Yesterday, when I awaken to the CNN banner scrolling with the news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I felt the world continued its determined state of “going to hell in a handbasket.” (That phrase by the way according to Wikipedia is associated with the practice during the American gold rush days of lowering miners by hand in baskets down the mining shafts to set explosives which had the potential for deadly consequences.) But what a difference a day can make! No, the crisis in Europe has not abated; in fact, as I understand what the analysts and cable “experts” are reporting, the aggression is spreading. To counter that awful state of affairs is the announcement today that President Biden has nominated the first African American woman to the United States Supreme Court. In so doing he kept a campaign promise. Now in the words of the old gospel hymn, that’s some “Good News!” Those of us across all walks of life and ethnic or racial identifications who are pandemic weary and social justice worn need a lift out of the quagmire of the times. This is our opportunity. Only a person whose head stays buried in the sand would refute the argument that the highest court in the land lacks judicial balance. Not that this one appointment will achieve that, but at least it brings us a little closer. I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way to keep politics off the Supreme Court is to appoint justices without political affiliations. To be the unbiased body it ought to be, potential nominees’ records should be crystal clear that they make and have made judgments without regard to partisan associations. Perhaps they need to be Independents. I don’t know. What I do know is that something has to change if this country is ever to come to terms with its past and live out the potential of its present. The highest court in the land is a good place to being that transformation. Think about. That’s all I’ve got today.
Peace. Joy. Love.