Sean Penn

I usually think Sean Penn is an annoying sanctimonious blathering asshole, but I was impressed by his acceptance speech last night for the best-actor Oscar:

"I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect, and anticipate their great shame, and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone."

Many times, supporters of gay rights will tiptoe around the issue, because they don't want to "offend" the religious bigots. It's nice to hear someone say candidly in such a public situation that the gay-marriage issue is an equal rights issue, and not just a disagreement over the "definition" of marriage.

Penn makes a good point about the shame in our children's eyes. I think it's quite obvious that we will eventually allow gay marriage. No matter what your position, you would probably agree that we are moving in that direction. So would you rather be thought of by your descendants as the last generation of discriminators or the first generation of the enlightened?