Politics: The
internet is abuzz with news of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s
unexpected death—in Texas of all states. Some say he was at a luxury resort;
others that he was at his own home. Whichever, few people are mourning, and I
think that’s sad. No, I didn’t like him, didn’t like his politics, his
arrogance, his bias. But I truly believe we should rejoice in no man’s death.
My condolences to his family, especially in light of the vitriol being spewed
out, some even hoping it was a prolonged, agonizing death. What is wrong with
people? Where have we lost our humanity?
I doubt few of us can absorb the
impact this will have on American citizens. Republicans are clamoring that no
new justice should be appointed until after the presidential election, which
goes contrary to the Constitution and to precedent. Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell
have already begun shrill objections to the appointment before the deceased is
even in the ground and before the President has even thought about a
replacement. Democrats are suggesting everything from Obama resigning so Biden
can appoint him to waiting for the election so that either Bernie or Hillary
can appoint him. I’ve seen Elizabeth Warren’s name mentioned, but I think she
likes the Senate and is valuable there. There is an irony here—many of us think
President Obama’s next job should be on SCOTUS---bad timing. But my mom had two
sayings: “The Lord works in mysterious ways,” and “The mills of the Gods grind
extremely slowly but they grind extremely finely.”
And probably few of us realize how
important SCOTUS decisions are to our daily lives. One of the most serious
responsibilities of a president is to appoint justices. We’ve been left with a
conservative court, and may now that will change.
The court is almost evenly split now,
maybe even leaning left since I’ve read that Justice Clarence Thomas always
took his cues from Scalia and will be adrift without him. I don’t know what
major cases are pending, but it’s bound to be an interesting and divisive time.
I’ll leave that topic with this
frightening question: Who would Donald Trump appoint?
Be of good faith!
Meanwhile I am disheartened to see the
Clinton and Sanders camps sniping at each other. I will support either as a
candidate because I think it’s important—essential—to put another Democrat in
the White House and hopefully clean house in the Congress. When I suggested we
as liberals or progressives or whatever are shooting ourselves in the foot by
making accusations against one or the other candidates that might resonate in
the campaign after the conventions, I got vituperative, mean emails from
someone who hates Hillary. Again, where did all our hatred come from?
I want to live in a country known for
its humanity and compassion, not one where the poor are ignored, we have a
clown car, and Bruce Jenner is the Woman of the Year. Yes, I too will be of
good faith.
