Agreed, of course. Another concern here is the convention of saying we pick “the” best person for the job when there really is no knowable such thing because “best” is rarely strictly defined or even definable and if it were, no tool exists to select precisely the “best” fit. So selection is always a judgment of an amalgam of education, experience, character, politics, etc.—and why not race in a diverse society? Further, even the sharpest definition and tools would inevitably yield a number of “best” candidates differing indiscernibly on many criteria, except where it is clear on characteristics like gender, race/ethnicity, age, geographic roots, etc. So, where there is a clear imbalance in the latter characteristics in a diverse society, announcing an intention to select , eg, a woman (Reagan) or a Black woman (Biden) where other pertinent characteristics are effectively equal is fine, though Know Nothings will complain.
Love your articles! My only sadness is the difficulty in sharing to Facebook. I have the app open on my phone, but instead of going there, I’m asked to sign in to FB and add some authenticator number I can’t find. So ultimately I give up trying. Would share if it were easier!
Dan and Elliot have written another fine piece. I am glad that President Biden is considering a woman for the Supreme Court. We do make up fifty percent of the population and need more ladies on the court to offer the female point of view.
Your column makes me feel good about our country and hopeful that many, many others think and talk as you do. There is a wellspring of that feeling that needs to be unleashed among us. It requires a leader who is able to tap into it, much as TFG tapped into its opposite.
Dan and Elliot, are you as amazed as I am about all oft comments this Steady article produced? There’s nothing left for me to add, except my thanks to you both.
Democrats call Justice Thomas Uncle Tom and a traitor to his race. Biden says, "You ain't black if you don't vote for me." But those comments aren't racist. You attack Jared Kushner because his dad "bought his way into Harvard". How about your hero, Teddy Kennedy, who was expelled from Harvard for paying someone to take a test for him after his daddy bought his way in and daddy had to buy his way back in. You know, the guy who left a young woman to drown to protect his political career. You call for diversity but where were you when Condi Rice was denied the right to speak at Rutgers? Have you ever called for diversity of thought at our colleges? In fact, is there ever any diversity of thought in your writing? Was there ever objectivity in your reporting? I certainly haven't seen it. You are a phony and a liar. Anyone who buys your biased bullshit is a fool.
Absolutely! I was blessed to teach for 40 years in an environment which celebrated diversity. Our students set examples for others across the nation when they participated in Close Up and other national student exchange programs by challenging the narrow vision of those who came from homogenous school environments. They always came home stronger and more appreciative of their community after spending a week with others. The have gone on to
appreciate diversity and to share their perspectives with others. This results in about 6,000 ambassadors in the world, of whom I am proud. The Supreme Court needs these women to show them the way!
Thank you Dan for this essay on such an important issue. Pres Biden made the pledge to put a black woman on the Supreme Court and he will now honor that pledge. The list of potential nominees he is considering indicates he will choose from a list of highly qualified candidates. He made the pledge for political reasons. Now he must choose from this list based on who among them is best qualified to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. I listen with dismay to politicians now trying to twist his arm to select their preferred choice ( eg Rep Clyburn). I hope the President resists these attempts to influence his choice away from the most important criteria - who is best qualified for the job at hand. Denigrating or giving undue consideration of one college vs another is harmful and unhelpful. He needs to focus on who is best qualified only. Considering the credentials of those being considered - there is only one clear choice.
I’m really wrestling with all that is going on from my Senator, who I worked my butt off for, voted against voting? What a dagger to the hearts of all those who have given their lives to defend our democracy. And the ex’s buddy Putin. And the deniers. And the domestic terrorists. And those, who are such racists and misogynists, that they deny a right for a black women to ascend to the Supreme Court. And the list could go on. But I admire you, Dan, because you can put in words a lot of what I am feeling and make me feel better. Thank you. Steady
Justice Byron White who graduated from Wellington, CO High School in a class of 6 went onto earn fame in many fields. The notion that a candidate needs to be a certain gender, race, or graduate from a specific school is absurd!
What a fantastic report. It is way past due date that a Native American be recognized to all walks of power in the USA. Shameful how these wonderful people have been treated and seems still are not recognized. Thank you for this amazing insight to the dreams of a better America. Though I am not American have watched from across the other side of the world Aghast! at the destruction of human rights as well as Legal rights. To even contemplate the levels of pure Dark forces that pervade this once mighty promising country to the rest of the free world has been highlighted in the past president and the lack of Love Truth Honor to an Oath of Office from any man or woman that have pledged their lives to serve the People. USA has been covered in Darkness, Also the integrity to the Oath of this office, which has all but disappeared since this brutal attack from this cultish behavior of such a scandalous group of lawmakers and leaders. But as one human I shall always have Faith in The Real world. So many man and woman from the Native American Tribes have been left incarcerated and never been given a thought, following the prison sentences It is time to investigate some of these long forgotten cases. The Court made such a horrendous call on the Rotten-burger case when there are men and women languishing in prisons without a hint of redemption for a possible innocent act from standing up for their rights as activists who were the rightful owners of the land, trying for their rights as citizens and rightfully deserving of RESPECT.. The world watched in horror at the scandalous behavior of a rogue unpleasant human ruling and embracing darkness as his guide, leading us all into a world of chaos. It has been so enlightening to know there are still people that think of the ways forward for all Brother and Sisters in our beautiful world.
Am I the only one who missed your Saturday uplifting letter?! I was hoping to enjoy it and miss receiving it!
Agreed, of course. Another concern here is the convention of saying we pick “the” best person for the job when there really is no knowable such thing because “best” is rarely strictly defined or even definable and if it were, no tool exists to select precisely the “best” fit. So selection is always a judgment of an amalgam of education, experience, character, politics, etc.—and why not race in a diverse society? Further, even the sharpest definition and tools would inevitably yield a number of “best” candidates differing indiscernibly on many criteria, except where it is clear on characteristics like gender, race/ethnicity, age, geographic roots, etc. So, where there is a clear imbalance in the latter characteristics in a diverse society, announcing an intention to select , eg, a woman (Reagan) or a Black woman (Biden) where other pertinent characteristics are effectively equal is fine, though Know Nothings will complain.
Love your articles! My only sadness is the difficulty in sharing to Facebook. I have the app open on my phone, but instead of going there, I’m asked to sign in to FB and add some authenticator number I can’t find. So ultimately I give up trying. Would share if it were easier!
Dan and Elliot have written another fine piece. I am glad that President Biden is considering a woman for the Supreme Court. We do make up fifty percent of the population and need more ladies on the court to offer the female point of view.
There’s a lot to be said regarding the differences between “street smart” and “academia smart”.
Your column makes me feel good about our country and hopeful that many, many others think and talk as you do. There is a wellspring of that feeling that needs to be unleashed among us. It requires a leader who is able to tap into it, much as TFG tapped into its opposite.
Dan and Elliot, are you as amazed as I am about all oft comments this Steady article produced? There’s nothing left for me to add, except my thanks to you both.
Democrats call Justice Thomas Uncle Tom and a traitor to his race. Biden says, "You ain't black if you don't vote for me." But those comments aren't racist. You attack Jared Kushner because his dad "bought his way into Harvard". How about your hero, Teddy Kennedy, who was expelled from Harvard for paying someone to take a test for him after his daddy bought his way in and daddy had to buy his way back in. You know, the guy who left a young woman to drown to protect his political career. You call for diversity but where were you when Condi Rice was denied the right to speak at Rutgers? Have you ever called for diversity of thought at our colleges? In fact, is there ever any diversity of thought in your writing? Was there ever objectivity in your reporting? I certainly haven't seen it. You are a phony and a liar. Anyone who buys your biased bullshit is a fool.
