WS Chronicle

By Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

Here are the questions for the day: Is anyone above the law? Can anyone engage in wrong and think it’s right?

The knee jerk reaction to both questions is no. Further, we have laws that we should follow. Over time, these laws have been reviewed and tweaked.

And of course, our lawmakers have created new laws for us to follow. The goal has always been to make our country a better place to live. For example, people who look like me and women could not vote. As strange as that may sound, that was the rule in years gone by.

Through struggles and stress, our right to vote is still intact. However, it must be said that in 2022, some folks are still trying to marginalize our voting power. The past administration with a group of his minions attempted to discount our votes in the most recent election.

It didn’t work. Right and reason prevailed.

Earlier on January 6, there was an insurrection at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Unbelievable and horrible are two words that come to my mind. I am sure you can think of some other adjectives to describe this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Members of the Republican Party downplayed the event and pretended that it didn’t happen. Legislators like Ted Cruz, Steve Scalise, Mitch McConnell and Rick Scott have signed onto this attack upon our democracy. They have sold their souls and they are void of fundamental integrity. It is hypocritical and unethical.

The former president is whistling, and they are singing his tune.

Secrets must be at stake because I do not understand how they can follow a fellow whose character has become unglued and unhinged. They are in the forest with blindfolds on at night.

Last week concluded the Judiciary Committee’s confirmation hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for the U.S. Supreme Court. The average poll numbers by Gallup, Fox, Monmouth University, Quinnipiac University and the Pew Research Center say about 53% of the American people support her confirmation. Obviously, it is good to be respected in the public square.

There are a few Republicans who feel the same way.

Some reports suggest Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Rob Portman will be Republican senators who will vote for Judge Brown Jackson. There is also good news from a Democratic senator who says he will support her as well. Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia will cast his ballot for her. That is indeed a vote that was unknown until he said it. His vote will help stem the tide of Republicans who will vote against her.

Senator Cory Booker, Democrat from New Jersey said, “I got a chance to witness firsthand what I think many people in America can relate to, is when you show up in a room qualified, when you show up in a room with extraordinary expertise and credentials, there are a lot of Americans who know that hurt, that you are still going to be treated in a way that does not respect you fully.”

As African Americans, many of us have been in those spaces a time or two in our lives.

The vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be coming up soon. It will be, I believe, a defining moment in American history.

Radios will be on to listen and televisions will be on to watch as the reporting begins on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson becoming the first African American woman to be a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

I can’t wait. Can you?

James B. Ewers Jr., Ed.D., is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem and played college tennis at Johnson C. Smith University, where he was all-conference for four years. He is a retired college administrator. He can be reached at overtimefergie.2020@yahoo.com.