There are many reasons why I love Justice Ginsburg. None of them are legitimate.
I'll begin with her initials: RBG. Doesn't that have such a ring to it? It's only one letter away from RPG, which is only appropriate considering Ginsburg really is quite a "bombshell."
Seriously...her glasses make Woody Allen's look small. The gap between her teeth says "MAVERICK" in a way that Sarah Palin could only dream of. As someone who has spent her life working for justice, it's no wonder she's such a model citizen.
I also must admit that her religion does affect my opinion a bit. If you have to ask about Ginsburg's persuasion, you are a moron.
There is nothing UN-Jewish about Ginsburg. I think that every Jewish person on Earth has a relative named Ruth. And that -burg...could it be more obvious? She's not even Jewish; she's a Jew. And I say that in a completely non-deragatory way.
I'm not one who takes pride in knowing that particularly awesome people are Jews. Their legacies are personal, as is mine. Besides, if I'm going to take on the accomplishments of people like Ginsburg, then I also have to take on the felonies of people like Jack Abramoff (not to mention every theif, mafioso and drug deal in Israel).
Ginsburg, however, is a little different. I don't know if it's because of her religion, but I feel like I understand Ginsburg's character in a deeper way. There are three elderly Jewish women significant in my life - Aunt Charlotte and Grandmas Mimi and Lila (aka "Bubbe" or "Bubs") - and based on my experience with them, I feel like Ginsburg would do quite well in my family.
It requires very little imagination to see Mariam P Davis and Ruth B Ginsburg discussing the failed policies of the Bush administration over Sunday brunch at Montammy Country Club. By discussing, I actually mean that Mariam would be lecturing and Ruth would nod, smile and occassionally say "Very nice."
Which brings me to Grandma #2.
I always saw Ginsburg as the soft-spoken judge; while Stevens and Scalia are duking it out, Ginsburg smiles from the sidelines. This makes her very similar to my Grandma Lila. I can just see it now - a dinner with Lila and Ruthie at Boca Lago:
Ruth: (smiles silently)
Lila: (also smiles silently)
Ten minutes later
Lila: Do you have grandchildren?
Ruth: Yes.
Lila: Oh, very nice.
Ruth: Do you have grandchildren?
Lila: Yes.
Ruth: Oh, very nice.
And so on.
The third Jewish woman in my life is my great-aunt Charlotte. I think Ruth and Charlotte would get along well becuase they contrast each other so nicely. While Ginsburg's emotions are monotone, my Aunt Charlotte, like her brother, cries at almost anything. It's usually for happy things too. There's often no good reason for the tears, but that never stops Aunt Charlotte. I guarantee that if Aunt Charlotte is reading this now, she is crying. I also have this feeling that Ginsburg would appreciate the Junior's cheesecakes Aunt Charlotte buys.
As for Ginsburg's decisions during her tenure on the Supreme Court - I couldn't tell you a single one, (except for Bush v Gore but that doesn't count). I know that Ginsburg is liberal and was nominated by President Clinton, but I don't know much more than that.
So I did a little research. Is Ginsburg really the woman I've always thought her to be?
The answer: yes. And more.
A search through the Times' archive brings up a few articles over the last decade that show Ginsburg to be friendly, courteous, determined, and, of course, brilliant. She does not make enemies and very rarely attracts fanfare to her decisions - except recently, when she gave a fiery oral dissent to a pro-life decision of the court which she deemed political. Ginsburg is a pro-choice femenist and the second-most liberal member of the Court (according to a recent statistical analysis of judicial decisions). In spite of that, she still considers herself closest to Justice Scalia.
Oh, and she was also born in Brooklyn. How awesome is that?
Auntie Ruth
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2 comments:
well isn't she attractive?
ali, stop. she's my mom.
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