Words Matter – Quoting RBG

In April 2018 the late Justice Ginsburg surprised candidates for U.S. citizenship with a speech at a naturalization ceremony at the New-York Historical Society, during which she quoted Alexis de Tocqueville: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults”
And Judge Learned Hand: “Just what is this sacred liberty that must lie in the hearts of men and women? It is not the ruthless, the unbridled will; it is not freedom to do as one likes. What then is the spirit of liberty? I cannot define it; I can only tell you my own faith. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the mind of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which weighs their interests alongside its own without bias”
She urged America’s newest citizens to let:
“the spirit of liberty, as Judge Hand explained, be your beacon. May you have the conscience and the courage to act in accord with that ideal as you play your part in helping to achieve a more perfect union.”

Words Matter – Quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Words That Matter – “Turn the Other Cheek”

We’ve all heard the phrase that when someone attacks you verbally or physically, you should turn the other cheek. It the phrase came originally from the Bible, New Testament, where Mathew, in his gospel (5:39), wrote that Jesus said, “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”
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In Mathew’s time a master would discipline a servant by striking him on the right check by hitting the back of his right hand across it. But if that servant turned his left cheek the master would be judged powerless because it was physically impossible to use the right hand to strike the servant’s left cheek! Whether or not the master wanted to strike the servant again, his authority was diminished by his servant’s gesture. That is the lesson of nonviolent resistance that this gospel passage teaches.
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In this aged of escalating tensions where violence seems to be the first option individuals take, here is what Pope Francis said: “When victims of violence are able to resist the temptation to retaliate, they become the most credible promoters of nonviolent peacemaking. In the most local and ordinary situations and in the international order, may nonviolence become the hallmark of our decisions.” We have a very modern image from the peace protests of the 60s where John Lewis’ is being beaten and dragged and he did not respond with violence. An image contrary to the news reporting these days of  ongoing police brutality, looting, and gun violence!

Let Us Never Forget – 19th Anniversary of 9/11

This year is the 19^th anniversary of 9/11. It’s been a rough year with the pandemic having an impact on Ground Zero and 9/11 ceremonies. You can read my essay on this at my World Trade Center Journal . For the past 19 years I have posted to it essays and poems about the continuing transformation of Ground Zero and events surrounding 9/11 during that year.
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I have also created a series of digital montages, Journey Through Remembrance – New Jersey 9/11 Memorials, centered on the theme of remembrance. The memorials that spontaneously arose after 9/11 intrigued me. And as time went on towns created their own permanent memorials to honor their lost residents. In each of these montages, the memorial is combined with images of either the twin towers, the new WTC1 tower, or the national memorial on Ground Zero.
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Now more than ever, we must continue to honor the memories of those whose lives were lost on that horrible day so many years ago. May we never forget. We cannot let the pandemic erase the horror of what happened on 9/11 2001!

Words That Matter In An Election Year

From the Preamble to the Constitution:
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“We the People, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility…”
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We the people are us the voters!
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Those are some words to ponder as we move closer to election day. Bipartisan words, clear words, no hate or finger pointing in the phrase. So ask yourself which presidential candidate is qualified to move us forward towards a “more perfect Union” and especially “insure domestic tranquility”!
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Some other words to meditate on:
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“What we do echoes through the generations” – Barack Obama
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We need to think deeply about where we (the people) are at this point in time and what we (the people) want this country to become. We should consider facts and not rhetoric, and then let that guide us as we (the people) cast our votes.