Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Educator of Equality Dies at 87

Sexy comes in many ways. Kindness and decency are the best. Being [street] smart is runner up. All the rest is [much] less.

Justice Ginsburg even has her own colouring book.

 

Hailed as a feminist icon, Justice Ginsburg, who passed away on September 18, advanced women's rights by arguing equal rights cases for men. People call her a feminist icon, but the soft-spoken, reserved Justice probably wouldn't agree.

"An adoring female visitor to chambers once remarked to Justice Ginsburg that her ‘feminist’ girlfriends just loved the justice for what she had done for American women. The justice replied to the effect that she hoped the visitor’s male friends loved her as well."

Having 100 million people follow you on Instagram proves you're an "important influencer". Whatever. Despite that, even singers commonly referred to by their first name only, try to gain popularity by associating themselves with the notorious RBG - read careful. It's only a matter of time before one such "influencers" unveils she always had that tattoo of a judge born in 1933, like many young women today actually do.

After growing up in Brooklyn, Ruth Bader attended university, where she met her future husband at the age of 17. She loved him [too] because he loved her for her brain [too]. Looking back, nobody knows where the past turns myth but their lifelong deep, loving bond was real. Even the best myths are rooted reality. Of course when you meet the love of your life at 17 and are allowed to grow old together, you're blessed. Also: happily ever after is hard work, just like being successful.

The couple treated family and career as a shared enterprise. After his wife was named to the Court of Appeals in 1980, Mr. Ginsburg gave up his law firm so the couple could move from New York to Washington. A decade an a half later, in 1993, it was self-evident that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a superior choice for Supreme Court Justice. It took the lobbying efforts of a man for President Clinton to consider her. That person was her husband, who fought hard to get her appointed.

 

After graduation RBG found it impossible to get a job. One of her university professors strong-armed a federal judge into hiring her. Two years later she returned to Columbia university, comparing American and Swedish laws. She learned Swedish and lived in the country where childcare was readily available and women could have both, a career and children. Neither Ikea nor Volvo introduced Sweden to the USA, it was Mrs. Ginsburg.

In 1972, the A.C.L.U. created a Women’s Rights Project and hired Ms. Ginsburg as its first director. She promptly began taking on men as clients, a strategy that baffled everyone. In one famous case she defended a man who claimed the same benefits, available to women, staying at home to care for their children. Arguing that her male clients should be treated equally in front of the law was a stroke of genius. At the time the US Supreme Court had never had a woman on it's benches, Sandra Day O'Conner was the first in 1981. Clearly the all-male Supreme Court needed to be educated at a time when men didn't understand that "I give her all that she needs" at best related to the material world. Only when you see your fellow males ending up in circumstances beyond their control but still being treated unequal by the law, Supreme Court Judges are ready to accept the fact that women should be treated equally too. From the Times' obituary:

"Her goal — to persuade the Supreme Court that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection applied not only to racial discrimination but to sex discrimination as well — was a daunting one."

Vigil at the US Supreme Court after people hear the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.

On the shelf behind me, there's an old reader about international comparative law. One thing that stuck is how legal systems all over the world look to one another for answers, common law or otherwise. Make no mistake, the influence or Justice Ginsburg goes much deeper than most people realize. Despite the Vietnam War, in the 1970s the United States were still a role model to the world.

Ruthless workout at the age of 86.

The pervasiveness of her influence is felt, even in the nomination of her successor. There's no doubt President 'grab 'm by the pussy' Trump will appoint a women as her replacement. It takes an strong woman to educate a guy like Potus45. [3]

Appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980, her voting record was more moderate than liberal, something that, RBG explained 20 years later, arose from her belief that courts should not be the final arbiter of important social questions, but society. Justice Ginsburg referred to Roe vs. Wade (Ruling that legalized abortion) as a prime example that stopped reform dead in its tracks. As a result abortion remains an issue that divides the United States to this day. [1]

Ruthless workout at the age of 86

One can only wonder what causes Ruth Ginsburg would have taken up in if she was born in the world she didn't have to fight for equality between men and women. [Retired] Supreme Court Justices have argued in private, legislators need to take a good, hard look at appointments for life. To change laws and make it happen is a challenge worthy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Who's gonna take up her mantle? F/m of course. [2]

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[1] According to her obituary in The New York Times, by 1973 the steady legislative march towards toward revision or repeal of the old criminal abortion laws had stalled. Justice Ginsburg later agreed but the main point remains that the highest court in the country should not serve as final arbiter of social questions.

[2] For once I couldn't resist.

[3] This might be a game changer for the upcoming US Presidential election on November 3. President Trumps' dismal handling of the Covid-19 crisis has put him at a disadvantage. US Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life. RBG served for 27 years, replacing a judge appointed by President Kennedy. The nine judges often vote according to party lines. For years that has meant a 5 - 4 conservative majority. If President Trump succeeds in appointing a third candidate to the Supreme Court, there will be two conservative Justices for each liberal one. That 6 - 3 majority will reshape the United States into a much more conservative country over the three decades. [4]

[4] Appointing a new Supreme Court Judge before the elections, only goes to show President Trump lacks any strategic view. Wait till after, 'cause if you loose...

[5] I have no regrets, writing about Aung San Suu Kyi ["If you are feeling helpless, help someone"] even if she has let her people, herself and all those who believed in her down in such a way it defies believe.

One of the few things I truly regret in life, is not writing about Ruth Bader Ginsberg sooner. Always wanted too, just not today. To understand just how much I regret my own shirking, it's on the same level as not telling her "I love you" more often.

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