Friday Videos Love New Zealand, and Rhode Island

Last night, news broke on Twitter that Rhode Island's house of representatives had approved a bill in favor of gay marriage, and sent that bill to the governor for signature. Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law hours later. Yay Rhode Island! High fives! 

Jocelyn emailed me the following two videos, which are from mid-April, so you may have already seen them. But they are beautiful. 

First, New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson (representing Pakuranga, a suburb of Auckland) has a very funny and eloquent defense of gay marriage:

Link! 

Then the bill was passed, and my heart squeezed six or seven times watching this video. The public gallery above the parliamentary chamber began to sing a Maori folk song, Pokarekare Ana.

 

Link!

Jocelyn writes, “The lyrics roughly translate as:

The waves are breaking, against the shores of Waiapu,
My heart is aching, for your return my love.
Oh my beloved, come back to me, my heart is breaking of love for you.
I have written you a letter, and enclosed with it my ring,
If your people should see it, then the trouble will begin.
Oh girl, come back to me, my heart is breaking of love for you.
My poor pen is broken, my paper is spent,
But my love for you endures, and remains forever more.
Oh my beloved, come back to me, my heart is breaking of love for you.
The sun's hot sheen, won't scorch my love,
Being kept evergreen, by the falling of my tears.
Oh girl, come back to me, I could die of love for you.”

I hope your weekend is filled with all the people and things you love, and some beautiful music, too.