I was going to write a whole piece on death; in fact, I was halfway through it. I felt it was a fitting desk for this issue, what with the interview with Dave Blood and the piece on Bill Hicks. However, I got a piece of news this morning as we were about to go to "press" (i.e., upload the issue) which has made me insanely happy and proud of both my state and my county.

You see, Multnomah County (where Portland is located) is the only county left in the country still issuing marriage licenses for same sex couples (as of 03.23) and Benton County in central Oregon have stopped issuing marriage licenses altogether, saying that "we need to treat everyone in our county equally" (Benton County Commissioner Linda Modrell, as reported by cnn.com).

You see, I've never really understood patriotism on a personal level. Sure, I get the concept, I've just never felt that insane pride for anything my country has done in my conscious lifetime, or even what my state or city has done. Until now; I can honestly say I am proud to live in Oregon and in Portland as a direct result of these decisions. I love that I live in a place where, political idealogies aside, we can all (or, at least, mostly) agree that other people's personal decisions have nothing to do with us. It really makes me feel like I live somewhere that thinks more logically than stagnantly, that doesn't fear treating people equally. Sure, the Right will likely attack these decisions at great cost to the careers and lives of these counties' commissioners and legislaters, but the fact is that they have made the decision they think is best, and that decision is to combat the ridiculousness of the issue.

This, coupled with the fact that Multnomah County also repeatedly votes in measures which raise our taxes but benefit our schools, police, hospitals, etc., makes me proud to live here. Sure, we have horrible financial problems and a gloomy immediate future economically, but dammit, we're moving in the right direction which is more than I can say for other states, especially one I used to live in, where they elected an action hero into the governorship. I am really happy to be living here, which is an odd feeling. But I could easily get used to it.

-todd