Every word is true. Diversity is like harmony in a Musical composition. We need all the notes to create a whole musical
composition.
The elections in 2022 and 2024 will determine the fate of this grand experiment. Time is fast running out.
I ask Steady three basic questions:
1. How does America rescue herself, when a flawed Constitution rules the day?
2. How can the country modernize its legal and political structure when empty states and densely populated states have the same number of senators?
3. How can changes be made in the way the Supreme Court functions when it is stacked by presidents with people who are given life time tenure ?
I am an old man who now fears that the my children will see an America which fails to save itself from single party rule backed by powerful generals.
Mr. Rather, please write an essay that shows me that I have become overly pessimistic.
Absolutely! I was blessed to teach for 40 years in an environment which celebrated diversity. Our students set examples for others across the nation when they participated in Close Up and other national student exchange programs by challenging the narrow vision of those who came from homogenous school environments. They always came home stronger and more appreciative of their community after spending a week with others. The have gone on to
appreciate diversity and to share their perspectives with others. This results in about 6,000 ambassadors in the world, of whom I am proud. The Supreme Court needs these women to show them the way!
Thank you Dan for this essay on such an important issue. Pres Biden made the pledge to put a black woman on the Supreme Court and he will now honor that pledge. The list of potential nominees he is considering indicates he will choose from a list of highly qualified candidates. He made the pledge for political reasons. Now he must choose from this list based on who among them is best qualified to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. I listen with dismay to politicians now trying to twist his arm to select their preferred choice ( eg Rep Clyburn). I hope the President resists these attempts to influence his choice away from the most important criteria - who is best qualified for the job at hand. Denigrating or giving undue consideration of one college vs another is harmful and unhelpful. He needs to focus on who is best qualified only. Considering the credentials of those being considered - there is only one clear choice.
I’m really wrestling with all that is going on from my Senator, who I worked my butt off for, voted against voting? What a dagger to the hearts of all those who have given their lives to defend our democracy. And the ex’s buddy Putin. And the deniers. And the domestic terrorists. And those, who are such racists and misogynists, that they deny a right for a black women to ascend to the Supreme Court. And the list could go on. But I admire you, Dan, because you can put in words a lot of what I am feeling and make me feel better. Thank you. Steady
Our diversity has brought us great gifts to be proud of.
Justice Byron White who graduated from Wellington, CO High School in a class of 6 went onto earn fame in many fields. The notion that a candidate needs to be a certain gender, race, or graduate from a specific school is absurd!
What a fantastic report. It is way past due date that a Native American be recognized to all walks of power in the USA. Shameful how these wonderful people have been treated and seems still are not recognized. Thank you for this amazing insight to the dreams of a better America. Though I am not American have watched from across the other side of the world Aghast! at the destruction of human rights as well as Legal rights. To even contemplate the levels of pure Dark forces that pervade this once mighty promising country to the rest of the free world has been highlighted in the past president and the lack of Love Truth Honor to an Oath of Office from any man or woman that have pledged their lives to serve the People. USA has been covered in Darkness, Also the integrity to the Oath of this office, which has all but disappeared since this brutal attack from this cultish behavior of such a scandalous group of lawmakers and leaders. But as one human I shall always have Faith in The Real world. So many man and woman from the Native American Tribes have been left incarcerated and never been given a thought, following the prison sentences It is time to investigate some of these long forgotten cases. The Court made such a horrendous call on the Rotten-burger case when there are men and women languishing in prisons without a hint of redemption for a possible innocent act from standing up for their rights as activists who were the rightful owners of the land, trying for their rights as citizens and rightfully deserving of RESPECT.. The world watched in horror at the scandalous behavior of a rogue unpleasant human ruling and embracing darkness as his guide, leading us all into a world of chaos. It has been so enlightening to know there are still people that think of the ways forward for all Brother and Sisters in our beautiful world.