I was pleasantly surprised that South Dakota rejected the abortion ban. The Democrats have the House and might have the Senate. Rumsfeld is resigning. This should be a good day. But I just don't understand: I expected Colorado to authorize civil unions just as much as I expected it to define marriage (as a union between one man and one woman). Of course the marriage-definers largely overlap with the no-union people. Of course they voted for the definition and against partnership. Of course they did. Of course. I'm dismayed at the referendum's failure, but also at my failure to anticipate this and my ongoing utter incomprehenseion of why people oppose strengthening households and family units and enabling personal responsibility and lessening governmental interference in individuals' lives. I just have this blank space where "understanding the other side" usually functions. I know and understand and even sympathize with many points of view contrary to my own on any number of issues. But this one, I don't even have a starting point for. It bewilders me.