May 8 was a sad day for North Carolina.  Voters were asked whether the state constitution should be amended so that marriage (and the rights accorded to such unions) should exclude two men who wish to marry and two women who wish to marry.  Three of five North Carolina voters supported this amendment.  I am not surprised, but I thought the margin might be closer.  North Carolina is the 30th state to adopt such a ban.

The friend of one of my Facebook friends commented that North Carolina was racist and homophobic.   And my friend commented that he would no longer travel to North Carolina as a result of this vote.  This made me sad, because it means he will not be visiting me.

Should I, as a matter of principle, move out of the state where I reside because I am one of the 40% who believes that marriage should be between any couple willing to undertake it?  If so, then where would I move?  Canada maybe?  Canada legalized same-sex marriages in July 2005.  Or Iceland?  They legalized it in June 2010.

It is not a serious question, because I am not moving.  But it is sad, the division.  It is sad, the look you give the shopper at the supermarket checkout line as you wonder whether he is one of the 60% you have nothing in common with except borders.