i do think we've kind of turned a corner on 'the social issues,' as the new york gay marriage vote shows. really it was beautiful to watch people celebrating outside stonewall etc. thank god, or something. also: marijuana legalization proceeds apace all over the country. i think probably abortion rights is closer to some kind of plurality than before. now, one thing that would be interesting is if the republicans nominated rick perry, or michele bachmann, or someone who is a screeching christian conservative on such matters. barring a real economic or war-type meltdown near the election, i don't think such a person could get elected, actually. romney's extreme flip-flops on such issues begin to make him look electable, although of course completely unprincipled. but he's the only one among the top tier - with the possible exception of pawlenty - who can tack back left with some slight plausibility in the general election.
it seems to me that whatever you may feel about the institution of marriage, and whether it's something anyone should want, and whether the government should have anything to do with it, this is an important moment. there's no justification for the discriminatory treatment. and i think that it has to overall be a good thing that the cultural norms are broadening, and this represents that. now also something will be lost in assimilation. it always is, and integration and the slow reduction of bigotry is destroying african-american culture and institutions, with many bad effects. there is pride in being an oppressed group, and resistance, and alternative institutions, cultural practices, arts. gay folks are going to start losing things. on the other hand, of course, there are terrible things - practical, everyday things -about being on the wrong end of oppression, and no moral justification for it.
