Yeah, but the difference is -- I don't get a parade!

Good point. I think I'll refuse to do any actual work today until someone throws me a parade.

That's the spirit!

Warren's invocation felt just kind of oddly tone-deaf. He's got every working day of his life to speak to people who share his specific faith, culture, history. It didn't kill Graham to soften and open his choice of words on that one day on which he had just a few minutes to speak to everyone; it wouldn't have killed Warren.

He was asked to give the invocation. He couldn't be blamed for thinking they wanted an invocation he would give.

Or rather, instead of being inclusive by trying to bring in everyone's traditions, it felt inclusive by subsuming everyone's culture into Christianity.

Yes! This is what I was trying to say but couldn't figure out how to phrase.

a parade might inspire me to go to work.

I love Obama's sense of humor. It's kinda' Buffista-ish, huh?

Obama takes first actions in office

Shortly after delivering his inaugural address, President Obama took his first official actions in office. First, he signed a document declaring today a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation. Then he signed off on his cabinet nominations.

After signing off on the first document, Obama carefully put down the pen, folded his hands and dead-panned: "I was told not to swipe the pen, which I often do." He stood up to leave, but was reminded he had more documents to sign. The new president said: "That's true, I guess I have to have a Cabinet, don't I? Yeah, I forgot about that."

As Obama wrote his name on the documents, CNN's Wolf Blitzer provided this commentary: "His penmanship, I must say, is excellent."

I have done some work today, but I am not gonna kill myself to get stuff done. I mean, my boss is not here. I would liek to get lunch at some point, but also do not want to miss stuff. Maybe I can ask someone to get me stuff.

I will emphasize what Matt said about the Warren/Graham comparison. Graham may or may not have been more conservative than Warren. (Depends on the issue. I don't remember Graham saying women should stay with men who beat them, but maybe I missed it, not being exactly a Graham fan.) But Warren used language that specifically stirred up hate (not today, in general), something Graham mostly avoided. I'm much more concerned with Warren going out of his way to stir up anti-gay emotions, especially when there is already a real problem with gays being beaten, raped and murdered at a higher rate than the general population.

CNN blurb says Obama to speak at all 10 official inaugural balls and the President and First Lady will dance at all ten. My feet hurt for them.

I just remembered that I have to go in today -- or close the reference desk. My co-worker had to go to a meeting ( boo hiss for her) so there would be times when no one would be available for the desk. Darn

From whitehouse.gov, The Agenda - Civil Rights. Scroll down for the large section "Support for the LGBT Community"....

eta:

Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.