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sukk told the fact that California has halted San Francisco's issuing of gay marriage. Salon's article confirms the fact.

Perhaps this is just speculation, but while this seems a step in the wrong direction, it ultimately is a step in the right direction. To be issuing illegal marriage licenses is actually criminal, no matter how much I agree with the idea of gay marriage. Between Massachusetts and SF, the gay marriage debate has been brought to the forefront of news and media (despite the importance of other issues which have been almost forgotten), so now gays have to win over the minds and/or sense of decency (if they have any) of the bigotted right. And, a prolonged illegal protest has never been the way to win over law-abiding self-claimed moralistic people.

But, I still would very much like to join in the candlelight march in San Francisco tonight over the ruling. A decent sign saying that a decent segment of the population of at least that city is for gay marriage. And, anybody in the area - gay or straight, married, engaged, dating, or single - who is for the legalization of gays to get married should join in and let the number grow, because it is the size that counts.

Maybe it's just that I am noticing more, or that I think that this is actually an acomplishable task, but I think that this type of march for rights is very good for the nation. Its been awhile since I've seen more than just causeheads actually care about the debate and say something more than just ridicule about the protesters. But, then again, I was at UofM, home of the causehead.

*God, I'm sounding like Hunter S. Thompson in his reminiscent moments in Fear and Loathing. Somebody shoot me*

And, despite the reassurance by Glenn A Fine that the Patriot Act has no abuses, even reported, I have found some interesting information. In September, The Daily Texan listed a bunch of cases where the Patriot Act has been invoked in items not even remotely related to terrorism, including the taking down of a methamphetamine lab. And, in November, a strip club owner may have been on the wrong end of the Patriot Act's stick. With no qualms from the Justice Department. I don't consider meth to be a great benefit to society, but bending the act to construe it as a chemical of mass destruction is a bit far fetched. And, I don't approve of said measures being used.

Down with the Patriot Act.