Barack and Gay Marriage

Barack's got my support, my money, and my vote. Now that he's clinched the Democratic nomination, here's an item for his agenda...

How about some civil--and I mean civil--conversation about gay marriage? With the California Supreme Court's ruling, the tone of the conversation is already shattering the champagne glasses.

So far, the conversation has been a major yawn: one side with its irrational (as opposed to rational) appeals to the Scriptures, the other side with its knee-jerk charges of bigotry and homophobia.

Spare me! Something's gotta give here.

Barack has already catapulted our discussions about race light years ahead of where they were. Maybe he can help us find a little common ground on this important and polarized issue as well.

He doesn't have to change his opinion on the matter, much as I might wish he were more supportive of gay marriage. I'm simply suggesting that he be a catalyst for a more enlightened discussion than we've come up with so far.

Especially since people just like his own mom and dad were once, like gay people today, denied the right to marry.

Barack can make a crucial difference in getting the present conversation unstuck. If he wants to.