The "basic human right" in question here isn't the right to marry - you are quite right that there is no such right under our constitution. But when I used the phrase that seems to have set you off, I wasn't talking about marriage. I was talking about the the right of all people to be treated equally under the law. (About as basic a right as there is.) So if you think this is a "meaningless, even dangerous term" in this context, well ... trust me when I say that this is an argument I am prepared to have with you.

You may have missed it, but Mayor Sanders also used the phrase "basic human right." It was to this I was responding. And while you might not have been talking about marriage, he clearly was. Had I been responding to you, I would have addressed you, as I am doing now. Looks like maybe you need to learn to read yourself. And perhaps do something about that narcissism.

While I'm living in the Pacific Northwest right now, I've lived most of my life in Texas and have known my fair share of gay Republicans (though even in Texas, the majority of gays are Democrats). I agree with you that it would be great if sexual orientation didn't define political affiliation. For the record, I wish pro-life/pro-choice issues didn't do so, either.

Not sure why it's a bad thing if Sanders is doing this for his daughter. Would it be better if he willingly contined to hurt her? From my perspective, there's nothing wrong with a personal connection changing people's outlook. That was Harvey Milk's whole point: come out, come out, come out because when they see we aren't monsters but their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, they will see gay people for who we really are.

Marriage is a basic right. I was talking to a friend, a lawyer as it happens. It's part of the penumbra, the basic rights that underline the rights in our nation's law. First with a case involving the rights and prisoners to marry, later with Loving vs. Virginia, the Court stated explicitly that marriage is a fundamental right.

Is there anyone in this country so stupid, so unaware of the climate in which we live, that they could wear this shirt to the airport and not consider "This may set off some alarms"? Clearly, clearly if we can't even bring on a water bottle, looking as if we are walking on the plane with a prominent, not readily identifiable mechanism with wires attached is likely to cause some concern. I think it would have at least lead to some questioning even before 9-11. She must have known the impact the shirt would have. Must have.

Last week we got the oh-no-he-di'n't one about airline service. Now we're getting a makes-ya-think Comment For the Day: teachers aren't paid enough for their important role in society. Gosh, Berkeley, I'd never, never considered of that. Or rather, as a teacher, no one has ever told me how important my job was. Never.

This is the wheeziest sort of sentimentality. And I say sentimentality because while everyone likes to take the two seconds to assure us of our great importance, no one makes the slightest damn effort to help us improve our lot. Do administrators seek higher raises for their staff? Do parents storm PTA meetings asking for an increase in salary for the custodians of their kids? Do state officials consider alloting the public school systems larger budgets to compensate their oh-so-valued employees? Why should they? They've accomplished something already, haven't they? They've complimented us!

I don't want to read a self-righteous strip and then have a lot of people cooing over the shame. I want better pay.

Two of the most important events in our nation's history. And likely neither would have succeeded without it. I think that's worth remembering.