Roses to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen for sending a resolution to state and federal lawmakers in support of civil marriage for gay men and lesbians.

The resolution, introduced last month by Alderwoman Jacquie Gist, passed with no opposition at the board's meeting Dec. 2.

Gist said she drew up the resolution after voters in California and other states approved measures on Election Day restricting marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Although those votes were discouraging to those who support full civil rights for same-sex couples, in the long run, as Hendrik Hertzberg eloquently put it in a recent New Yorker piece, the recent election setback "has about it the feel of a last stand."

History is full of setbacks and backsliding, but the broad sweep of time is moving away from official discrimination and toward greater acceptance and, eventually, full legal rights for gay Americans.

What does all of this have to do with Carrboro? A lot of people criticize local governments for taking stands on issues that stand outside their official purview. Alderwoman Lydia Lavelle had the right answer.

"I've had people ask me what good does it do for the town of Carrboro to come up with a resolution when all we can really do is squawk," she said. "That's what we do -- squawk."

That's how great changes often begin -- with somebody speaking up about an issue most people think they ought to keep quiet about. Carrboro has a long history of doing that.

It's never wrong to speak out for what is right.

Roses to the UNC women's soccer team, for once again doing what it has done so well over the years: win the national championship.

The Tar Heels gutted out an improbable 2-1 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday to capture the title. The crown was Carolina's second in the past three years, and its 19th NCAA title overall.

This one was among the most impressive of the lot, given that the Irish scored to take a 1-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest. Notre Dame held onto that lead through the first half and into the second, before UNC's Casey Nogueira connected in the 52nd minute to knot the score.

Then, with just two minutes left in the game, Nogueira did it again. Her winning shot found the right side of the net.

The victory was especially sweet because it came against Notre Dame -- which knocked Carolina out the tournament last year and and handed UNC its only loss of this season, a 1-0 game in September.

That defeat hurt, but somehow it doesn't sting so much anymore.

Roses to state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird and retired UNC law professor and civil rights advocate Daniel Pollitt, who will soon be joining forces as husband and wife -- or wife and husband, as the case may be.

They tried to keep their engagement low-key, Kinnaird said, but given their prominence and the gabby nature of the population around here, that's not likely.

Kinnaird and Pollitt have been important, influential figures on the local scene for many, many years; this place would not be what it is without them.

Congratulations, Ellie and Dan. One thing is for sure: the dinner table discussions will be lively.