United States
United KingdomLeading With Your Head and Heart
AUGUST 7, 2009, 12:23 am
There has been a lot of conversation lately about how the ability to identify with another person's circumstance makes one unqualified to wear the judicial robe. Since President Obama's nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, the word empathy has taken a beating. The other day, Dick Cheney came out in support of gay marriage, stating "freedom means freedom for everyone"aI guess Cheney finally allowed himself to share the empathy he felt for his daughter with the rest of the country. But why should it be acceptable to only show empathy to those we are closest to? Empathy should not be considered a hindrance to fair and balanced judgment.
Just because Judge Sotomayor feels empathetic does not mean she doesn't believe in the Constitution and carrying out the rule of law. It is the absence of empathy in our country's elected and appointed leaders that we should fear. Because of empathetic judges we have rulings like Brown vs. the Board of Education and Gideon vs. Wainwright. It took Justices with heart and conviction to change course, put an end to Jim Crow and insert real justice into American society. The documents drafted by our Founding Fathers have grown organically and adapted over the course of our country's history, giving women the right to vote and ending legal racial segregation as examples. As we now embark upon the new civil rights battle of the 21st century with gay rights, we can only hope that our justices will rule using both their heads and their hearts. Smart well-intentioned people can and should be able to do both.
Just because Judge Sotomayor feels empathetic does not mean she doesn't believe in the Constitution and carrying out the rule of law. It is the absence of empathy in our country's elected and appointed leaders that we should fear. Because of empathetic judges we have rulings like Brown vs. the Board of Education and Gideon vs. Wainwright. It took Justices with heart and conviction to change course, put an end to Jim Crow and insert real justice into American society. The documents drafted by our Founding Fathers have grown organically and adapted over the course of our country's history, giving women the right to vote and ending legal racial segregation as examples. As we now embark upon the new civil rights battle of the 21st century with gay rights, we can only hope that our justices will rule using both their heads and their hearts. Smart well-intentioned people can and should be able to do both.
Comments for this Statement
Re: Leading With Your Head and Heart
Barbra, just to pronounce your name is already a way to heal my pains and my problems.
I am 52 years old, and the first time I saw you was in Funny Girl in Paris (France). I was 8 years old. Since then you have always been my idol.
Not only when you sing my world is surrounded with magnificent stars, but when you act, direct or produce a film, it is for me a lot of master pieces. Even if Hollywood has not yet really recognize the fact that you are a genius in all types of arts, your public knows you are among the best artists on earth.
You are also a great human being ! Your tolerence towards all differences is always refreshing me in this world full of hatered facts.
I am a lesbian and I am hoping that one day all human beings will finally accept that people like me have the same rights to live and have to considered as balanced ones, not as monsters who have to be put aside.
I know that we will never meet, but just being able to play your DVDs, especially your concerts, allows me to dream that you are singing for me, and uniquely for me. I sometimes talk to you and share with you all my sorrows : I imagine that you are answering me.
Continue to be who you are : a person with a true class !
Continue to live as you live : a private person away from all the ugly tabloids ! But as soon as I saw you, I knew that you would do everything you can not to mix your name with all those scandals who are legend in Hollywood.
Thank you for everything you have brought me all my life !
Re: Leading With Your Head and Heart
Thank you Barbra for being not only one of the greatest singer and actor of all time, but for being one of the greatest politicians too. Your views throughout the years have given me the strength to carry on, and even strengthened my views aswell. I live in Great Britain for which I am thankful, and I have a few American friends who live in America, and I regularly argue with them about the issues you have described. They are Republicans who believe in only giving money to those 'that have earned it' and rights for those 'that deserve it.' They believe same sex marriages as immoral and against the law of God. But who are we to say who has the right to live or die? Who are we to say that one love is right and the other is not, to say who is better and worse. Some people say they hold those views to protect their Countries, to protect humanity. But what is humanity if not to care for others? For all others no matter what race, nationality, colour, views or beliefs. We lose our humanity the minute we attempt to declare ourselves more important than another, the moment we believe we have the right to life over others. I have read the following statement you made some time ago many times, and it is filled with so many truths:
"Nobody on this earth has the right to tell anyone that their love for another human being is morally wrong. I will never forget how it made me shudder to hear Pat Buchanan say that he stood 'with George Bush against the immoral idea that gay and lesbian couples should have the same standing in law as married men and women.' Who is Pat Buchanan to pronounce anyone's love invalid? How can he deny the profound love felt by one human being for another? ... Unfortunately, however, as long as people like Newt Gingrich and Pat Buchanan continue in public life, the fight to codify gay marriages will be a tough battle to win."
I am very young, a child, a teenager, a young adult, but I used to listen to my mother playing your music on a Sunday morning, full blast, and thinking what on earth was she playing. But eventually I began to see the error of my ways, and in time over take her and every other person I know for my love of your music. I know that you will never read this, but I thank you regardless. When I am sad, when I am alone, I listen to your music and am transported into a better world, to put it lightly, as the song you never had officially released goes "You light up my life." So thank you Barbra for everything you have given me, and thank you for sticking by the side of morality!
Re: Leading With Your Head and Heart
I live in a town in Putney London UK. My friend and I went to the cinema to see "Nuts" which was a few years ago now. But what I would like Barbara to know is that when the movie finished the whole audience stood up and clapped. So even if she did not get an Oscar for the performance the English public gave her one of its own. We love you Barbara. Anita xx