Editor’s note: We verified claims in this submission that some students celebrated Justice Antonin Scalia’s death on social media prior to publication, but decided to not cite specific examples to protect students’ privacy.
Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the nation’s fiercest defenders of freedom, liberty and the Constitution, died Feb. 13. The left wasted no time celebrating his death. Such joy over any American’s death, especially that of a patriotic American’s, is deplorable.
This is an open letter to the leftists celebrating Justice Scalia’s death.
As conservatives on a campus where we are the minority, we know firsthand that trying to present our opinion almost always results in someone claiming their sensibilities have been stepped on. Whether it was the affirmative action bake sale several years back or protesting the diversity requirement, our opinions are usually met with ad hominem attacks or blatant calls for repression.
This is why we feel a kindred spirit in Scalia. He expected ire for his Supreme Court opinions because, in the face of criticism, ridicule and hatred, he still wrote what he deemed to be the truth. Similarly, we are well aware that writing an article defending Scalia, who we deem a great constitutional scholar, will result in a large amount of hate. But if we don’t fight for truth and decency, then who will? We will enthusiastically take your hatred for standing up for what we believe in and defending an American hero.
The world isn’t perfect. There are evil people who wish evil things upon others. Leftist celebrities and figures in the community showed no restraint on Twitter when they mocked Scalia and expressed excitement about his death. Justice Scalia was not the only victim of such hatred – Justice Clarence Thomas was also the subject of racist attacks that wished for his death. We cannot change what Hollywood or the media thinks, but what we can change is how our campus thinks. We find it extremely problematic that our fellow Bruins were happy that someone they disagreed with died. Let us repeat that: UCLA students were excited about a conservative justice’s death.
One student said of Scalia’s death, “When you (think) about how many drinks you’re about to drink in Vegas because it’s such a beautiful day.” Another student said: “Ding dong – the wicked witch is dead.” Yet another student posted, “Good, now Dick Cheney and (Henry) Kissinger can join him.”
Even in classrooms, students showed no shame in expressing their joy over Justice Scalia’s death. Two students claimed they were happy about Scalia’s death, but claimed they were joking when they were asked to justify their positions.
When we became Bruins, the True Bruin values were rammed into our heads and we remember them to this day. Evidently, the radical leftists on this campus fell asleep each time they were told that one of the True Bruin values was respecting “the rights and dignity of others.” The actions of these individuals are inexcusable.
For a group of people who purportedly preach tolerance, you are by far the most intolerant people we have ever come across. We also find it frankly hypocritical. If a liberal justice, or indeed, any high level civil servant, died in office, we would not be celebrating in the streets. We can respect people we disagree with, while we simultaneously oppose their policies.
We think the U.S. Constitution is the most important document on the face of this planet. While we vehemently disagree with what you say and while we believe you social justice warriors are seething with hatred, we value the rights that the First Amendment offers you. Scalia once said, “If I were king, I would not allow people to go about burning the American flag. However, we have a First Amendment which says that the right of free speech shall not be abridged. And it is addressed, in particular, to speech critical of the government.”
Unlike some people on this campus, who would enthusiastically repeal the First Amendment for fear of the violation of their safe spaces, we respect your constitutional right to celebrate Justice Scalia’s death. What we do not respect is tarnishing the Bruin name with unabated hatred of anything that does not conform to certain narratives and ideologies.
As Scalia would have said, this is pure applesauce. Rest in peace, patriot.
The Bruin Republicans Board consists of Jacob Kohlhepp, a fourth-year economics and political science student; Shantal Razban-Nia, a fourth-year political science student; Alex Rhim, a third-year political science student; Joshua Gagliardi, a fourth-year history and study of religion student; Julia Nista, a third-year political science student; Gigi Gordon, a third-year English student; Alexis Moran, a second-year political science student; Haley Nieves, a second-year political science and international development studies student.
The Left likes it when someone on the other side dies…maybe they’ll regret it when one of their own dies…and eat cake because of it….
“We think the U.S. Constitution is the most important document on the face of this planet.” (Except we’ll conviently ignore that the Constitution says that the Supreme Court should have nine justices and that the President shall nominate replacements whenever there are vacancies. Oh, and the whole 2nd Amendment being about “well regulated militias”? We’re going to ignore that too. As did Antonin Scalia, constitutional originalist who believed the constitution should be interpreted as it was originally written… except when it goes against our politics. Then f*Ck it.)
Please tell me where it says in the Constitution that there must be 9 justices.
Also, please read Scalia’s opinion in DC v. Heller.
“If a liberal justice, or indeed, any high level civil servant, died in office, we would not be celebrating in the streets.” Most of you were in jr high or high school in 2009 when Ted Kennedy died (so you probably don’t know this) but many conservatives celebrated his death. Also, when and where did people celebrate in the streets? Or is this another “thousands of Muslims” were dancing on the rooftops on 9/11… but it was really like five.
You’re making stuff up. As usual, you people don’t have facts.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2009/08/26/57997/breitbart-kennedy-twitter/
A Leftist website?
Nice sentiment, but the article–especially the title–makes a few people’s foolish comments seem like a more widespread issue than it actually is on our campus.
Also, this sentence was childish: “For a group of people who purportedly preach tolerance, you are by far the most intolerant people we have ever come across.”
Y’all really want the truth? The truth is that Antonin Scalia’s actions were racist, misogynistic, anti-choice, homophobic, xenophobic, and pro-torture. He singlehandedly halted social progress for the last 30 years as the most conservative judge on the bench. And I am so, so tired of this discourse around the deaths of public figures. Is it sad Scalia is dead? Yes. Do I empathize with his family and friends for their loss? Yes. Does that mean that we now have to herald him as a great man and label him the greatest legal mind of his generation? Absolutely not because, honestly, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out that he passed. Not because an American was dead (which is so loaded I mean come on seriously?), but because we now have the chance to see the true change and growth we can now experience as a nation because the Supreme Court won’t be misbalanced leaning conservative.
P.S.: Don’t think i didnt catch that thing about being a minority on campus as conservatives. How low is it to equate your supposed struggle as Republicans at UCLA to the actual oppression that marginalized groups experience both on our campus and off our campus.