I was proud and delighted to be home in Connecticut on Friday when the State Supreme Court handed down its decision saying that marriage is a right for all consenting adult couples. This is an issue that’s dear to Rudi’s and my hearts, and we look forward to the day when this simple human right is recognized as the law of the land and not just certain individual states.

California, one of three forward-thinking states that acknowledge the equal rights of same sex couples, has a ballot initiative on its ballot in November that seeks to introduce discrimination into its laws. Proposition 8 has been spun by its proponents as a helpful initiative to save nonprofit and religious organizations from being forced to part ways with their mission statements. Since no one can force any church to marry any couple — gay or straight — this just doesn’t hold much water. Nor does the concern that the flood of people rushing to marry will bankrupt state, local, or federal coffers. I mean, really, it would be far more helpful, if that’s your fear, to forbid rights to large corporate CEOs.

If you live in California, I ask you not to deny my brother, my best friend, and many other law-abiding, tax-paying citizens rights that you and I have the blessing of being able to take for granted. If you live elsewhere, but have the ear of those who will be voting on this issue November 4th, please talk to them. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and it would be easy to be confused about what the ballot initiative actually stands for. Please vote No on California Proposition 8 to keep human rights a priority in one of our largest states.

While many of the non-District locals probably think frustrated thoughts of protesters, particularly IMF/World Bank protesters such as those who’ll be in town this weekend, I tend to be rather fond of those who believe that peaceful protests will change the world.

You can always find protesters in the park across from the Chinese embassy on Connecticut Avenue. When we first moved down, they were Falun Gong protesters. This summer, during the Olympics, the focus was on the human rights issues in Tibet and treatment of North Korean detainees.

One protester, a North Korean woman recently granted asylum, took her mission so seriously that she staged a hunger strike that eventually ended with her hospitalization.

These photos were taken during the Olympics (on day 12 of the hunger strike according to the signs in the shots), so I can’t tell you if the focus remains the same or if they’ve shifted to other human rights objections with the Chinese government. There is always someone in the park, so all I can say is that a protest will be going on one way or the other.

Sarah, Hillary, MsP, and Rudi are other good bets for those sharing their unique perspectives of D.C.

A Teachable Moment at NFA: Young Voters Group Watches VP Debate

BW, who is the sort of teacher you wish you had and that you hope every kid has at some point, adds this about her 10th and 11th graders:

At one point I went over to one group of kids, partly expecting them to be discussing various social things while they watched, and found them deep in a debate about Palin, the issues of the race, what they think will happen and who they agree with regarding what to do about Iraq/Afghanistan.

Remember these kids when folks start bashing teenagers for not caring and for choosing to remain ignorant about things beyond IM.

If you live in D.C. and are registered with a party, don’t forget to head to the polls to cast your primary ballot.

If you live in Ward 2, I’d like to ask that you vote for Cary Silverman for City Council. It’s time for current councilman Jack Evans to go. When a man tries to sell the property out from under the local library branch without informing the residents or the library, he’s gotten too big for his britches. Check out how Dupont Circle and Penn Quarter have joined Georgetown in serving as our very own Mall of America to see where Jack’s allegiances lie. Remember that Jack spearheaded the effort to build a new ballpark that is filled only to half capacity most nights and left RFK to wither with just D.C. United soccer fans to support it.

While I’m not certain that Cary Silverman has many innovative ideas, I certainly think that he will hold close the ideas that a community is the sum of its parts and that locally owned, independent businesses should be a cornerstone of any healthy neighborhood.

I’d also like you to consider voting for a few friends and acquaintances from the Dean days. I’ve worked with each of them personally and can swear that even if they’re filling largely meaningless roles that they will work hard and will attempt to bring a sense of activism and fair play to the system:

• For Shadow Senator: Phil Pannell (who’s also running for a Ward 8 Democratic State Committee seat)
• For At-Large members of the Democratic State Committee seats:
• Jeff Richardson
• John Nowicki
• Jeff Norman
• Robin Kelly
• Tamela Gordon
• Kirsten Burgard
• For a Ward 2 Democratic State Committee seat: Dan Wedderburn
• For a Ward 3 Democratic State Committee seat: Jocelyn Nieva

Thank you for considering voting for these former organizational colleagues of mine.

The special Tuesday morning edition:

The singers are Jack Johnson and Ben Harper (who wrote the song).

This is a PBS ad that aired last night during the convention and that, I feel, helps demonstrate the tone of the first night. I’ll be buying the song from iTunes.

I want to be Michelle Obama when I grow up.