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I think reading about Ruth and Antonin Scalia's friendship was the most wholesome political reading I've ever done. Hearing people divided in opinion, but not

I think reading about Ruth and Antonin Scalia's friendship was the most wholesome political reading I've ever done. Hearing people divided in opinion, but not bitterly so, working together to figure out the best framework to construct American society from was inspirational. I hope the two halves of the political world can become friends in the way they were. Rest in peace Ruth. I hope if there's an after you and Antonin are living it up.

juniper_strong 6y ago
Seems like that sort of thing is becoming rarer every day. RIP Ruth and Antonin.
dmit 6y ago
The relationship between RBG and Scalia served as inspiration for one of the most beloved post-Sorkin episodes of The West Wing. The Supremes, 5x17.
- bryanmgreen 6y ago
  For all the crap the non-Sorkin episodes get, that episode should be in the Hall of Fame for TV. Both the script and acting are of the highest caliber.
nkurz 6y ago
Since the parent link is to an NPR piece, here's NPR's coverage of Ginsburg's memorial tribute to Scalia: https://www.npr.org/2016/02/15/466848775/scalia-ginsburg-opera-commemorates-sparring-supreme-court-friendship https://www.npr.org/2016/02/15/466848775/scalia-ginsburg-ope...
- stickyricky 6y ago
  I'll also link a video of her eulogy to Scalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_2GgE564A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_2GgE564A
roenxi 6y ago
Although the justices being friends is inevitable, it is not desirable. The justices would be more representative of the people - and probably dispense better justice - if there was an uneasy compromise between them based on basic principles of precedent and law. That isn't a very fun vision of life on the bench - and any system is imperfect - so I don't really advocate that. But the idea that these people are asserting their preferences over 300 million people and then getting all chummy in their spare time isn't a good thing. It is unavoidable though.
- systemvoltage 6y ago
  This is the most insane comment I've read in a long time, no offense to you personally. Being friends is orthogonal, and should be orthogonal to one's judgement and their duty as a judge. The entire world would be a better place if they do not follow the argument presented here.
  - roenxi 6y ago
    You're not going to like the rest of the American political and justice system. The entire process is based on purposefully creating opposing and disagreeable forces. The whole thing was clearly created on a principle of opposing friendships between powerful forces.
    - landryraccoon 6y ago
      I don't think this is true. In the past people have reached across the aisle to compromise and collaborate successfully. If your position is right, doesn't that contradict the continued existence of the United States? What's "United" about the US if it breaks down into a bunch of hostile warring tribes?
    - Fellshard 6y ago
      A true friendship is not necessarily based on mutually-beneficial backroom deals. A sound friendship would have each party seeking to uphold and maintain the integrity of one another. To do otherwise is to reveal that it is not friendship, but rather opportunism, cronyism, or convenience - none of which have the stability or moral foundation of true friendship.
tus88 6y ago
I wonder how friendly they would have been if Scalia had managed to overturn abortion.
- runawaybottle 6y ago
  Lol. Why are you downvoted here? It’s like some people want to constantly paint the world like the end of a Disney movie where it turns out every character was really good deep down inside.
- tiziniano 6y ago
  I mean they both seemed to have good sportsmanship. Is life not but a game?
  - TheAdamAndChe 6y ago
    Having been poor once and now being not-poor, this mentality of life being a game comes from a position of security. When I was poor, it wasn't a game but a struggle and a significant source of stress. If I thought of it as a game, it seemed rigged. Now that I feel secure, I can see where you're coming from when you call it a game though.
  - floodyberry- 6y ago
    A thoroughly uninformed or malicious comment
goldcd 6y ago
Was so lovely after reading the article, that the point that stuck with me, aligned with your comment right at the top. Maybe there's some sort of new "non-denominational creed" we could all sign up for. ~" We may not agree but I will always listen to you. I will always consider your opinion with respect and will endeavour to understand your reasoning. My views are not set - my goal is to listen to arguments to come to an informed position, I can honestly take forward " As I typed that, I could hear the happy-clappy sounds of some mocking-utopia ringing in my ears - but goddamnit, it doesn't sound too hard for us to each put it into action. I'm as guilty as the next person, but I'm going to try going forward.
- ctdeneen 6y ago
  But with the internet much more of what you do is visible and more people know about it. What you said could be attacked with "white silence is violence"
  - goldcd 6y ago
    I had a much longer response typed - but deleted it when it stopped even making sense to me. "white silence is violence" googles Still no idea how that could be applied to my post - but I am most definitely white, and after a bit of introspection, can't think of anything I've constructively done to address racism outside of late-night internet posts. So whilst I'd like to think I was "non-racist" - I do now feel a bit shitty that I entertain the cognitive-dissonance of being "anti-racist" and "not having ever done anything that was anti-racist" Then if I cookie-cutter myself out to everybody else - I now see how racism flourishes, whilst the majority tut-tuts. Was that your point?
    - arunbahl 6y ago
      This — suspension of judgement long enough to engage in genuine introspection, followed by a return to the conversation with humility — is something we so rarely see, and each need to engage in more. Kudos to you for leading by example.
floodyberry- 6y ago
Being friends with a bigoted piece of shit is only wholesome if you are also one
ck2 6y ago
inspirational? it was her greatest weakness, there was not any other single judge working harder against her I'm not going for the nazi reference, he wasn't that evil but Scalia was literally trying to drag the United States back to the 1950s if not even further, decision after decision he never found an expanding right he didn't want to slaughter
- tha0x4 6y ago
  Please seek help. This mentality is based in neuroticism and is unhealthy for you and those you interact with.
GoodJokes 6y ago
It is very easy to feel this way when you material life isn’t affected by oppressive people like Scalia. I hope you listen to someone with a uterus in the next few days.
lordvon 6y ago
I think that kind of friendship was possible because Ruth probably did not accuse Antonin of being a whte supremacist and Russian agent.
nathanvanfleet 6y ago
It's so weird to see what inspires centrists.
- tiziniano 6y ago
  What do you mean?
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ThinkBeat 6y ago
She also worked well with and has been complementary of Justice Roberts. I thought that was remarkable in a positive sense as well

