Monday Musings: We Must Share the Load

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, also known as the Notorious RBG, passed away last Friday. After the news was shared, people across social media shared sentiments of deep despair. I saw several people who only tweeted the word, “no.” Although I am saddened by her death, I am concerned about how people have responded.

Both Chadwick Boseman and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were diagnosed with cancer and both worked until they died. That brings me sadness. I respect their autonomy to choose how they wanted to live their days, but I am concerned that people feel they cannot stop to care for themselves or spend time with family because a door might be closed for others or people won’t get exposure to something.

The weight of the world should not have been on the shoulders of an 87-year-old woman. We should be ashamed of ourselves. If so many people wanted people with her values in offices from the Supreme Court to other roles, both national and local, those people should have been rallying behind other candidates so a person doesn’t have to work until they die.

We should be sending our love and support to Ginsburg’s family instead of being mad that she died.

National positions are important, but when you have an issue, you have to start locally first. If you are reading this and have no clue who will be on your ballot, that’s a problem. Last week, I spent about 40 minutes talking on the phone to a woman who is running for the school board of the district where my children attend school. I really don’t care much about what people have on those flyers or on their website. I want to know if they are fighting for issues I am concerned about.

I am also not a straight-ticket voter. I have voted for Democrats, Republicans (not Trump), and Independents. Recently, some people got all stirred up because Dr. McCormick, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who is an elected Republican, endorsed the Democrat Woody Meyers who is running for Governor of Indiana.

What is most important that we all vote and that we all get involved in making our society a better place. It is not okay for the weight of the world to be on one person’s shoulder. If we are feeling bad, we should. It should not be because Ginsburg died; it should be because we know we need to do a better job getting some elected officials out of office so we don’t end up in situations like this again.

Rest in Peace Ruth Bader Ginsburg