Equality under the law
The Supreme Court, as the main Judicial foundation of our three-pronged government, is essential in maintaining the basis of our democratic ideals under the Constitution. Rarely, has this been more critical than in the present time.
August 10, 2018 was the 25th anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg taking the oath of office for the United States Supreme Court. The night before, I attended The Italian Girl from Algiers, an opera by Rossini, at the Santa Fe Opera. As it happens, RBG is an opera aficionado, as I am. She, too, attended that performance. What is remarkable about all this is that as she entered to take her seat, as soon as she was recognized, there was a standing ovation, cheers, tears, and a resounding show of respect and love for her by everyone there that lasted several minutes. It was heart-warming to see this demonstration of admiration for her.
RBG has been a steadfast fighter for equality under the law, particularly for women, but for all those that have not been given that inherent right in the past. She has many “firsts” for her gender, and exhibited brilliance in her education. As she said of her husband, to whom she was married for 56 years until his death in 2010, “he was the first boy I ever knew who cared that I had a brain.”
As much as she is a fighter for equal rights, which some seem to think is a radical liberal position, her view of the Constitution is legal-based and moderate. As she said in an interview: “There was a great constitutional law scholar named Paul Freund who said ‘The Court should never be influenced by the weather of the day, but inevitably, it will be influenced by the climate of the era.’ That is, this is a constitution, not a law meant to last a certain period of time; it was meant to govern through the ages. And of course, to govern through the ages it has to be kept in tune with the people that are governed. It can do that because it has broad themes that were meant to grow with an evolving society.”
Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. photo courtesy pixaby
The Santa Fe Opera stage (no photos are allowed during performances). The background is real, not part of the stage set!
Brava again, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. PLEASE DON’T RETIRE! This country needs you, as we have for so many years. Thank you for your service for all of us.
Links:
history.com/topics/womens-history/ruth-bader-ginsburg
mentalfloss.com/article/76804/15-things-you-should-know-about-ruth-bader-ginsburg
notoriousrbg.tumblr.com/
youtube.com/watch?v=biIRlcQqmOc
“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”
“A gender line… helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg