Recently, the symbol of our country was distorted and disrespected by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as it was hung upside down in his front yard. According to U.S. code for the flag, the flag should never be displayed upside down “except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.” On January 6th, 2021, it was wielded as a weapon in the ‘Stop the Steal’ insurrection. In this case, it was in response to neighbors having anti-Trump signs in their yard. When confronted about it, Alito essentially threw his wife under the bus, saying she did it. If that was indeed the case, why would he wait for days to take it down? I would find it fascinating to be a fly on the wall in their home as they discussed this contentious topic.
“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Alito said in an email to the New York Times. “It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor’s use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs.”
A few questions: Does he, as an American citizen have the right to hold his own values and political views? Yes. Should he be able to vote his values and conscience in any election? Yes. Should he have the freedom to visibly display his opposition to the current administration? Hell, no. This is a man in whose hands, along with the other eight Justices, the fate of our country lies. There are two cases in front of the Supreme Court directly related to presidential immunity and the January 6th insurrection. Justice Alito should absolutely recuse himself from these and any subsequent cases connected to the former president.
In my community is a house with a sign in the front yard, for anyone driving down the main thoroughfare to see. The homeowners had placed it there after President Biden’s election. It reads ‘Joe and the Ho Gotta Go’. I have never met the homeowners, nor am I sure I want to. I have another neighbor, who according to those who live near him, is ravingly pro-Trump. And yet, another who espouses Nazi beliefs. Fortunately, most of those who live near me are not aligned with MAGA. Do they have the right to feel as they do? Yes. Do they have the right to take action on those beliefs, other than to vote as they see fit, regardless of the damage that their candidate has done and threatens to do. I choose not to interact with them because I truly don’t know if I would be safe doing so. My lawn signs and bumper stickers make it clear what my world view is. None of them have approached me. I write for a progressive publication called The Beacon where I am free to express my left of center views. I’m not sure how many people who see the world through different lenses than I do, actually read my pieces.
The SCOTUS has fallen out of favor and has understandably taken a hit with Americans with the ethical breaches over the past few years. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in particular have been in the spotlight over lavish gifts and vacations they received – but didn’t disclose – over many years from right-wing donors and activists. To date, nothing has been done to either move them off the bench or compel them to step aside when cases are before them that are in the interest of those who may have attempted to curry their favor. I wonder how the right of center Justices sleep at night and how they can look their left of center colleagues in the eye.
In light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it is clear that three of the justices lied in their confirmation hearings when they said the it was settled precedent. Why were they not charged with perjury?
How can we regain trust in a branch of the government that “interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution. when many in those black robes, sitting in their lofty positions are seemingly determined to change the face of the country and the rule of law that is meant to govern it?
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
