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Enjoy Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Birthday With These 8 Celebrations Worthy Of The Notorious RBG
This weekend may be turning up to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but the real national holiday at hand is Ruth Bader Ginsburg's 82nd birthday. After all, it isn't every day that one of the most badass women and brightest legal minds in the world celebrates another year of life, and so on the one day a year when we can sing "Happy Birthday" to the Notorious RBG, we should do it at the top of our lungs. But if singing isn't quite your cup of tea, or you're looking for more creative ways to honor Justice Ginsburg's big day, look no further — here are eight ways that you can celebrate Ruth Bader Ginsburg's birthday.
Get Drunk (At A Major National Event)
Like any good birthday celebration (over the age of 21, of course), your RBG birthday party must include a healthy serving of alcohol, preferably wine, which is what Justice Ginsburg was apparently sipping at the most recent State of the Union Address. A number of dedicated viewers noticed that the venerable justice appeared to be dozing off over the course of the hour-long speech, and even one of Ginsburg’s granddaughters chastised her when she returned home, saying “‘Bubbe, you were sleeping at the State of the Union!’”
To defend herself, Ginsburg later explained that fine wine was to blame for her snoozing, addressing the incident at a talk at the George Washington University, “The audience for the most part is awake, because they’re bobbing up and down, and we sit there, stone-faced, sober judges. But we’re not, at least I wasn’t, 100 percent sober.” She continued, “Because before we went to the State of the Union, Justice Kennedy brought in … it was an Opus something or other, very fine California wine, and I vowed this year, just sparkling water, stay away from the wine, but in the end, the dinner was so delicious, it needed wine.”
Words to live by: “It needed wine.”
Get an RBG Tattoo
Does this even need any explanation? Own your body, and put RBG's face on it while you’re at it.
Instagram/@nikkiballs
Go To Law School
Consider this a gift to yourself and to the Notorious RBG. Stop putting off taking the LSATs or applying to the school of your dreams because both Justice Ginsburg and the United States need more women on the Supreme Court. As Ginsburg once said, “People ask me sometimes, when will there be enough women on the court? And my answer is: when there are nine.”
Be one of the nine, ladies.
Read One Of Her Many Biographies
While some historical figures are not immortalized in writing until after their time, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s contributions to the justice system and the United States as a whole have been so great that the justice has already seen a number of books written about her, including Raising the Bar by Amy Leigh Campbell, among others. Each celebrates the life and achievements of a truly remarkable woman who has never faltered in her fight for women’s rights and equality.
Be A Good Father
The Notorious RBG may be known as a champion for women’s rights, but as Ginsburg herself has noted, “It is not women’s liberation, it is women’s and men’s liberation.” And part of the fight for equality and raising a more just, equitable future generation comes from parenting. “Women will only have true equality,” Ginsburg has said, “when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.” So guys, celebrate RBG’s birthday as well by spending some more time with your loved ones.
Go To The Opera
It is no secret that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a classy, cultured woman, who enjoys the finer things in life, and the opera is a particular favorite of hers. So treat yourself and support classical music, and while you’re at it, take a friend with you — perhaps one you wouldn’t normally spend time with. After all, despite their polarizing opinions on the bench, Antonin Scalia and Ginsburg are the best of friends when it comes to music. Said Ginsburg once, "Scalia is my biggest buddy at the opera.”
Give Yourself A Break From The Gym
RBG has managed 82 illustrious, productive years and has stayed off the crazy fitness trends. So if you want to take today to celebrate Justice Ginsburg’s birthday and not go to Soul Cycle or YogaWorks, she’ll understand. After all, Ginsburg once said, ”I was part of Jazzercise class. It was an aerobics routine accompanied by loud music, sounding quite awful to me.”
I will interpret that as: “I worked out once. It was awful.”
Keep Fighting The Good Fight
For decades, Ginsburg has fought for the rights of women and minorities in this country. When speaking to MSNBC about race relations, Ginsburg noted, “People who think you could wave a magic wand, and the legacy of the past is over, are blind.” And on the subject of gender equality, Ginsburg has said, “One thing that concerns me is that today’s young women … may take for granted the rights that they have.”
While RBG has done everything in her power to advocate for historically underrepresented groups, it is up to us to continue her legacy in our everyday lives. So even if you can’t wish her a happy birthday in person or gift her with yet another “Notorious RBG” or “You Can’t Spell Truth Without Ruth” shirt, you can keep fighting the good fight, and give her (and everyone around you) the gift that just keeps on giving.
