Dear Ruth Bader Ginsburg,
From my being's depths and through the sorrow currently present in my heart, I thank you. Thank you for your work. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for your fight.
Thank you for being my hero.
I will never forget studying the Supreme Court in school, and how my heart lit up the first time I heard your name and of all the things you fought through to make our country a more just place. I recall googling you and reading whatever articles or dissenting opinions I could find. I was awestruck by your life and your work, and because of you, I knew that I wanted to study the law from early on. I felt (and have ever since) inspired beyond measure. The way one woman could make such a difference in others' lives lit a fire in my soul. You showed me and all others that no mountain is too big to climb if you have the courage and determination to take the first step on the long trek.
Through everything you have been through in your life, you never slowed down. You always put on a strong face, and without exception, moved with dignity and grace. You kept fighting for us, even amid significant health challenges that would have caused others to crumble. I have always tried to emulate your strength, whether behind the starting block or from a hospital bed fighting through complications with my own disorder. You showed all of us what it means to face the fight head-on with courage.
It's intimidating when I attempt to articulate a justifiable description of you because there are infinite words that I could utilize. You were selfless, strong, determined, remarkable, accomplished, generous, funny, brilliant - the list could go on and on. However, no number of adjectives will do you justice in conveying the extraordinary person you were and the exceptional sacrifices you made for all people's betterment. You devoted your life to seeking justice to allow us to enjoy the liberties and freedoms that surround our daily lives. Without you, women and many others would not enjoy the freedom and independence to act on their own accords, which our society is immensely fortunate to have today.
Without a doubt, you impacted every facet of my life and showed me what I want to do with it. Growing up different and requiring accommodations in my daily life meant I had to learn to stand up for myself from an early age, and you gave me and so many others the courage to do just that. That little girl in the pink wheelchair developed a voice louder than she could have ever imagined because you taught me what it means to be an advocate and, most importantly, an advocate for others. You taught us that the greatest way to live a fulfilled life was not consumed solely in pursuit of our self-interests. Rather, it lies in championing others' interests to make a difference that spreads far and wide - a difference that will benefit all people.
You touched the lives of us all, in one way or another - from women's rights, to the LGBTQIA+ community, to labor unions and worker's rights, you gave the voiceless a voice and fought for protections and equality. In very few spaces of our lives today, can we look to enjoy the freedoms we have, had it not been for you. You were a beacon of hope, one of few people willing to step between disempowered communities and those that looked to silence them. You even drew motivation from your own instances of discrimination and hardship that you experienced in law school and in the early years of your career, showing us that we do not have to become victims to the injustices committed against us. We all have a choice to either back down or stand up and fight for equality.
As I sit here typing, consumed in a state of pure incredulity, I try to fathom a future without you in it - and it hits me. Yes, this is beyond devastating, but I've never felt such eagerness and fire to stand up and fight. Your spirit and the lessons you passed on will continue to live on in all of us. We will continue to do what you taught us and teach those same lessons to the next generation. It is through your legacy that you will live on forever. We will undoubtedly mourn your loss, a loss that cannot and will never be replaced, but we will also act. You would never want us to back down, and when I think of what you would do in this situation, you would pick yourself up and find a way forward. You gave us more than anyone could've ever asked for and then some, and now it's our turn to honor and repay you. We have so much at stake, and I promise you, we will fight for it. We are forever indebted to you and will miss you so much.
With the utmost gratitude and respect,
McKenzie Coan
