The Manic Mechanic

After Jeff and I performed our civic duty by voting and had a nice dinner at the local pub, we settled in at home watching the election unfold, hoping for the best. We weren't disappointed.

Maryland voters not only reelected Obama, but they put two very progressive feet forward with the state version of the DREAM Act which allows "illegal" immigrants and others to pay tuition and receive other educational benefits if they meet certain conditions regarding positive efforts towards education, employment and such towards attaining citizenship, and, most amazingly, voting FOR the referred law recognizing same-sex marriage. Finally, the old saw trotted out by anti-gay groups such as NOM, smarmy political groups with "family" in their names, and religious groups where they boast of "Victories" at the ballot box defining marriage as one man and one woman no longer will apply. It was close, but decisively on favor of equality. The legislature had passed marriage equality a while ago, but the usual petition drives poured from church groups and hate orgs to put a referendum to the voters. It backfired. As I write this, it appears that Maine will also enjoy marriage equality thanks to voters as well, and Minnesota and Washington, while not final yet, are tending positive. Regardless, this marks a solid turning point for gay rights, equality and social progress for the US. The current progress overturning DOMA as well as smaller local initiatives present and future will be able to gain a lot of momentum in the next four years.

Maryland finally ousted our version of Jesse Helms, a MD house member Roscoe Bartlett, a 10 term Republican that has been a constant thorn in the side of progress in this state, replaced by a Democrat. There is a lot of social and economic progress to be made in the years ahead, and it should be a lot easier now. I just wish I could say the same for politics on a national level. There is still a framework of gridlock in place, but now that the people have spoken, and it's clear that they are also demanding some serious progress.

I can also live free of the constant bombardment of political ads, signs, robocalls and stumping. What a shite-tonne of audio-visual pollution. It should be quet going into the holiday season ahead.

Despite the setbacks I have experienced recently, I can live a bit happier now, a bit more proud, and more open than ever.

Now, to start making wedding plans...

During Tuesday's episode of Glee, among all the commercials for cell phones, cars, fast food and other silly sundries, an ad aired for Google Chrome (the web browser). It stood out not because it was an ad for a bit of software, but what can be done with it.

This is the first time I have seen the "It Gets Better" project hit mainstream television, outside of a talk show or something similar. It was touching and amazing to see it in this context. More ironic is the fact that Glee airs on the Fox network, where the dichotomy of rather progressive series programming stands in stark contrast to their idiotically right-leaning news and talk programming. Bravo to Google and Fox for bringing this commercial into the living room of millions.

Well, it appears that the stay placed against same-sex weddings in California has been lifted! Is that the peal of wedding bells I hear? Is that the sound of wingnut heads exploding too? Both are such wonderful sounds.


(ht - JMG)

Edit: Rats! The "stay" has not actually been lifted, that will happen in one week (to allow for appeals filings), if nothing gets in the way the stay will be lifted.

Having been almost a week since the election, the giddiness of the populace (unless you are an incurable far-righter, in that case, stiff biccies) and the unfortunate shock as the passage of Prop. 8 and other anti-gay referendum seems to be morphing into a real force of change. Yeah, I know it's an over-used word by now, but it fits. The shock and anger at the passage of Proposition 8 has motivated people in a way not seen in decades. Protests against religious involvements in public policy sure does my old heart good, and it's about time. Another wonderful sign of change to come is the involvement of young people. The youth of this country finally feel they have a say in how it is run. There is going to be more of "us" in U.S., and I could not be happier.

The recent events also seem to have run their course through LJ land. The shock turned into complaints, which turned into blaming, which resulted in unfriendings and deleted journals and is now turning into focus and determination. I really like what I see. Let's keep channeling that anger into motivation. I have a feeling a lot of good will come of this.