because hearing that obama's grandmother died today pushed me over the edge.

here's a really nice column on her from a few weeks ago by the atlantic's ta-nehisi coates:

We often give a pass to racists by noting that they were "of their times." Fair enough, and I know Hawaii was a different beast, but still, today, let us speak of people who were ahead of their times, who were outside of their times. Let us remember that Barack Obama learned the great lessons of life from courageous white people. Let us speak of those who do what normal, right people should always do when faced with a child--commit an act love. Here's to doing the right thing.

full column here.