyone laughed after Rick Warren's pronounciation of "SASHA!" and Obama's stumbling of words as he took the oath... and as he was declared president, the room ERUPTED in cheers, yelling, jumping, and shouting. Watching the millions celebrating in DC over the giant screen gave us a second wind, and we cheered and cheered some more. I was so happy, and so proud to be a part of this moment in history. We were filled with hope and anticipation as we all listened attentively to his speech, and I'll never forget the feeling. I feel like I was a part of something very special.

Now, I'm not delusional. I know Obama does not hold the answer to all the problems of the world. I know that he is only human, and like any other human, he will have failures along with his successes. But I am so overjoyed at having even a tiny share in electing the first black president of the United States, and I am really in awe of the ability he has shown so far to inspire hope through his words. I pray that he and our other leaders will be kept safe, and that he will make wise, humble, and honest choices as he leads our country in a new direction.

But wait, there's more. I know what you're asking... on top of all this, what could have possibly made the day any better?

That's right. 20 cent tacos at Taco Bell. Me and Ryan waited a half hour for our 10 tacos, which cost a total of $2.14, because... well... we really had nothing better to do, and I love people-watching. The packed Taco Bell on the outskirts of Suitcase City is just something that I will always remember as the cherry on top of a simply wonderful day.

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A New Faith Coalition

(This was written by Jim Wallis and originally posted on his blog, God's Politics.)

Most elections are just power rearrangements; this one was a transformational moment in our history. A fundamental shift is taking place in America, and we saw the evidence on November 4^th. It is a political shift, a cultural and racial shift, a generational shift, and a religious shift.

The leadership of African-American and Latino Christians along with a new generation of the faithful in white America are ending an age of narrow and divisive religion. This new faith coalition voted for a broad new moral agenda for faith in public life. Racial and economic justice, creation care, peacemaking, and a more consistent ethic life will be the keystones of this growing shift.

This changing face of religion in America gave Barack Obama a 4.4 million voter net gain of Protestants and Catholics over John Kerry and helped lock up key swing states across the country. Real number gains were made among a new generation of white evangelicals. In James Dobson’s home state of Colorado, the percentage of white evangelicals voting for Obama nearly doubled from those voting for Kerry. In Indiana, a state Obama won with little more than 26,000 votes, he picked up over 160,000 white evangelical votes over 2004. In Florida, Christian voters of all stripes swung hard for Obama giving him a net gain of 485,000 Catholic and Protestant voters over 2004. This year it was just about 200,000 votes in Florida that made the difference; in years past it was just a few hundred votes that swung the state.

Further polling results will help to answer the critical question of why religious voters cast their ballots the way they did. But three factors are likely key to understanding the religious shift.

First, the leadership of the African-American and Hispanic churches was more important than ever before in an American election. This time, white evangelicals played a supporting role while it was Christians of color—who are almost all “evangelical” in their theology—who led. The election results reflect a surge of support among black and Latino voters, galvanized by a campaign and a candidate who better spoke to their aspirations and values. Their overwhelming support marks a growing shift within the religious landscape toward marrying social conservatism with a deep commitment to social justice. Recent studies indicate that Latino voters are very pro-life on abortion yet also consider the debate on immigration as a key religious and “life” issue for their community.

Second, a new generation of pastors and students cast a “post-Religious Right ballot” this election. Polls leading up to the election showed a significant break from the previous generation on issues like gay marriage and abortion, which while still a top concern, it is not the only one. For those Christians, sanctity of life now includes poverty, war, genocide, and climate change. Healthy families are also still a top concern, but many Christians don’t see gay and lesbian rights as a primary cause of family breakdown. These religious voters refuse to be distracted by the culture wars of the previous generation. This new generation are not the evangelicals the country is used to seeing and hearing about in the media, and they are already reshaping the future agenda. The break is so stark that several conservative evangelical college newspapers endorsed Obama.

Third, we see a broadening of the agenda with fewer single issue voters. “Pro-life” voters are realizing that their faith calls for a consistent ethic of life from “womb to tomb.” Voters are now judging candidates based on who best addresses all the threats to human life and dignity. And for some, a more pragmatic strategy of serious abortion reduction, rather than a strategy of continuing only to try to make abortion illegal, is appealing. It is becoming a common ground that could break the ideological deadlock of the past 30 years. This consistent ethic of life has caused a significant shift in the political agenda of many Christians by expanding their definition of what it means to be pro-life. They are tired of political pandering to the issue that seems to be more about winning elections than pragmatic solutions.

Christians of color, younger white Christians, “new evangelical” pastors and leaders, and progressive Catholics and Protestants from many denominations are reaching across barriers to change the face of Christianity in this country—and also to engage with allies in other faith communities. They have learned many lessons from the mistakes of the Religious Right and aren’t about to repeat them. And they are not about to become a new “Religious Left.” When asked if they are liberal or conservative, many answer “yes,” depending on the issue. And because they don’t easily fit the political categories of left and right, they could become bridge-builders, bringing a divided nation together on the really big and politically transcendent issues like poverty, human rights, climate change, energy transformation, and the urgency of peace. And isn’t that just what our new president is calling for?

