video: our many understandings
I had a lot to do yesterday, so I didn’t turn on the web stream of the We Are One concert until near when it was finished because I knew I’d be glued to the couch. I did not realize that there were some sound issues at the start when Reverend Gene Robinson was giving the invocation, nor did I realize that HBO didn’t broadcast it. I am still not convinced these occasions need the religious invocation as part of the ceremony, but this was a rather good one and should be heard.
Thanks to Moose for giving me the heads up. The video, shot by Sarah Pulliam for Christianity Today magazine, is available on YouTube and on their website which also contains the full text of Robinson’s invocation.
[flv:robinson.flv 480 360]
I’m really disappointed that HBO didn’t air this*, it isn’t controversial, in fact it’s very respectful of everyone and honestly not too “churchy” as one might have expected. It’s sad that not everyone there was able to hear it in its entirety, so I’m very grateful that it was recorded and happy to make it available for viewing. Please make sure to stop by the YouTube page to raise that hit counter and if you’re so inclined, post a comment on Christianity Today’s political blog**. I normally wouldn’t send people away to make comments, but we’ll call this a special case. 
* From reading around, it looks like Robinson’s invocation was determined a pre-show bit, so HBO might not be to blame for this not being broadcast.
** Normal internet comment warnings apply as it looks like the trolling and flaming have already begun, especially on YouTube. Proceed at your own risk.
The entire concert was a “Pre-Show” the actual event/show is tomorrow. So for them to use that as an excuse is lame. Off with their heads, lets boycot them yadda yadda yadda or whatever everyone is saying needs to be done.
Seriously for me, its just sad! Such is life…
At two minutes into it, I got the deep-in-the-lungs-ok-I’m-gonna-cry-whether-I-want-to-or-not sniffle and had to switch it off for a second.
Rick Warren’s opening prayer is more churchy for sure, evangelical style. Yet his was broadcast and it wasn’t part of some pre-show nonsense.