This is a very, very good writeup about this state’s fight against the marriage amendment defeated last week.

Minnesota Public Radio goes WAY out of its way to not appear partisan, to the point of giving credibility to crazy people and their crazy ideas, but they really put on their common sense hats when it came to covering this issue. They deserve credit for it, if not for other things.

Give it a listen.

But also check out the video of the story. An interesting slideshow of the key players and those invested in defeating bigotry.

I think this is way too optimistic of an article, but one hopes the GOP stops embracing racism as a central core of their platform.

Do not get me wrong, that bridge is well burnt to a toast for me. I remember the slights and will not ever turn to them as an option. I know that sounds a bit hidebound, but I seriously do not see them turning this page in the remaining span of years I have left. Oh sure, overtures will finally be made – and soon – but the party that welcomed in southern racists before I was born, embraced them during the Nixon years, and became them fully from 2008 to today just is not going to change from that course overnight.

So, yes, please do this as a necessary move to improve our nation. Just don’t count on me – or tens of millions of others – to believe, much less endorse, the party of David Duke, Trent Lott, Jan Brewer, et al. Do it because it is the right thing to do. Just understand why it will never be enough.

It is simple. We have a party in this big old nation of our’s that works very, very hard to diminish learning.

They don’t believe science, be it biology, geology, chemistry, flu shots, whatever. They try to whitewash history books for kids and peddle in abstinence, creationism, et al as substitutes for real learning and real solutions.

And they hate math. Polls in this particular case.

Wish fulfillment is a huge industry. I’m in a Star Wars club and read a fair amount of fiction. Harry Potter is neat stuff. We all want to drag our kids to Disneyland or whatever. We dress up for Halloween. Women apparently want to be tied up and demeaned it you believe in that 50 Shades crap.

But we don’t substitute it for reality. At least, I *hope* the 50 Shaders don’t.

In any case, growing up means accepting that world does not work or look the way you wish it would. I’d like a flying car. Someone else would love that Mitt Romney was the next president. Guess what? Neither is happening, at least not right away.

For instance, I still might get to see a flying car someday.

The benefits of victory.

No excuses. Go do it.