juniper_strong 6y ago

Seems like that sort of thing is becoming rarer every day. RIP Ruth and Antonin.

dmit 6y ago

The relationship between RBG and Scalia served as inspiration for one of the most beloved post-Sorkin episodes of The West Wing. The Supremes, 5x17.

bryanmgreen 6y ago
For all the crap the non-Sorkin episodes get, that episode should be in the Hall of Fame for TV. Both the script and acting are of the highest caliber.

nkurz 6y ago

Since the parent link is to an NPR piece, here's NPR's coverage of Ginsburg's memorial tribute to Scalia: https://www.npr.org/2016/02/15/466848775/scalia-ginsburg-opera-commemorates-sparring-supreme-court-friendship https://www.npr.org/2016/02/15/466848775/scalia-ginsburg-ope...

stickyricky 6y ago
I'll also link a video of her eulogy to Scalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_2GgE564A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_2GgE564A

roenxi 6y ago

Although the justices being friends is inevitable, it is not desirable. The justices would be more representative of the people - and probably dispense better justice - if there was an uneasy compromise between them based on basic principles of precedent and law. That isn't a very fun vision of life on the bench - and any system is imperfect - so I don't really advocate that. But the idea that these people are asserting their preferences over 300 million people and then getting all chummy in their spare time isn't a good thing. It is unavoidable though.

