Justice Antonin Scalia – Life As An Example

From a political and legal perspective, the loss of conservative jurist Antonin Scalia is monumental.  The Sensible Conservative can only hope that a Republican president is elected in November who will find and select a worthy successor in Scalia’s mold.  Truly, the nature (the future) of our constitutional republic is at issue. 

Justice Scalia certainly will long be remembered for doing as much as he could to honor and respect the Constitution created by our nation’s founders.

Yet to mention only his contributions to strict constitutional constructionism is to short-change his life. 

Remarkably in this day and age of common place venomous discourse in public life, Antonin Scalia chose a different course.

Plainly he was a man of strong convictions who often expressed them in strong, often biting, terms against those with whom he disagreed.  But it wasn’t personal.

His conduct exemplified the obvious fact that each of us can only do what we can in the short time on earth we have.  Fight hard, but don’t hold grudges against those whose contrary views are well-intentioned.  Our foes may be deeply in error, but in time reality will correct their wayward ways, even if they don’t.  Will the correction come soon enough to reverse the harm caused?  Who knows?  But as long as our free society exists, America is not without hope.

In the meantime, make the best of it.  Be a loyal and good friend to those who merit friendship – require only a good spirit not ideological or political comradeship.

[Justice Ginsberg, probably the most liberal jurist on the High Court, described Antonin Scalia, upon hearing of his death, as a “good buddy”.]

And, by all means, enjoy life.  Don’t wallow in pessimism no matter how justified such an attitude may appear… It’s hard not to feel that way when viewing the moral decay seemingly all around.  But that serves no purpose except to depress the person who harbors it.

Justice Scalia didn’t.  He was well known for weekly poker parties – long before the game recovered its current popularity.  And he was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting.  There was something poetic in the seventy-nine year old judicial genius dying (almost) with his boots on.  He passed away in Texas on a weekend hunting trip.

RIP