Opinion Today: Tributes to Ruth Bader Ginsburg

And what her death might mean.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story September 22, 2020 By Jyoti Thottam Deputy Op-Ed Editor On Saturday, the day after the world heard about the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I walked into the town library in the small rural community in western Massachusetts where I have spent much of the past few months of quarantine. It had recently opened for in-person browsing, 15 minutes at a time. This was the first time my family and I had been inside the library — any library — in months. Arrayed on the counter at the front desk was a carefully arranged tribute to Justice Ginsburg: books for adults and children, and DVDs of a recent documentary and feature film — all of them about her extraordinary life. It had been less than 24 hours since she died, and yet the town librarian had been moved to help readers absorb and start to understand what her death might mean to them and to the country. This is exactly what my colleagues in Opinion have been doing for the last few days. Times columnists weighed in on the political implications of her death just weeks before the election and the significance of her friendship with Antonin Scalia. The editorial board assessed her dual legacy — as a feminist trailblazer and, now, as the catalyst for a showdown over the politicization of the highest court. We received an overwhelming number of tributes: from readers, from two of her clerks, who remembered her taste for blistering dissents and strong black coffee, and from a Republican White House staffer who shared her love for Bach’s Goldberg Variations. If you are just beginning to read more deeply about Justice Ginsburg, I encourage you to start with her own words, from this 2016 essay in the Times. I think she would have enjoyed being honored by a community of devoted readers. She gave credit, first, to her mother — “who, by her example, made reading a delight and counseled me constantly to ‘be independent,’ able to fend for myself, whatever fortune might have in store for me.” Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Advice for Living “It helps sometimes to be a little deaf” is wise counsel for marriage or for the Supreme Court. By Ruth Bader Ginsburg The Ginsburg-Scalia Act Was Not a Farce There is a lot for us to learn, not just from their friendship, but from their intellectual combat. By Jennifer Senior Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Legacy In the rearview mirror, the victories of a trailblazing feminist. On the road ahead, the threat of an entrenched and powerful minority. By The Editorial Board ‘Her Black Coffee Always Brewed Strong’ We clerked for Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In her career and at home, she lived a life that reflected her vision of equality. By Abbe R. Gluck and Gillian E. Metzger My Unlikely Friendship With Ruth Bader Ginsburg I was a young, African-American Southerner, working in a Republican administration. But I loved Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and that was enough for her. By Eric L. Motley Forward this newsletter to friends … … to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks An Open Letter to Mitt Romney Here’s why Lindsey Graham is wrong. By Bret Stephens Trump’s Supreme Court Pick May Need to Denounce Roe. Good. Judicial nominees should be honest about their stance on abortion. By Michelle Goldberg On Politics Down With Judicial Supremacy! The Supreme Court was never meant to be the only arbiter of the meaning of the Constitution. By Jamelle Bouie Voting G.O.P. Means Voting Against Health Care The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has only raised the stakes. By Paul Krugman Democrats Need a Plan. Fast. Here’s how they can apply maximum pressure, brand the process as the illegitimate farce it is and lay the groundwork for desperately needed reform. By Adam Jentleson Ideas How the Religious Right Has Transformed the Supreme Court The Roberts court has used the First Amendment to advance conservative Christian values. By Lee Epstein and Eric Posner Human Rights Are Like Fire Departments. You Really Need Them. They may be less appealing than economic prosperity, but they are indispensable. By Jochen Bittner How Can You Be an Ally? Go to a Black-Owned Bank If you’re looking for innovative ways beyond the ballot box to be an ally, look to the small and minority-owned banks anchoring your community. By Katherine Waldock Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Overcoming the Pandemic ‘Showers and Pants Are So 2019’ And other six-word memoirs about the pandemic. By Rachel L. Harris and Lisa Tarchak What You’re Saying letters The G.O.P. Push for Quick Confirmation of a New Justice Readers discuss the intense political battle taking place. letters When F. Murray Abraham and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Met in Venice The actor recalls a chance encounter that led to a memorable performance. Also: The blue states have it. Introducing ‘Sway,’ a Podcast About Power From The New York Times It’s time we talk about power, and “Sway,” the new Opinion podcast hosted by Kara Swisher, is here for that. In Episode 1, Speaker Nancy Pelosi discusses her friend, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a stalled stimulus bill and her dysfunctional relationship with the president. New episodes every Monday and Thursday, beginning Sept. 21. Listen to Episode 1 and subscribe to “Sway” now. 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