systemvoltage 6y ago
This is the most insane comment I've read in a long time, no offense to you personally. Being friends is orthogonal, and should be orthogonal to one's judgement and their duty as a judge. The entire world would be a better place if they do not follow the argument presented here.
- roenxi 6y ago
  You're not going to like the rest of the American political and justice system. The entire process is based on purposefully creating opposing and disagreeable forces. The whole thing was clearly created on a principle of opposing friendships between powerful forces.
  - landryraccoon 6y ago
    I don't think this is true. In the past people have reached across the aisle to compromise and collaborate successfully. If your position is right, doesn't that contradict the continued existence of the United States? What's "United" about the US if it breaks down into a bunch of hostile warring tribes?
  - Fellshard 6y ago
    A true friendship is not necessarily based on mutually-beneficial backroom deals. A sound friendship would have each party seeking to uphold and maintain the integrity of one another. To do otherwise is to reveal that it is not friendship, but rather opportunism, cronyism, or convenience - none of which have the stability or moral foundation of true friendship.

tus88 6y ago

I wonder how friendly they would have been if Scalia had managed to overturn abortion.

runawaybottle 6y ago
Lol. Why are you downvoted here? It’s like some people want to constantly paint the world like the end of a Disney movie where it turns out every character was really good deep down inside.
tiziniano 6y ago
I mean they both seemed to have good sportsmanship. Is life not but a game?
- TheAdamAndChe 6y ago
  Having been poor once and now being not-poor, this mentality of life being a game comes from a position of security. When I was poor, it wasn't a game but a struggle and a significant source of stress. If I thought of it as a game, it seemed rigged. Now that I feel secure, I can see where you're coming from when you call it a game though.
- floodyberry- 6y ago
  A thoroughly uninformed or malicious comment

goldcd 6y ago

Was so lovely after reading the article, that the point that stuck with me, aligned with your comment right at the top. Maybe there's some sort of new "non-denominational creed" we could all sign up for. ~" We may not agree but I will always listen to you. I will always consider your opinion with respect and will endeavour to understand your reasoning. My views are not set - my goal is to listen to arguments to come to an informed position, I can honestly take forward " As I typed that, I could hear the happy-clappy sounds of some mocking-utopia ringing in my ears - but goddamnit, it doesn't sound too hard for us to each put it into action. I'm as guilty as the next person, but I'm going to try going forward.

ctdeneen 6y ago
But with the internet much more of what you do is visible and more people know about it. What you said could be attacked with "white silence is violence"
- goldcd 6y ago
  I had a much longer response typed - but deleted it when it stopped even making sense to me. "white silence is violence" googles Still no idea how that could be applied to my post - but I am most definitely white, and after a bit of introspection, can't think of anything I've constructively done to address racism outside of late-night internet posts. So whilst I'd like to think I was "non-racist" - I do now feel a bit shitty that I entertain the cognitive-dissonance of being "anti-racist" and "not having ever done anything that was anti-racist" Then if I cookie-cutter myself out to everybody else - I now see how racism flourishes, whilst the majority tut-tuts. Was that your point?
  - arunbahl 6y ago
    This — suspension of judgement long enough to engage in genuine introspection, followed by a return to the conversation with humility — is something we so rarely see, and each need to engage in more. Kudos to you for leading by example.

floodyberry- 6y ago

Being friends with a bigoted piece of shit is only wholesome if you are also one

ck2 6y ago

inspirational? it was her greatest weakness, there was not any other single judge working harder against her I'm not going for the nazi reference, he wasn't that evil but Scalia was literally trying to drag the United States back to the 1950s if not even further, decision after decision he never found an expanding right he didn't want to slaughter

tha0x4 6y ago
Please seek help. This mentality is based in neuroticism and is unhealthy for you and those you interact with.

GoodJokes 6y ago

It is very easy to feel this way when you material life isn’t affected by oppressive people like Scalia. I hope you listen to someone with a uterus in the next few days.

lordvon 6y ago

I think that kind of friendship was possible because Ruth probably did not accuse Antonin of being a whte supremacist and Russian agent.

nathanvanfleet 6y ago

It's so weird to see what inspires centrists.

tiziniano 6y ago
What do you mean?

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ThinkBeat 6y ago

She also worked well with and has been complementary of Justice Roberts. I thought that was remarkable in a positive sense as well