RBG--Defender of Justice, Courageous Leader, Kind Dissenter

 Although I just started a series on prisoner stories, I'm taking a short break this week to honor the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The news of her recent passing occasioned a far too brief moment of unique, and desperately needed, unity for America. Although she was known as a member of the liberal bloc of Justices, Ginsburg was an icon of justice for all Americans--even for those who sometimes disagreed with her decisions. 

Long before her appointment to the US Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton, Ginsburg was a tenacious defender of women's rights. The most important people in my life have been and still are women (including my mom, sister, and daughters), and I'm forever grateful that Ginsburg fought so hard to ensure their equality in dignity and rights. 

Ginsburg's brilliant jurist mind is seen in her 483 Supreme Court majority opinions, concurrences, and dissents. She fought hard for her judicial decisions, but she always did so respectfully and with a determination that her opponent's dignity be honored. She once stated, "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you" (2005 Harvard luncheon). She did just that. She lived out her own advice, embracing the late Justice Antonin Scalia as a very close friend, despite their often polar opposite ideological positions. We could use more examples like that. 

It's easy to find people with whom you disagree. It's also easy to avoid them, disparage them, or insult them, especially from afar. But Ginsburg demonstrated that people can disagree, sometimes on fundamental issues, and still treat each other with kindness and dignity. In her book, My Own Words, Ginsburg wisely advises, "When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one's ability to persuade." Our country's leaders, its protesters, its counter-protesters, and the partisan and divisive media could all make a significant difference in lowering the temperature of conflict in our nation by heeding these wise words.

Our nation is a little poorer today because of Ginsburg's death. Nevertheless, regardless of which ideology we espouse, let's embrace Ginsburg's example and respect each other, speak kindly even when we disagree, and fight for those who have no power to fight for themselves. 

A good friend of mine, who I will dearly miss, also passed away this past week. He was a kind and encouraging person who remained my friend through the worst choices of my life. He was a shining example of self-giving love. Rest in peace, my friend...

On a separate, but also important note, this past week the Michigan Senate passed Clean Act legislation. This package of bills expands expungement of criminal records for hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens, clearing the way for many with criminal histories to put that past behind them and push towards a brighter future. The legislation has limits, of course, but it is a much-needed move to open up opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people who have been disenfranchised, sometimes for years, by a poor choice or two from their younger years. After Governor Whitmer signs the legislation (she is expected to), the state has two years to implement the changes.