Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Preserving Her Legacy
In the days following her passing, people are gathering all throughout the nation in unified grief and mourning over the death of political pioneer and equal rights trailblazer Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mourning both the woman, and the momentous legacy she leaves behind.
Justice Ginsburg’s historic 27 year long stretch on the Supreme Court bench defied all boundaries of class, gender and race. The impacts of the tireless efforts she sustained all throughout her life steered groundbreaking progress made towards achieving gender and racial equality.
However, in the wake of her death, mixed with vigils and celebratory gatherings, protests and outbursts of political frenzy are spawning across America in response to Donald Trump’s race to appoint a new member of the court as her replacement.
Prior to this week, Trump, along with several Senate members such as Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell, were adamant in their view that no new Supreme Court representative should be appointed in an election year. However, Trump has now confirmed his intention to fill Ginsburg’s seat. A mere 40 days before the presidential election. Another act of ludicrous hypocrisy from the Republicans? Shocker.
If Trump succeeds in assigning another nominee to the bench, the balance of power will shift towards a conservative majority. This could have devastating impacts on the outcome of the presidential election, but more widely, it could alter the ideological nature of the political scene, and how issues relating to race, gender and fundamental rights are perceived. To replace Ginsburg in defiance of proper protocol, would be a detriment to the future of our democracy and will contribute to the fearfully imminent collapse of the American value system.
Ginsburg’s death, and her impending replacement on the Supreme Court, not only calls into question the future preservation of women’s rights, but more broadly, the future of civil liberties and equal opportunity in America. With that in mind, let the strength and dignified power of Ginsburg’s legacy to energize us this November. Vote with Ruth, and for Ruth.
