In Hebrew, a Tzadik is someone who is considered a spiritual master. In Arabic, the word sadiq means friend. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q, which means justice or righteousness. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on the Hebrew New Year’s Eve and it is said that a person who passes on Rosh Hashanah is a Tzadik.
They are calling the notorious RBG a rock star. I may in fact be rock star, but I’ve spent the better part of my life searching for a level of spirituality. I can tell you that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was much, much more than a mere rock star. I aspire to be the person that she was. A shining beacon of hope. That one day this world will be a place of peace, a place of joy; where one day we’ll listen to music together. Ruth loved opera. Let’s give it a listen.
Ruth was also described as a fighter. Again, she was not a mere fighter, she was a champion. The strange dichotomy in life is that the most amazing feelings we can ever experience, love, and vanquish only come through first dealing with pain and adversity. Ask any woman about childbirth. We must fight through the threshold of pain to receive life. Ruth was fighting for us while fighting cancer until God finally released her. Similar to John Lewis who was beaten for demanding voting rights for Black people, withstanding the blows without ever conceding — or John McCain, who stood on the Senate floor to cast a vote less than two weeks after brain surgery. They were champions that had the ability to fight through pain.
So let us all continue to fight the good fight. The elections are upon us. Let’s not be afraid. Vote decisively to implement the difficult changes that we know in our hearts must occur. The environment is crying out for change. Vote for those who hear the sounds of nature. Vote for equality and justice. It is your right, your neighbors demand it. Around the world they are taking to the streets. You’re not alone.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for equality. The suggestion that women's rights are human rights, rings true for every woman around the world. It rings true in every kind heart. But it is our fight to fight in this lifetime. Everyone is included. Gender equality, racial equality, economic equality, class equality, education equality, civil service equality, and culture equality. These human rights are what Lollapalooza was founded on 30 years ago. To continuously bring cultures together through music. Black, white, brown, female, male, and every gender to the right of the LGBT plus sign. We all equate to one human love.
The days may seem darker than at any time we young Americans have ever experienced. And we are fighting in a million directions. We are trying to keep the elections fair, while trying to keep our Supreme Court in balance. Fighting to keep our moral compass pointed towards progress, change, and unity. We need to fight like Ruth fought for all of us.
Right now in America, our divides are open wounds that need a serious tending. (There are those that would encourage the divides to ever widen.) I say that we must fight prejudice, and tyranny. The man or woman next to you is your brother, your sister. The earth below your feet is our garden. If only we could treat everyone and our surroundings as relative, we would live happier together. This sadness we experience is the feeling of isolation. There is no exchange of love or kindness. It is the perfect time to begin the practice and spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Similar to WWII, when people feared for their lives every single day, we are now experiencing that same anxiety with the invisible enemy of COVID. No one is immune from its dangerous infection. Yes, this year has been a year full of pain and struggle. We don’t give up. Think to unify and love will prevail.
If by chance we don’t get to witness peace in our lifetime, maybe we will get to see it in Kind Heaven.
'Til then, let’s make Ruth smile.
