Those who know me have probably heard my complaints about the municipal government... and, well, those views have not changed, let me assure you. However, like the rest of us, I've just watched Mayor Clarke blackmailed into publicly revealing very private information: information best described as nobody's gosh darn business, if you'll pardon my French. Now I find myself in unprecedented territory: admiring Cecil Clarke for his guts. Let's be clear here - I'm not talking about Mayor Clarke, the policy maker. I maintain that that guy needs a little bit less "megaport" and a lot more "functional road and transit system" in his diet. No, I'm talking about Cecil Clarke, the man. The guy that willingly served in every form of public service around - the guy that had to have done so knowing that at any moment some jerk could destroy him over something he had no more control over than his eye color. I have literally no concept of how hard that must have been. All I know that it must have taken an inordinate amount of bravery - an admirable character trait, regardless of your politics. I'm glad we live in an era where I feel confident in saying that this blackmailer will ultimately fail in their goal of harming Mayor Clarke's political career. I'm glad we live in an era where most people feel that the only person this news reflects poorly on is the blackmailer. And yeah, I might give Cecil Clarke grief over ports and buses and not being particularly good at his job - but I feel a bit better knowing that at least our mayor has some chutzpah, and doesn't cave in to bullies. His sexuality? None of my business. None of yours either.