My faith restored

at a Dean meetup (note to mods this is not about the primary but about a group of Democrats, who happen to support Dean, reaction to an issue)

On Wednesday, Ohio became the 37th state to ban same sex marriage. They also banned state employees from getting domestic partner benefits and may have overturned Cleveland Heights domestic partnership registry. Last night, I drove to a local Dean meet up. I live in a very rural, somewhat conservative, democratic area. There were about 7 people there. I was about 15 years younger than the all but one person there. To a person, they were appalled at what Ohio had done. I hadn't even brought it up myself as I still am a bit raw on the issue. I was truely stunned.

While I don't live in Iran, I sure don't live in San Francisco. If you would have told me that 6 run of the mill Democrats in my area would have that opinion, when I was growing up I would have called you insane. We have a long way to go, but it still amazes me how far we have come.

to remember where Ohio used to be - many years ago when I was growing up it was the Ohio of the Democrats - great labor unions, steel mills. When did Ohio turn into the Red state? When I look at my home state I can't believe it's the same place I grew up. I am glad to hear there might be pockets of sanity returning, but the Buckeye State has a long way to go.

I know we have a great Democratic tradition (I voted for Metzenbalm once, Celeste once, and Glenn twice) but we had a largely socially conservative tradition.

and this my posts feature rocks.