WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- On Monday, the Supreme Court handed down, as expected, a ruling that sided with private corporation Hobby Lobby over the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate.
Less expected was that the dissent, penned by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, went viral -- at least as viral as a densely worded, 35-page court ruling can go.
Ginsburg, who is already something of a meme, delivered a measured but devastating takedown of some of the arguments that quickly spawned posts such as "The 8 Best Lines From Ginsburg's Dissent on the Hobby Lobby Contraception Decision" and "A Treasury of Justice Ginsburg's Real Talk In Her Hobby Lobby Dissent."
Jonathan Mann, a singer who writes and performs one new song a day on his YouTube channel, has gifted the world with Ginsburg's prose, set to acoustic guitar.
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Mann's video has already been watched more than 41,000 times in less than a day.
Below, the lyrics of Mann's song, all taken from Ginsburg's Burwell v. Hobby Lobby dissent, except where indicated by brackets (Ginsburg didn't call her fellow justices "slut-shaming geezers," unfortunately).
Religious organizations exist To foster the interests Of persons subscribing to the same religious faith. Not so of for-profit corporations. Workers who sustain the operations... Commonly are not drawn from one religious community
It bears note... that the cost of an IUD Is nearly equivalent To a month's full-time pay For workers [on] the minimum wage.
The court, I fear Has ventured into a minefield. [Full of slut-shaming geezers And religious extremism. Oh, one thing's clear: This fight isn't over. We've got to stand together For what we know is right]
Any decision to use contraceptives... [Is] not be propelled by the Government It['s] the woman's autonomous choice Informed by [her doctor] Approving some religious claims While deeming others unworthy Could be 'perceived as favoring one religion over another'
Would the exemption...extend... blood transfusions... Antidepressants ... [and] anesthesia... Pills coated with gelatin and vaccinations?
The court, I fear Has ventured into a minefield [Full of slut-shaming geezers And religious extremism. Oh, one thing's clear: This fight isn't over. We've got to stand together For what we know is right.]
