Posted on 11/18/2007 1:58:52 PM PST by wagglebee
Ask Clarence Thomas what he enjoys doing and he’ll tell you about driving his RV across America or cheering for his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. That hardly sounds like the life of a U.S. Supreme Court justice, but in the case of Thomas, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
With his new memoir, “My Grandfather’s Son,” topping the New York Times best-seller list, Thomas has had the opportunity to connect with “real” Americans -- ordinary citizens who, he says, embody the true spirit of our great nation. His book tour has taken him from the East Coast to the Midwest and will reach Southern California next month.
Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to hear him speak twice -- once at a private dinner for bloggers and again last week at an event sponsored by The Heritage Foundation. I left both events feeling inspired and energized by Thomas’ positive attitude, sound advice and commitment to principles.
I wish every American had the opportunity to engage with Thomas in the same way. Hearing him speak about his remarkable life not only dispels the misperceptions painted by the media, but it also yields valuable insights about humanity and the state of our nation
My encounters with Thomas have produced some important lessons. The one that stood out last week came from his answer to a question about the level of political discourse in Washington -- something that has frustrated me since I arrived here six years ago. If anyone is qualified to answer this question, it’s Thomas, who called his confirmation hearing in 1991 a “high-tech lynching.”
Thomas chose to tell us about the importance of manners in society, particularly when raising children. For whatever reason, Washington politicians appear to lack those manners -- contributing to the coarse nature of politics.
“People in this town think it’s really cute to make little, nasty comments about people,” Thomas told the crowd last week. “That really makes you a big person because you just came up with some cute slur. That’s what gets over in this town for being genius.”
He said it would be unthinkable for such conduct to be tolerated in other professions. Take a hospital operating room, for example. “You would figure out a way to limp out of there, crawl or feel your way out. Now, if we would not allow that in the operating room, why do we think that’s a good way to choose who will have control of our nuclear arsenal?”
Asked about his personal tribulations, Thomas shrugged and explained the contrast between his life and that of his grandfather. “How can I complain to him -- no education, no father, raised in part by a freed slave in the Jim Crow South? He never complained. My grandmother never complained. How can I tell him that as a member of the United States Supreme Court I can complain? I have every reason to be happy, none to be sad.”
During his 16-year tenure on the Supreme Court, Thomas has continued to endure criticism. Yet it doesn’t bother him. “I’m more of an idealist today than I’ve ever been because this document [the Constitution] is critical to the way we live our lives,” he said in response to one question. He later added, “In this business, right is still right, even if you stand by yourself.”
It’s that attitude that helped Thomas through the hard times he’s faced since coming to Washington in the early 1980s. He said his experiences have taught him about what’s really important in life. Reflecting on a visit with seriously injured Iraq War veterans, Thomas said he felt small when they kept apologizing for taking up his time, even though they were the ones who deserved the attention.
“As you look at the grave sites, whether they are in Arlington or some foreign shore, or you look at the Vietnam Memorial, so many people made it possible for us,” he said. “Each year I take my law clerks at the end of the term to Gettysburg so they can understand why those people died to give us the Constitution and kind of country we have.”
Make no mistake, Thomas’ life has had its ups and downs, but he puts it in perspective in “My Grandfather’s Son.” As he wrapped up his remarks last Monday, he said he hopes his memoir offers inspiration to people who read it.
“If you look at the first line in my book, I was 9 years old when I met my father. Boy, things aren’t looking real good here,” he explained. “The house burns down -- they’re really not looking up. So [we] move to this terrible slum. Now things are looking really bad. But the story doesn’t end where it’s really bad. It’s just beginning.
“The point of the book is that just because it looks bad today doesn’t mean it will be bad tomorrow. In fact, it might be great.”
There are few examples better than Clarence Thomas of someone who, through perseverance and hard work, did in fact turn out great.
Very true.
Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
Just finished reading this last week. Great book. Amazing man.
I’ve read a lot of Justice Thomas’ opinions, and I’m convinced he is one of the most articulate, conscientious jurors ever to sit on the high bench. He is exactly the opposite of the shuffling, bumbling Uncle Tom the liberals would have you believe he is: he is bright, well-spoken, and driven by a high moral sense and a legal wisdom that belies his relative youth. He is certainly an asset to the High Court, and a credit to his guiding forces.
I am halfway through the book. I had my Canadian wife read it first, because I thought it would be a good way for her to get an understanding of how the race thing played out here. She loved it, “except for all of the political parts.”
There’s a cute story about how he became friends with John Bolton in law school.
Our children will be assigned this book in high school, it is that well-written.
I,too,just finished reading the book. It was a good read. I was impressed that he didn’t really rip Anita Hill. That would have been what I would want to do if I had been in his shoes.
I know someone who met him and they were very impressed with the man that he is. Wish that I could have met him as well.
bump
Me, too (about a week ago). An amazing life and story.
One thing that becomes vivid in the retelling: how this good man was abused by the judicial confirmation process and some of the most egregious actors there. Joe Biden deserves a special place in Hades when he goes to the great beyond. Same thing for Howard Metzenbaum. On the other hand, this ordeal revealed to Thomas the many staunch friends and allies that he had earned and it fortified him for the rest of his important life. Major recommendation to all Freepers to read this book.
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.