Inauguration Day!

I don't blog nearly often enough anymore, but today I'm sitting here watching the inauguration of President Barack Obama, and I just want to say something to mark the occasion.  Progress marches on, regardless of efforts to stop it, because this country is free.  I am not always the most patriotic person around, but I acknowledge that this day is here because of the rights granted in our Constitution - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the amendments to the Bill of Rights that freed the slaves in the south and that granted women the right to vote.  

Gay rights propositions went down this past November, but their day is coming too.  There has never been occasion in this country that we looked back at a time when we denied basic rights to a group of our citizens with anything but shame and regret.  A generation ago, it was still illegal in some states for mixed-race couples to marry, and today we've elected the child of a mixed-raced couple as our new president.  I can't help but notice what a beautiful thing it is to see women and people of color not only among the massive crowd watching this historic event, but involved in the proceedings, mixed in among all the officials, making this day possible.

You can't stop it - progress marches on.  Happy Inauguration Day to all!