Outrage when Congressman ends opening prayer of 117th Congress with ‘Amen and a-woman’
The 117th Congress opened on Sunday, and provided us with a glimpse how things would look under complete Democratic control, should Republicans not win at least one of two Georgia Senate runoff elections on Tuesday.
Prior to the opening of the session, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s House proposed a rule that did away with gender-specific references in the federal code. Thus, for example, the terms “father” or “mother” would give way to “parent”; “brother” or “sister” would become “sibling.” The purpose of this rewrite is to “honor all gender identities by changing pronouns and familial relationships in the House rules to be gender neutral,” and House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern, D-Mass, said the desire was to make “this House of Representatives the most inclusive in history.”
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver got the memo.
The Kansas City Democrat, who is also an ordained United Methodist minister, gave the invocation prior to the opening of House business.
Cleaver began the prayer with a reference to “Eternal God,” and referenced God a couple of times subsequently in asking for a blessing on our country and peace in our land, our communities and in Congress.
He then ended the 2 ½-minute prayer by saying, “We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and God known by many names by many different faiths – Amen and A-woman.”
In the Bible’s Greek translations, the word “amen” meant “so be it.” Catholic teaching says it means “I believe,” and Hebrew sources say it is a derivative of the verb “aman,” which means to support, confirm, be faithful to, or strengthen.
In other words, unlike many words in the world’s Romance languages, it has no basis in gender.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., took to Twitter to note that the word amen is “Latin for ‘so be it.’”
“It’s not a gendered word,” he posted. “Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable.”
The prayer to open the 117th Congress ended with "amen and a-women."
Amen is Latin for "so be it."
It's not a gendered word.
Unfortunately, facts are irrelevant to progressives. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/FvZ0lLMDDr
— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) January 3, 2021
Conservative blogger Matt Walsh seconded Reschenthaler’s point, tweeting, “Dems open congress with a prayer that ends ‘amen and awoman.’ Amen is a Latin word that means ‘truly’ or ‘so be it.’ Awoman is a nonsense word that means nothing. Dems find a way to make everything stupid and nonsensical. Utter clowns, all of them.”
What got some but much less attention in Cleaver’s prayer was his reference to Brahma, the creator god of Hindu.
Cleaver, a Christian minister, mentioned Brahma as he offered his prayer to “the monotheistic God.” According to the BBC, Brahma is the first among the triumvirate of gods in Hindu. Although he “is the supreme God force present within all things,” Brahma also is “the least worshipped god in Hinduism today,” the BBC reports.
One Twitter user saw this – and not “A-woman” – as the problem with Cleaver’s prayer. “A Methodist preacher praying in the name of the “monotheistic God….and brahma?? Forget the a-woman, words can’t even begin to explain.’ he wrote.
Other Twitter users had similar opinions:
Same folks who say “awoman” call us “pregnant people.” ?
— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) January 4, 2021
The prayer to open the US Congress ends with “Amen and Awoman”
Honestly. Amen is derived from the Hebrew word אָמֵן, or āmēn, meaning truth. And has absolutely no gendered quality whatsoever.
These people are dewomented.
— Matthew Thompson (@mattuthompson) January 4, 2021
Amen and awoman."perfect House Democrat prayer ending as House Dems focus on gender security by abolishing virtually every normal gender term like “father. Mother “-the radical madness has begun-Kevin McCarthy for Speaker!
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 4, 2021
That’s where you’re wrong, Congresswoman Boebert.
While “Amen” is Hebrew, “Awoman” is Shebrew.
Just ask any Democrat! ? https://t.co/2sSKYwqfKH
— Errol Webber For CA Governor (@ErrolWebber) January 4, 2021
Forget the awoman comment (as stupid as that was), there is only One God!! He will bless those who are faithful to HIM. Shame on you for praying “in the name of” any other “god”.
— Lorie Stafford (@lsmom2) January 4, 2021
