How Long to Become “Long-Standing,” Justice Scalia?

Filed under:Abortion — posted by Anwyn on April 13, 2007 @ 8:46 am

Justice Scalia tells audience at University of Portland, a Catholic school, that when it comes to interpreting the Constitution, it is the Supreme Court’s duty to follow long-standing tradition rather than challenge it. His choice of quotations was illuminating:

Scalia used the same quotation to open and close: “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’ ”

He pointed to what some consider its original source, a George Bernard Shaw play called “Back to Methuselah.”

But the quotation is often misinterpreted, he said. In the play, a serpent says it to a woman named Eve.

But after thirty-plus years, the same principle will be used to bring pressure against any future Court considering the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Let’s hope the presiding justices have longer constitutional memories than the abortion activists.

Bonus Portland: Abortion clinic as “urban renewal.” Because they’re mostly about “education.” Are we to believe that in a crowded city where the suburbs are being squashed by an “urban growth boundary,” Planned Parenthood was actually the highest bidder for the city’s vacant lot? Maybe somebody should ask the City Council that. Wow, if only we had an organization who would ask questions and find things out for the public, how great would that be? Maybe The Oregonian should try to find an organization like that and let us know how it goes.



image: detail of installation by Bronwyn Lace