The Face of Revelation and Change

I do hope you'll indulge me and watch this remarkable five-and-a-half-minute video. Just a guy talking... the guy is San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, changing a lifelong opinion to come out against California's Proposition 8:

A couple of commenters on the YouTube page have implied that Mayor Sanders' change of heart is because his daughter is a lesbian. They say it as if it (the change of heart, that is) is a bad thing because of that. I'm sure his daughter has a lot to do with it -- yet another example of how these policies just don't seem to work anymore once someone you care about is affected -- but that's not all of it.

Look at this man. He's shaken to his core, forced to confront himself and find himself wanting. His deliberate use of the phrase "separate but equal" is the key. He obviously remembers that time -- really not long ago at all -- when blacks had their own drinking fountains. To face up to that, and to use his public position to take a stand (which will certainly be used against him by the forces of bigotry in his next election campaign) must have been incredibly difficult, and is pretty damned remarkable.

Many congratulations and much support to Mayor Sanders and his family.

Thanks to Michael D. at Balloon Juice for this one.

Bill Maher on Election 2008

I laughed a lot. Especially at the comparison between Biden and Palin.

Candy Voting Machine

As a nice counter to Shirley Nagel, below, here's an enterprising trick-or-treater in Decatur, GA:

(h/t huskiebear)