By the time you read this you will all have seen the news coverage of the last event of the Democratic National Convention. First we heard from Al Gore, Joe Biden and other great speakers, and there was some wonderful music.
Barack Obama, the first African-American nominated by a major political party in US history and speaking on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous "I have a dream" speech, was even more inspiring that usual. But our Pagan delegates will long remember the opportunity we had to invoke the Gods at an official convention event, thus making history of a different sort.
Let me explain, because you may not have caught the final item on the agenda (CNN, at least, went to a commercial instead of airing it).
At the end of a wonderful, joyful night, complete with fireworks and confetti (including a cascade of white stars), came an invocation. Until the last, there was no hint of how it would close, but then it came: the minister said he would pause before the end of the prayer and encouraged everyone in Invesco Field to finish it as they would in their own faith tradition.
And so the Gods came to that venue, as I completed the invocation with "by the Gods of my people, so mote it be!"
Friends, Barack Obama continues to amaze me. In being welcoming to Pagans, he appears to be counting on our assistance, hoping that the help we will give him might balance the harm this could cause him among evangelicals. I, for one, intend to pay off on that gamble.
If he's this Pagan-friendly, if we continue to be given a place at the table, it bodes well for us all.
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5 comments:
This is so fantastic! Thanks, Rita and Ed -- and Misha from Southern California -- for representing us Pagans at this historical event.
I like to think that the work some of us do in the area of interfaith activities has contributed to this more pluralistic understanding and acceptance of different religions.
Yes, we can!
Macha
I'd like to address the GOP readers who are exploring this blog.
While the Pagan community as a whole seems to find Democratic candidates to be more in tune with our vision, there are Republican Pagans too. While our political goals and inclinations may be at odds, Republican Pagans are still beloved members of our communities, respected colleagues, and dear friends.
Perhaps they can explain our religion and practices to you in ways that would be easier for you to understand. You might be surprised to find that you could have things in common with them, and that the gulf is not as hard to bridge as you imagine.
There is a place for all of us at our table.
I think your comments may be better-directed toward those pagans who seem to feel that being Pagan and being conservative are incompatible.
I, too, was thrilled at the wording of the closing benediction last night. The minister used incredibly inclusive language throughout. When he paused to invite all to close the prayer in whatever words were customary to their faith, my husband and I knew we were included! A first! So there in front of the TV, we sent out our own "So Mote It Be" with all our hearts.
I couldn't help but notice throughout the proceedings that so much of the convention was truly a spell-working. This was especially evident during the roll-call, with its powerful, formalized call-and-response magic. In every case, the energy was sealed and released with enormous power on behalf of, "The next president of the United States, Barack Obama!"
I thought the final benediction was very interesting, too. Though I'll give the credit for it not to Obama, but to the fundamentalist Christian minister who came up with the idea and who attended that DNC event to give the benediction in your presence.
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