Follow Scalia-Ginsburg example

Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg were opera aficionados who attended the Washington National Opera together. These two justices, on opposite ends of the political spectrum, were fast friends.

When she was charged with writing the majority opinion in a case, she stated that Mr. Scalia “nailed all the weak spots and gave me just what I needed to strengthen it.” They were not pitching 30-second sound bites to shut up an opposing view; they were listening to each other.

At a recent Town Hall meeting, Daniel Nelson gave the history of water development in the San Joaquin Valley from the 1800s to the present. In his closing remarks, he stated that to deal with the drought and the current water crisis, environmentalists, farmers and urban planners need to listen to one another and work together.

Learning that justices Ginsburg and Scalia were friends despite their differences heartened me. I am hopeful that we can overcome the current political polarization by fostering respectful relationships with those with whom we disagree.

Ms. Ginsburg quoted from the operatic comedy, “Scalia/Ginsburg,” in her tribute to Mr. Scalia: “We are different, we are one.”

So be it.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 12:50 AM with the headline "Follow Scalia-Ginsburg example."