[Michael F]

I'm proud to read the headlines in the paper. I'm referring, of course, to the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. I've thought for many years that marriage equality was inevitable, but I didn't expect it this fast.

I must say, it's a nice feeling.

[Janice D. Soderling]

Now what the nation needs is an equally modern ruling on gun control and abortion rights and fair wages.

Congratulations all, for the Supreme Court announcement today. (But keep in mind that many are still out to overturn Roe vs Wade which is riddled with loopholes so take nothing for granted.)

[Michael Cantor]

I'm proud also - and delighted with yesterday's Obamacare and Fair Housing decisions as well - but, as Janice points out, there is so much more to be done - and we have to fight continually to keep what we just established. We're making a bit of progress recently on increasing minimum salaries, but income inequity is still massive, abortion rights are being chiseled away, and our gun control policies are utterly out of line with every other nation. And so on. We're living off our assets and past glories and wisdoms, the rest of the world has caught up, and in many areas they've left us in the dust - unless pointing to a massively armed citizenry and the world's highest incarceration rate makes you proud to be an American.

[Jayne Osborn]

I'm a Brit, but I'm happy about this common sense legislation too, Michael. It's a topic I feel strongly about. I've never understood why anyone should object to two people making a commitment to each other, regardless of their gender.

And in the news today, we have the sickening atrocities in Tunisia and Lyon, which came about because of people's intolerance of others' views. For pity's sake, why can't people just be nice to each other? "Live and let live", and all that.

Love between two people is a wonderful thing. If they wish to publicly declare that love by getting married, that's a good thing, right?

On today's Desert Island Discs, one of my favourite Radio 4 programmes, the subject was Stephen Fry - enormously popular TV personality and author extraordinaire - who recently married his gay partner. He's bi-polar and has had his demons in the past (attempted suicide etc). That he's now very happy is all that matters.

Yes, in this world full of wickedness and evil let's celebrate love, marriage and happiness!

[Michael F]

Yes, Jayne and Janice and Michael. It feels right to celebrate love -- we’re poets, after all...

On the subject of work still to be done, the legacy of slavery is particularly noxious and intractable in the US. I must say I’m awestruck by the dignity and grace with which members of ‘Mother Emanuel’ church in Charleston have faced a senseless atrocity. Proud isn’t a strong enough word.

[John Whitworth]

We are not celebrating love, Michael, but marriage. Not the same thing at all.

America was well ahead of us in the UK in celebrating gay love, as Auden, among others, found. Did you know that he was a major in the American army? That put some noses right out of joint. Ho-ho. He wore slippers too.

[Sara Sheldon]

The government recognizing equal rights for everyone regardless of sexuality is in fact something to be celebrated. You can't stop people from loving each other so why stop them from declaring their love?

[Michael Cantor]

Originally Posted by Michael Ferris

I'm proud to read the headlines in the paper. I'm referring, of course, to the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. I've thought for many years that marriage equality was inevitable, but I didn't expect it this fast.

I must say, it's a nice feeling.

That's where this thread started. Thank you, Michael.

I am hoping that the nuttier Scalia becomes, the more vituperative in his reactions to anybody who disagrees with him, the more he might push Kennedy and Roberts leftward, just to avoid being tangled in that Scalia/Thomas/Alioto pit of rancor. The recent decisions give the tiniest flicker of hope. It would be nice to see it continue.

[Michael F]

Michael, thank you for your kind words.

To bring it to a close (for me at least), and with a nod to my friend John Whitworth, I’ll invoke Auden, as seems appropriate: it feels good, it is a pleasure, to show an affirming flame.

[John Whitworth]

Thank you, Michael. We are all, as too many people say too often, on the same page.