WorkingForChange-Scandal's shame, Massachusetts' pride: "In the end, the irony is grim: The U.S. military bans openly gay soldiers but apparently does not effectively screen out heterosexual sadists. Meanwhile, at home the president tries desperately to make an election-year issue out of preventing free adults from civilly consecrating same-sex partnerships.
Unfortunately there are many in this country, at least in the political class, who claim to support the rights of the individual abroad while struggling to limit them at home. Yet, as with classic images from earlier civil rights movements, such as that of a poised black girl walking to school through a jeering crowd, the dramatic scenes of joy and love now unfolding in Massachusetts are likely to be looked back upon by future generations with a 'what took us so long?' relief.
Bush has condemned the Massachusetts high court for tampering with the 'traditional values' enshrined in the Constitution. But we should be grateful for such tampering, or we would still have slavery and women still would not be allowed to vote. "