Prop 8 Unconstitutional or the Comment that Made My Day...

So of course, I was elated at California Judge Vaughn Walker's decision that Proposition 8, the measure denying gays and lesbians the right to marry in the state of California was cited as unconstitutional on the grounds of due process and equal protection under the law. Judge Walker made a large numer of extremely valid points in his 100+ page ruling, but none that resonated as much as the simple point that it is not right for the majority group to be able to vote on the rights of the minority. So first and foremost, here is a CHEERS to all of the individuals, both gay and straight who have toiled endlessly to see this day arrive. It may be one small step in the walk towards equality, but at least it's a step in the right direction. In memory of the road that has been travelled to arrive at this moment, here are two videos that say more than I ever could.

Keith Olbermann-Special Comment on Prop 8


and thanks to the Courage Campaign and Regina Spector:



And finally my day was made today when i received the following facebook message:

'You and your equal rights-you're ruining my day"

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud. I prefer to spread a little bit of joy to the lives of those around me, but in this case, was ecstatic about the prospect of ruining somone else's day.

And so ends a cautiously optimistic ramble...Don't divorce love.

Testing (one, two) Testing...

Okay. First and foremost: I ramble. I do. I'm not ashamed of it, per say...it's just how I interact with the world around me. Most everything swirling about me on a regular basis is so convoluted that it's nearly impossible for me to make any clear sense out of anything on the first take. So I talk things out...in my head, in my classes, to the people (un)lucky enough to call me a friend. And more often than not it starts out as convoluted as the topic I'm trying to understand, but at some point seventeen minutes, thirty-seven "likes", fourteen "never minds" and an eternity of blank stares later, it inevitably hits me: Clarity. I always try to take some time and bask in the glow that is that moment. The brief minute in time where I feel as though I've unravelled some world problem or thought of a solution to some pressing issue of social justice. And then just like that: gone. And so the cycle begins anew. Every news story, every academic journal article, editorial cartoon, documentary, and on and on. Rambling is how I work through things, make sense of those things, and find a way to categorize them inside my brain.

Now that we've taken care of the rambling...here's the other thing: I'm judgmental. I am. I used to be ashamed of it (okay, I still am at times) but now I've realized that as long as my judgments have some logical foundation, I'm okay. I justify it like that. Some might say that makes me no better than those I judge...I disagree. After all, it goes without saying that I think my opinion or point of view is better than theirs...otherwise, where does the need to judge come in?

So I guess it goes without saying that one can expect to read a myriad of random, rambling judgments. Whether anyone will read them or not....who knows. The process of working it out on "paper" will be beneficial to me one way or another and perhaps save someone in my life the time of having to listen to me ramble it all out...again.