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Antonin Scalia, a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice, has died:
US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia - one of most conservative members of the high court - has died. Justice Scalia's death could shift the balance of power on the US high court, allowing President Barack Obama to add a fifth liberal justice to the court. The court's conservative majority has recently stalled major efforts by the Obama administration on climate change and immigration.
Justice Scalia, 79, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. He died in his sleep early on Saturday while in West Texas for [a] hunting trip, the US Marshall service said. Justice Scalia was one of the most prominent proponents of "originalism" - a conservative legal philosophy that believes the US Constitution has a fixed meaning and does not change with the times.
Justice Scalia's death is, unsurprisingly, now being widely reported.
From the San Antonio Express News:
According to a report, Scalia arrived at the ranch on Friday and attended a private party with about 40 people. When he did not appear for breakfast, a person associated with the ranch went to his room and found a body.
[...] The U.S. Marshal Service, the Presidio County sheriff and the FBI were involved in the investigation. Officials with the law enforcement agencies declined to comment.
A federal official who asked not to be named said there was no evidence of foul play and it appeared that Scalia died of natural causes.
A gray Cadillac hearse pulled into the ranch last Saturday afternoon. The hearse came from Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.
Most major news outlets are covering this story, including CNN [video autoplays], The Washington Post, The New York Times, and NBC.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Sunday February 14 2016, @01:12AM
I think it's sad that a wife has lost her husband and children have lost their father.
It's not like his wife/children are left unable to support themselves in this world.
Besides, everybody dies at a point, that's as sure as taxes.
As the human empathy has limits (otherwise anyone would go crazy for the amount of suffering/death in this world), I prefer to direct it towards others
Whether or not his family is left destitute, they've lost a loved one. That, to me at least, is sad. Do you have an understanding of that? Or is everyone and everything to you just a means to an economic end?
I don't tell other people how they should think or feel. However, I don't believe that empathy is a limited resource. I've lost my parents and several siblings. I miss them, and do understand how such a loss can hurt. As such, I do feel for those who now need to go on without someone who was an important part of their lives.
I don't especially mourn Scalia's passing. He wasn't a good guy. But my antipathy for him doesn't extend to his family.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Sunday February 14 2016, @02:05AM
I'm reminded of a story...
R.I.P. Justice Antonin Scalia--for fair or foul, you made a mark on your country.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 14 2016, @03:29AM
Is it better?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 14 2016, @03:47AM
Yes, I do.
I think the world is a bit poorer, no matter which human dies. And this includes the children dying because of war in Yemen [wikipedia.org] or Syria, or famine in Ethiopia or anywhere else: not only the humanity is losing them but it also loses their potential.
Scalia's family has my sympathy but not my empathy. Scar or mark on his country, at least Scalia had his chances. Those children haven't and won't.
Do you have an understanding of that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Sunday February 14 2016, @04:04AM
Yes, I do.
I think the world is a bit poorer, no matter which human dies. And this includes the children dying because of war in Yemen or Syria, or famine in Ethiopia or anywhere else: not only the humanity is losing them but it also loses their potential.
Absolutely. I agree completely.
Scalia's family has my sympathy but not my empathy.
So you feel bad for them, but don't understand their loss or pain?
I guess you've never lost anyone close to you. You should count yourself lucky. Sadly, even if you haven't yet, you will. Obviously that assumes that you care about others.
Scar or mark on his country, at least Scalia had his chances.
And I could say the same about you. Or me. Or just about everyone else on this site. Your point?
Those children haven't and won't. Do you have an understanding of that?
Absolutely. It's a travesty.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 14 2016, @04:35AM
I understand their loss and pain, this is why they have my sympathy (generated by the intellectual/analytical side of my brain and past life experiences). I just don't have enough empathy to feel for them after I feel for the dying kids.
I have. While a teenager. And it was my kid brother. Probably this is why I'm only sorry for the death of an old man and feel deep sorrow for the death of kids.
As I would, if somebody asks me. And I don't give a dam' if you are saying this about me (and I won't speak for others).
Two actually:
* don't require me or expect me (or other SN community members) to have empathy for Scalia's family and don't try to make me (or anyone else) guilty for not having it; (clod I may be, but) I'm not insensitive - just limited in my capacity to feel for all the loses on this planet.
* and definitely, don't climb a high horse over the others - they may not be insensitive either, even if they don't feel for Scalia family's loss.
(and don't tell me you didn't mean any of the above. Read your posts and see if, on a cursory reading, these interpretations can be excluded)
Sorry, can you rephrase? It's a what? In what sense?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Sunday February 14 2016, @06:40AM
So you feel bad for them, but don't understand their loss or pain?
I understand their loss and pain, this is why they have my sympathy (generated by the intellectual/analytical side of my brain and past life experiences). I just don't have enough empathy to feel for them after I feel for the dying kids.
empathy (n) [merriam-webster.com]:
the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions : the ability to share someone else's feelings
sympathy (n) [merriam-webster.com]:
the feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone else's trouble, grief, misfortune, etc. : a sympathetic feeling
Your point?
Two actually:
* don't require me or expect me (or other SN community members) to have empathy for Scalia's family and don't try to make me (or anyone else) guilty for not having it; (clod I may be, but) I'm not insensitive - just limited in my capacity to feel for all the loses on this planet.
I don't require or expect anything from anyone. As I explicitly said [soylentnews.org]:
* and definitely, don't climb a high horse over the others - they may not be insensitive either, even if they don't feel for Scalia family's loss.
Believe what your like. I will do the same. If advocating for simple kindness and respect for human dignity is getting "on my high horse" then I'm guilty as charged. I have my own beliefs and sense of ethics. I don't really care if others agree. However, that doesn't mean I'm going to keep my mouth shut just because you (or anyone else) doesn't like what I have to say. Don't like it? Ignore me. Or respond to me. Or do whatever you like. That's your choice, not mine.
(and don't tell me you didn't mean any of the above. Read your posts and see if, on a cursory reading, these interpretations can be excluded)
I think I just did. And I have read my posts -- heck, I even wrote them. If you took what I said as anything beyond my expression of my thoughts and ideas, the fault lies either with your comprehension, my exposition or both.
Again, as I explicitly stated, I don't attempt to prescribe how others should think, feel or speak. I do, however, feel free to use speech to express how I think and feel.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday February 14 2016, @06:53AM
I'm cool with that. Heck, I respect that, even.
Most probable with both, methinks. Ta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford