Ruth Bader Ginsberg - The Notorious RBG
"People ask me sometimes, when — when do you think it will it be enough?
When will there be enough women on the court? And my answer is when there are nine."
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Ruth Bader Ginsberg died yesterday. The Supreme Court Justice served for 27 years and was a fierce and persistent advocate for women’s rights and equality.
Learn about her story and pursuit of equality and justice:
Watch On the Basis of Sex, the 2018 move that details her early career.
Listen to the More Perfect podcast episode, “Sex Appeal,”
Read The Notorious RBG, a 2015 book described as "a playful project [that] asks to be read seriously"
I wouldn’t be honest if I said I didn’t shed several tears tonight as we watched On the Basis of Sex. I only know about her what I’ve learned in recent years, with great admiration. I think I feel this kind of sadness, the kind where I had to watch a movie about her and shed some tears at the close of the film, because here was someone who consistently fought for equality, for justice, for good things to all people. I don’t know her whole case history and I’m sure there are imperfections just like we all have. But she fought for goodness, for fairness, for truth. And the world is worse off because she is gone.
I felt a very similar kind of sadness when John Lewis passed away earlier this summer. Another giant in his own right, he too fought and sacrificed tirelessly for equality and justice and good trouble. It’s clear that a generation of heroes is fading before our eyes.
I hate that this is all happening some 45 days before what feels like the most consequential of national elections. In fact, absentee voters have already started casting ballots - the election isn’t coming, it’s here.
The timing will force people to stuff their grief of losing their friend, mentor, and hero, an exemplar of judicious commitment, because of the generational impact an empty Supreme Court seat holds. The craven politicians have already drawn battles lines and declared intentions to replace her as soon as possible, before the mourning even fully sets in.
I’ve said this before in this forum, but I’ll say it again:
That government is best which governs so that all are accepted, loved, and included. That government is best when it governs with humility. That government is best when it admits its weakness and says, "we can do better." To say the best government is less government (as Thoreau argued) ignores what state or quality that government which does exist operates in. Quantity isn't the issue - the impact and the intent is.
I’m not particularly interested in American greatness as an end in and of itself. I’d rather see greatness demonstrated by caring for people, protecting those on the margins or who have little, restoring a balanced relationship with the environment, and providing accountability to power that so easily corrupts. I don’t want America to be great again (whatever that means) - I want it to live up to the promises of “of and by and for the people,” and to live up to the promise of “liberty and justice for all.” Greatness isn't a destination – it can only be experienced in our collective ability to protect and defend those who need it most.
RBG believed America could be better and it compelled her to practice law, to be one of 9 women in her Harvard Law class of 500. It moved her to take on gender discrimination cases before that phrase ever had been used in a courtroom. Her belief, that America could do better at including and providing equality and freedom to all people, brought her all the way to the highest court in the land where she sat as only the second women appointed to be a Supreme Court Justice and she did it for 27 courageous, bold, and unflinching years.
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If you're so inclined, consider writing and calling your Senators to tell them you do not want to see any nominations or confirmations to replace RBG until after the Inauguration in January 2021. Resistbot makes it easy to contact them - I've been doing it four years now. Join me and make your voice heard.
