The phrases that come to mind with the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Gettysburg Address)
Women are not usually thought to have given their lives for their country. That's what men do, marching off to battlefields. Or what John Lewis did, marching into flailing white supremacist batons.
But RBG did it her way, giving her life in the hope of preserving the rule of law and winning equality for women.
Her long fight is our fight now. Are we ready?
1 comment:
RBG was not fighting alone, by herself. She had her turf. We had/have ours. If not the courts, in the workplace, the street, "home", school or relationships, we all struggled to create ourselves, to declare and live our own lives as freely choosen.
RBG knew that our work was not done, as the rest of us do. Her death is a painful reminder.
Post a Comment