Sunday Musings - September 20, 2020
Foremost on my mind this Sunday morning is the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice of the United States, a vocal advocate for the rights of women as well as all others, a woman who had first hand experience of being treated as less then because she was a female; a basically shy person who did not hesitate to use her voice and her pen to defend her understanding of the constitution of the United States. Although her personal experience led to her becoming an expert in the discrimination of females, she was a jurist who was trusted by all whose voice many would silence.
Her death has left me not only intensely sad, but curious about how we can imbue those who feel disenfranchised and those who are privileged with both the chutzpah and humility to echo the spirit of the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs and the Sonia Sotomayors who believe the Declaration of Independence and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of these United States are the common commitment and law of these United States of America. How can we convince all citizens that it is in their best interest to consider the best interests of all the citizens and all those seeking refuge; that basic physics axiomatically establishes that every action (and thus every inaction) affects the entire universe; that there is no real freedom or safely for anyone unless it is guaranteed for all?
How do we imbue the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm Boyd, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bigger Thomas (chief characters in Richard Wright’s Native Son) into the hearts and minds of all our children? Children are not born believing that some are more or less deserving; that it is wrong to speak their truth; that it takes courage to say, “That is stupid.”. Children are born with a voice via words, music, dance or painting/drawing. The do not know or believe that one form of voice is better than another; that one color of skin is more deserving ; that their particular chromosomes which identify their gender determine their worth or their talents. They learn this. Every addict for/with whom I have worked or with whom I have talked learned hopelessness, weakness, shame, a sense of not belonging. They were not born believing that they were less than; that they did not or should not have a voice. The learned this.
Many today are worried about who will replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg as the new Supreme Court Justice. I, too, am concerned about that, but I also know that unless we begin to do more to help our children hold on to the spirit of the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs of this planet we are destined to have a nation which continues to be ruled by fear. I never had the opportunity to talk to the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs who sat on the Supreme Court, but I have talked to many who held on to that spirit; that chutzpah; who did not need to numb themselves; who knew that this life journey is only 3 seconds at best; that in those three seconds nothing matters except how well we speak what should be obvious to all of us; our skin pigment, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, age, or different ability should not limit our right to what is guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, the 14th amendments and the natural laws of physics.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg very clearly, even from this summer’s hospital bed, claimed her voice. We must all do our part to claim our voices and own our responsibility as a village to ensure that our children know their voice is their right and their responsibility.
Rest well Ruth Bader Ginsberg on this Rosh Hashanah, May your spirit guide us in this new year.
Written September 20, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Foremost on my mind this Sunday morning is the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice of the United States, a vocal advocate for the rights of women as well as all others, a woman who had first hand experience of being treated as less then because she was a female; a basically shy person who did not hesitate to use her voice and her pen to defend her understanding of the constitution of the United States. Although her personal experience led to her becoming an expert in the discrimination of females, she was a jurist who was trusted by all whose voice many would silence.
Her death has left me not only intensely sad, but curious about how we can imbue those who feel disenfranchised and those who are privileged with both the chutzpah and humility to echo the spirit of the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs and the Sonia Sotomayors who believe the Declaration of Independence and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of these United States are the common commitment and law of these United States of America. How can we convince all citizens that it is in their best interest to consider the best interests of all the citizens and all those seeking refuge; that basic physics axiomatically establishes that every action (and thus every inaction) affects the entire universe; that there is no real freedom or safely for anyone unless it is guaranteed for all?
How do we imbue the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm Boyd, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bigger Thomas (chief characters in Richard Wright’s Native Son) into the hearts and minds of all our children? Children are not born believing that some are more or less deserving; that it is wrong to speak their truth; that it takes courage to say, “That is stupid.”. Children are born with a voice via words, music, dance or painting/drawing. The do not know or believe that one form of voice is better than another; that one color of skin is more deserving ; that their particular chromosomes which identify their gender determine their worth or their talents. They learn this. Every addict for/with whom I have worked or with whom I have talked learned hopelessness, weakness, shame, a sense of not belonging. They were not born believing that they were less than; that they did not or should not have a voice. The learned this.
Many today are worried about who will replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg as the new Supreme Court Justice. I, too, am concerned about that, but I also know that unless we begin to do more to help our children hold on to the spirit of the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs of this planet we are destined to have a nation which continues to be ruled by fear. I never had the opportunity to talk to the Ruth Bader Ginsbergs who sat on the Supreme Court, but I have talked to many who held on to that spirit; that chutzpah; who did not need to numb themselves; who knew that this life journey is only 3 seconds at best; that in those three seconds nothing matters except how well we speak what should be obvious to all of us; our skin pigment, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, age, or different ability should not limit our right to what is guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, the 14th amendments and the natural laws of physics.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg very clearly, even from this summer’s hospital bed, claimed her voice. We must all do our part to claim our voices and own our responsibility as a village to ensure that our children know their voice is their right and their responsibility.
Rest well Ruth Bader Ginsberg on this Rosh Hashanah, May your spirit guide us in this new year.
Written September 20, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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