U.S. Supreme Court justices No more brawling

Antonin Scalia will be remembered as a “giant” among U.S. Supreme Court justices. What kind of giant remains to be seen. I believe history will, by a preponderance of the evidence, show Scalia was not just a pugnacious, combative jurist, but one who enjoyed brawling. He seemed to enjoy beating on others, whether by intellect or simple in-your-face verbal bullying.

Did he have the intelligence to carry out the duties of Supreme Court justice? No doubt. Only time will allow a thorough and more accurate judgment of the man as a Supreme Court justice. We are far too close, and the arguments surrounding his legal opinions are much too strident and vitriolic, to be clearly dissected by either the left or right wings of American politics.

On one thing and one thing only, I dearly hope both the reader and the political parties can agree. This United States does not need a new Supreme Court justice who will engage in intellectual brawls for the sake of the fight and personal enjoyment. The rancor and open mutual distrust, disrespect and outright name-calling between those to whom we have entrusted our and our children’s fate must cease. For those who believe nationwide political violence can’t happen here, break out the history books.

Mired in a pit of political self indulgence, we, like adolescents in a school yard, seem to be hurling ever more nasty insults at our rivals. How long before the first stone is cast? Stones are everywhere, and ours have names like “Armalite,” “Browning,” “Smith & Wesson” and many, many others. Think, people, think!

By: Joseph M. Burgess