Biden' my time... har har

Just got back from the Sundome, after standing in the front row for the Biden rally. What a great speech. I was very impressed with the turnout, as well.

Joe seems to be honest, intelligent, and respectable. I enjoyed listening to what he had to say, and I think he's right on. What a great choice for VP!

I got to shake his hand after, too... hehe.

Unfortunately, my camera is busted, so I couldn't take any pics. They would have been awesome... literally, front row. *sigh* But I got the names of some people around me with cameras, and they're gonna post pics on Facebook. As soon as I can get a hold of them, I'll post 'em on here!

Long live the Lamb!!

This is an excerpt from the blog of Shane Claiborne, author of Jesus for President. He discusses the role of Christians in this year's election.

Our central allegiance is to God’s Kingdom, and we invite everything else in the world to align itself with the norms of that upside-down Kingdom. That is what we endorse, and we stand behind everything and everyone that moves us closer to that - the coming of God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.” And we get in the way of everything that contradicts and works against God’s Kingdom - interrupting injustice with grace.

In post-Religious Right America, we want to learn from the mistakes of the generation before us (so we don’t repeat them) - one of which was telling Christians who to vote for. Rather than spoon-feeding people answers, we hope to stir up the right questions - and trust that the Spirit will lead us as we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” One of the places the religious right went wrong was telling people what to do rather than inviting them to think for themselves, with the help of the Spirit of God (in fact, it even seems a real lack of faith to to coerce or convince people to do exactly what we want them to… as if the Spirit is not at work in them). That’s where Jesus shines - he stirs up questions and tells stories that unveil truth, rather than drafting a careful declaration or endorsement that’s going to solve everything wrong in the world.

Folks come out of our JFP shows with all kinds of ideas churning. Some have shared that they are inspired to start an adoption agency to try and decrease the number of abortions. U.S. soldiers have said they are becoming conscientious objectors or are seeking discharge. Some folks have said they are going to organize for one of the candidates, and others have said they are going to write in “Jesus” on Nov. 4. To all of it we say, “Yes!” Thank God the Spirit is at work, and is renewing minds and imaginations in the Church, so that we might follow the command of Romans: “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Reporters often ask folks leaving our presentations funny questions like: “Young evangelicals are the swing vote in this election… has this evening affected how you are going to vote in November?” I heard one person say beautifully, “That’s the wrong question… the real question is how can we become the change we want to see in the world TODAY and not just hope that every four years we can elect politicians to change the world for us.” May it be so. May we continue to become the change we want to see in the Church and in the world. Enough donkeys and elephants - Long live the Lamb.

More from Lauren :)

I wish I could explain myself as clearly as Lauren does here. This comment was from a Facebook note, in which a friend of ours (who is a Jesus-follower) asked his friends to state who they were voting for, and give three reasons why they are going to vote for that person. He asked everyone to refrain from name-calling (Palin is stupid, Obama is a terrorist, etc.) and really just honestly address the issues.

Lauren's reply:

I don't think the Republicans or the Dems have got it all right. But I do wish with all my heart that more Christians would see and understand that "moral values" go waaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond abortion and gay marriage. I think it's immoral that millions of people in this country don't have health care. I am in such horrible medical debt because of cancer that was out of my control and I will be for a long time. I think it's immoral that people are paid unfair wages for hard work in this country. I think poverty is immoral. I think corrupt school systems are immoral, especially because I was forced to put up with one all my life. I think war is immoral.

We have a very strong call from Jesus to be peacemakers, to be people of reconciliation, to struggle with the poor and the least of these in our society. I don't think Jesus meant charity, either. I really think He meant taking a stand about changing systems and making things right. There is a strong call from Him to create equality. I also know that God commands us to take of this Earth He created and gave us, not to abuse it however we want.

I don't think the Dems have it all right. I am voting for Obama because I think he is more on the side of the poor and the marginalized of our society and I believe he genuinely wants to create a more just society. I like that he wants to make caring for our environment more of a priority and that he also has a concrete plan for ending a war that should have never happened in the first place. I don't think Obama is our savior, though, and it's scary how much hope people put in him. Jesus is the only one who is going to bring real transformation and He is going to keep using us to bring that change.

And I could not agree more! I was so happy to see this, because people were starting to get into the issue of who has "better morals..." and sometimes it makes me want to start yelling and arguing. Props to Lauren for this calm and clear explanation!! :)

I kind of want to read "Jesus for President..." I've heard a few people, now, say that it's a good and challenging book.

P.S. I am really fed up with these Blogger tags, because for some reason, Jesus is always changed to lowercase!! I don't get it!