If this doesn't send chills of hop up your spine, well I just can't help you anymore.
Inclusion to me means that everyone, everyone gets a place to have their voice heard. It doesn't mean that I am going to agree with the voices, but they need to be heard.
After the cut is a clip from The American President, a movie I hold in high regard. From 1:19 to 2:01 sums up in 42 seconds how I feel about America.
I was disheartened by Rick Warren's selection yet remained silent. I remained silent because Rick Warren has the right to have his voice heard and I will never call on someone to be silenced for expressing their opinion and their viewpoint.
I was disheartened because at that time President Elect Obama had not created an experience that provided ample stage to all viewpoints.
It is my opinion that today's announcement and the inclusion of Bishop Robinson remedies that situation.
On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the day before the Holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an openly gay religious figure will address the nation. I feel the impact already, and it hasn't even happened yet.
Inclusive, to me, as illustrated by The American President, does not involve silencing our opponents or those who see the world from a different point of view. The sole measure of inclusiveness is allowing all viewpoints to be heard and then allowing the populace to choose to form their own opinions. We do not have to be louder or have greater access or be granted more opportunities to be heard, we have to be better.
We have to be more convincing in our arguments than our opponents are. Let's stand Gene Robinson and Rick Warren on stage together and allow them to both present who they are and what they think to the world. Let's see how we fare in a dialogue like that. Let us allow the LGBT band to march in the parade at the same time the Knights of Columbus are and we can see how we fare in that match-up as well.
The American experience is one of drastically divergent opinions. President Elect Obama has done a great job in his Inaugural celebrations in making that be seen and respecting the diversity of this country.