A night of contradictions

While I am filled with an overwhelming sense of optimism after last night's presidential election, I find that optimism is rather bittersweet. It was, it seems, a night of contradictions. As Paperweight pointed out, the abortion ban was overturned in South Dakota; in Colorado, voters chose not to define life at the moment of fertilization; and in Michigan, voters decided for the medicinal use of marijuana and increased stem cell research. All of these are good things, in my mind. But in California, it is looking increasingly like Prop. 8 will pass. As Solon has already said, this should be a reminder, that despite the progress that was made last night, we still have a long, long way to go towards equality in the United States.