Mixed Blessings-Mariachi bands & patriotism in San Francisco
1. Barack Obama -- yay!
2. San Franciscans, in general, do not tend toward patriotism.
3. We have roving mariachi bands in the Mission.
Tuesday evening was wonderful. There were people dancing in the streets here. 19th Street completely blocked by people dancing, singing songs with Obama's name in it. A member of a Mariachi Band, playing a tuba jumped on top of a car and starting playing the Star Spangled banner. And the people in the streets, the San Franciscans spontaneously burst into song: the Star Spangled Banner. (Please see note #2 for SF denizens general reaction to patriotism)
A street full of San Franciscans burst into a multi-cultural display of patriotism...
Then we woke up to find we had a case of collective numbness and shock. We didn't know whether to be happy or sad, so we were confused. We were so sure it would fail. So, Prop 8 boo.
There were lots of reasons for Prop 8 passing.
There was polling place deception in California.
(People left yes-prop 8 materials in polling places, and mis (dis?)information about the wording--and how to actually vote!)
The prop was oddly written, and some people did not understand it.
The yes-prop 8 commercials were outright lies. (and quite frankly misinformation)
I contacted two radio stations in protest to the airing of the commercials.
And the Mormon church with some messed up values, would like to control marriage. Scary at best.
Sigh. We have come a long way, but we have got a ways to go.
2. San Franciscans, in general, do not tend toward patriotism.
3. We have roving mariachi bands in the Mission.
Tuesday evening was wonderful. There were people dancing in the streets here. 19th Street completely blocked by people dancing, singing songs with Obama's name in it. A member of a Mariachi Band, playing a tuba jumped on top of a car and starting playing the Star Spangled banner. And the people in the streets, the San Franciscans spontaneously burst into song: the Star Spangled Banner. (Please see note #2 for SF denizens general reaction to patriotism)
A street full of San Franciscans burst into a multi-cultural display of patriotism...
Then we woke up to find we had a case of collective numbness and shock. We didn't know whether to be happy or sad, so we were confused. We were so sure it would fail. So, Prop 8 boo.
There were lots of reasons for Prop 8 passing.
There was polling place deception in California.
(People left yes-prop 8 materials in polling places, and mis (dis?)information about the wording--and how to actually vote!)
The prop was oddly written, and some people did not understand it.
The yes-prop 8 commercials were outright lies. (and quite frankly misinformation)
I contacted two radio stations in protest to the airing of the commercials.
And the Mormon church with some messed up values, would like to control marriage. Scary at best.
Sigh. We have come a long way, but we have got a ways to go.