04/08/2022
Lynn Murphy Mark
April 7, 2022, might have been opening day for Major League Baseball, but a more important opening day happened in the senate chamber in Washington, D.C. . Before the teams put on their uniforms and grabbed their gear to start the road to hopeful victories, a modest, brilliant jurist put on the mantle of a Supreme Court Justice. Her victory outshines anything else that happened yesterday.
As a woman, I took great pride in watching Justice Jackson and Vice President Harris claim their rightful places in history. As a white woman, I can only try and understand the truly awesome significance of two Black women in these seats of power. I will never experience the struggles that they survived to get here. But I feel a solidarity with these two remarkable women.
Justice Jackson did not deserve the treatment she got from the Republican self-righteous jackasses during her nomination hearing. And after her nomination was confirmed the Republicans filed out of the chamber without paying her any respect. I have a hard time understanding such tiny minds. Mitt Romney was the only Republican left in the chamber and he had the good sense to clap for history’s sake.
I read that her reaction to her disrespectful treatment was to not take the ugliness personally. She counted it as political rhetoric and answered the questions and statements in a calm, steady tone. Yesterday as she watched 100 senators cast their votes I hope that she took comfort from the support of 50 Democrats and 3 Republicans with spines.
I was teary eyed watching the clip of her and President Biden holding hands as the vote proceeded. He kept his campaign promise and she will keep the promise of freedom and justice for all. I can’t wait to see her wearing the robe and taking her place among the other Justices.
I have lost a little of my faith in the Supreme Court, but now I know that Ruth Bader Ginsberg is resting a little more comfortably, and that gives me hope.