There are, of course, many wonderful aspects to staying with friends when you're on vacation. My favorite is discovering the pleasures of other people's fridges and coffee tables. Here in San Francisco the lovely folks that are putting me up and putting up with me (I mean seriously, I'm hogging their computer as we speak) have a fridge filled with delicious organic juices and beers, and a load of magazine subscriptions that are nothing like mine (Us Weekly and the Economist). San Fran is of course, home to a vibrant gay community, and one of the magazines that caught my eye is The Advocate, which is devoted to Lesbian and Gay Issues. The current issue has a terrific article anticipating the release of The Simpsons movie, and is a must-read for any Simpsons fan (guilty), gay or straight. What I thought was most interesting about the essay, is that it reminded me how cutting edge the show has been in terms of promoting not just tolerance, but curiosity, and again, not just about LGBT issues. Springfield, as much as it's a satire of America, is an idealized version as well. Krusty, Apu, Ned Flanders, Homer, Lisa... they represent the melting pot, and a place where everything is possible if you just follow the golden rule, and try to be nice to people, even the ones you might not really understand. On the Simpsons, people can change. Marge says it best, though she's talking about Homer: "Most women will tell you that you're a fool to think you can change a man. But those women are quitters!" Like America ... she believes in Homer, even when he's xenophobic, homophobic, and/or, well...kinda gross. If you're interested in change ... Marge has a point.

11:48 - July 11, 2007

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