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December 22, 2004
Dislike?
Pat at San Diego Politics links to what looks like an interesting article from TNR about the difference between Justice Thomas and Justice Scalia's dissents in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld. I don't have a subscription so I've not been able to read the entire piece yet but the reference did get me reading the actual opinions of O'Connor, Scalia, and Thomas. I'll need to give them much more time to digest all that's in them but at first glance it's clear all are well written and thoroughly researched arguments.
What really stood out about Pat's post though was the title, which was: "Why I Dislike Thomas".
Wouldn't a more appropriate title be "Why I Disagree with Thomas", "Why Thomas' Opinions are Wrong", or "Why I Would Never Want Thomas as our Chief Justice"?
People and their ideas are two separate entities. Part of the problem with politics today is that people will personally attack good people, simply because they have different opinions or belong to a different political party. Conversely, others will defend despicable individuals because they share the same ideas or are members of the same political party.
I don't know if Pat has had a chance yet to watch the video I originally linked to but Thomas briefly addresses this point. In a response to a question regarding his struggles with Civil Rights leaders he replies:
“Look, I have my own opinions and my ideas. They’re mine. You have ideas. Their yours, right? Now what if I told you something was wrong with you because you don't agree with me. Well that’s what is being told to me. That doesn't make any sense. Right?”
No, it doesn't. Disagreement is a wonderful thing for it helps us discover the best way to progress in all aspects of life. Personal hatred is quite another, especially when it stems from this necessary process.
Update: I have fixed the Thomas quote above as there was originally an error in my transcription.
Posted by Peter Mork at December 22, 2004 7:58 PM
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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Dislike?:
» re: Why I dislike Thomas from Patrick's San Diego Blog
The other day Mr. Mork of Economices without a Face took me to task for the title "Why I dislike Thomas" saying Wouldn't a more appropriate title be "Why I Disagree with Thomas", "Why Thomas' Opinions are Wrong", or "Why... [Read More]
Tracked on January 4, 2005 12:24 AM
» re: Why I dislike Thomas from Patrick's San Diego Blog
The other day Mr. Mork of Economices without a Face took me to task for the title "Why I dislike Thomas" saying Wouldn't a more appropriate title be "Why I Disagree with Thomas", "Why Thomas' Opinions are Wrong", or "Why... [Read More]
Tracked on January 4, 2005 12:24 AM
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