Grace. Dignity. Honor. Grit. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was our fierce and formidable champion.
She worked tirelessly to make the world a better, more just place for those who are marginalized and to provide all of us with the tools to strengthen our communities with our diversity. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders for far longer than she should’ve had to; she knew what was at stake with her passing. It should never have come to that – the fate of American democracy resting on her indefatigable frame. One small woman, a titan among us.
We may have lost our warrior in the arena, but let us not forget that as she fought, she taught. We’ll be okay because she gave us the skills, strength and perseverance to carry on. In our work, her legacy will be our light in the dark.
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Danz: Universal truths Whom one loves is not political. Equality and justice are not political. Masks are not political. Speaking out against a racist, misogynist, incompetent narcissist is not political. We must stop turning these into political statements.
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Danz: Those attitudes lost us an election in 2016 Some say they’ll reluctantly vote for Biden-Harris, while others say they simply won’t vote. Those attitudes lost us an election in 2016. Those on the right will vote. Many see themselves in Trump and celebrate his racism, misogyny and idiocy.
Many of us are angry because our mourning is plagued with fear. We see through Trump’s promise to nominate a woman for the ploy it is to take one objection off the table as he moves to appoint a Supreme Court Justice. A conservative female justice against women’s rights, reproductive rights, and equality is just as bad as a conservative male justice against the same things. In fact, it’s worse and it’s an insult to the legacy of RBG. The process to replace Ginsburg surely won’t concern itself with consistency or precedent. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s promise to hold a vote for Trump’s nominee is balanced on the legs of power, self-interest and calculated lies that Republicans are keen to pit against conventional wisdom.
Now, more than ever, we must be steadfast. We’re sad, scared and scorned, and our fight just got harder, but it’s more important than ever that we continue to fight. Let us not succumb to fatal fears or throw in the white flag of surrender. John Lewis taught us how to cause good trouble and RBG taught us how to fight the good fight. They were two who fought for many, and we are many who can fight to uphold the progress of their legacies.
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The outcome of the presidential election will be decided by which side is more motivated by the passing of RBG. Many conservatives who recognize the ineptitude of Trump will hold their noses and vote for him because the Supreme Court vacancy serves as a reminder as to why they voted for him in the first place. Our admiration and appreciation for RBG must motivate us to an even greater level than power motivates conservatives. She fought for us, now we vote for her.
The passing of Justice Ginsburg shall not be overshadowed by fear for what’s to come but honored with our promise to persevere. She taught us that in the space between good and evil, love and hate, justice and injustice, equality and inequality is us. We have the power to become the storm rather than seek shelter from it. Let’s let the light that was the life of RBG become the fire within us, and allow her life to go out in one final glimmering, fiery burst as we use it as motivation to turn to the polls in record numbers.
This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.
