Corona Virus Quarantine Day #206: A celebration of awesome: October 13, 2020:

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is currently undergoing her confirmation hearing to become the next Supreme Court Justice in the United States.  She would fill the vacancy left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg who recently passed away. Ginsburg was a revolutionary in her own right, being only the 2^nd woman in history to sit on the court.  Ginsburg served on the bench for 27 years. 

While many don’t agree with some of the things Ginsburg stood for, including myself, it’s hard to not catalog some of the things she did accomplish in her long career in a field where there simply weren’t as many women as men.  For example, while at Columbia University as a law professor she filed for and won an Equal Pay complaint when she learned male professors were paid more than female professors.  She also became the first female staff member to be tenured at Columbia University as a result.  She co founded the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project to prosecute sex-discrimination cases.  5 of the 6 she argued before the Supreme Court, she won.  Those cases led to the change of 100’s of laws.  Also, she worked to make it so the workplace could not discriminate against pregnant women. The list of her accomplishments is long and whether or not you are a fan of her opinion or policy, it’s hard to deny this woman was a trailblazer. 

As a woman who believes in gender equality and was raised to believe that I could do anything (professionally) that a man can do, I have to pay my respects.

Now, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who by all accounts seems like a very decent human being is being throw into the middle of a political abyss where each side is trying to make their own political statements rather than determine if this woman is actually qualified to be our next Supreme Court Justice.  It is no longer about her qualifications as a litigator or lover of our Constitution, it’s about the fact that she’s Catholic, a woman, a mother of 7 and considered conservative and they don’t like the timing of her nomination.

Democrats are worried about the Affordable Care Act being brought down by ACB and the overturning of Roe V. Wade.  The Affordable Care Act is going in front of the Supreme Court November 11^th, so the Democrats are worried that whoever Trump puts in there will vote it down.

As I watch bits and pieces of her confirmation hearing I’m grossed out by the political discourse that is happening.  I’m sad that her kids are sitting in the court room to witness it all.  I watched her assure these people repeatedly that she is not a political puppet but rather a lover of the Constitution.  She said she’s made no promises to anyone about any decisions she may or may not make.

While I know I have no control of these things I’m going to focus on what I do have control of…and that is celebrating the awesome that is this woman.   

Amy Coney Barrett is a an absolute stud. She is recalling court cases she ruled on 20 years ago from memory.  Every word she has uttered or wrote in the last 20 years is being raked over and she corrects the people every time they misquote her (it’s amazing).  I’m impressed by her poise.  I’m impressed by her intelligence and I am rooting for her! 

So rather than focus on what a political nightmare this is…I, instead, want to applaud her for being courageous enough to stomach this whole thing. I want to congratulate her on her nomination and tell her that regardless of whether or not she is confirmed, she has fans in Olathe, Kansas.

#dorseyshenanigans

#celebr8awesome