WICHITA, Kansas - Having an opinion takes no time, work, money or ingenuity. Based upon my personal experience in various exchanges, it apparently doesn’t require heightened intelligence, savvy or charm. All it takes is one person, one mouth and the need to be heard. This goes for either side of any argument. You can pick any topic of discussion. Being able to state your opinion with big words, backed by college degrees and the latest talking points readily at hand does not make your opinion any more effective toward enacting real and lasting change in society than the next person’s.

After the assassination of Dr. George Tiller, an up swell of pro-choice opinions came to the surface via community discussions, blogs, web sites, television, radio, everywhere you turned…pro-choice voices were being heard! It gave me hope. I felt that real change would surely come.

The depth and breadth of my knowledge of the Supreme Court of the United States is paltry. I do tend to perk up and pay attention, however, to the cases that directly affect me or about which I have strong feelings, opinions and inclinations. As a feminist and equality advocate, these tend to be cases revolving around the areas of social justice, privacy and the female experience. These are the areas that I am passionate about. I read today that Sonia Sotomayor’s passion could be considered a detriment to her in the confirmation process.

This is the first time that I have ever pondered the concept that passion could be considered a negative characteristic.

Finding the positive amidst tragedy is a difficult feat. When the tragedy is the murder of someone loved and admired, this difficulty often becomes insurmountable. Defense mechanisms call for retreat and denial, fear and helplessness consume. All of the good, all of the light that once was, is extinguished and darkness remains. This is what happens when evil prevails. But evil does not always prevail. When people band together and choose to deny evil its victory, the opposite occurs… the opposite is inspiration. I have witnessed inspiration and it is beautiful, astounding and transformational.