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Some prayers and sermons are given more news value than others. For example, the fact that HBO did not broadcast Bishop V. Gene Robinson’s prayer on Sunday made a rather significant news ripple. However, a CNN interview with Colin Powell received priority over the mealtime prayer of Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.), U.S. Senate Chaplain, before Tuesday’s rather significant congressional luncheon with President Obama.
One of the more interesting articles I’ve read on Obama’s religious views — and one that would have been welcome during the campaign — was Eli Saslow’s piece in the Washington Post on Sunday titled “Obama’s Path to Faith Was Eclectic.”
Sitting in my house a few blocks from the Capitol, I’ve heard sirens blaring for days. Parking is difficult to find. The bridges are closed. Many of my friends have fled to Miami for the week. The mainstream media, which gave fawning coverage to President-elect Barack Obama throughout his campaign for president, is continuing with the love fest. I became a reporter during the George W. Bush presidency so the difference is notable.
It would be hard to pick up the big newspapers right now and try to argue that the major, elite media are not trying to “get religion” right now. It’s like the editors have all walked the aisle at the President Barack Obama revival and made professions of faith.
My sick daughter/frozen pipes/burst pipes trifecta-of-chaos this weekend prevented me from fully enjoying the pre-inaugural festivities here in Washington. But I watched a bit of the celebrity concert that got things going (I can’t get enough of Mary J.) and was sorry to see that HBO did not broadcast the opening prayer by Bishop Gene Robinson.
Let’s reach a few weeks back into tmatt’s infamous “folder of guilt” to look at an interesting New York Times piece about the growth of “religious media” in modern Russia.
How awesome is Chesley B. Sullenberger, the heroic pilot who saved everyone’s life in his daring landing in the Hudson? I just can’t read enough about the perfect landing and the brilliant rescue operation. Of course, I’m one of those people who can’t drive across a bridge without contemplating what I’d do if, say, the bridge suddenly collapsed and I ended up in the middle of the icy Potomac.
