“It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.” John Adams, who served as the second President of the United States and was a remarkable political philosopher, penned these words. Remarkably, John Adam’s words ring true today. However, morality is the issue and one point is sure: The United States Supreme Court should not arbitrate morality. In order to explain this position, one must first understand how the Supreme Court works and then look into three cases in which morality was decided by the court.
How does the Supreme Court work? In order to answer this question, first one must understand that the Founding Fathers established …show more content…
Bell. In order to understand the court’s ruling, a brief overview of this case is necessary. “Buck is the 1927 decision that upheld involuntary sterilization of the hereditarily ‘feebleminded’” (Lain 1021). Just after the birth of her daughter, Vivian, Carrie Buck almost eighteen years of age with an estimated mental age of nine was sent to the Virginia Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded. Carrie’s mother, Emma, had been admitted four years earlier having an estimated mental age of eight. Carrie’s daughter, Vivian, had also shown signs of mental issues (Lain 1033-1034). As a result of this family, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in speaking for the entire court penned these appalling words: “Three generations of imbeciles are enough” (qtd. in Lain 1032). Consequently, Justice Holmes stated that life only has value when humans are not “imbeciles”. Again, the Supreme Court handed down a nefarious decision ruling on morality. One might ask how it is even possible for a ruling like this to be handed down, the absurdity of nine men having the power to decide what is right and wrong. Justice Butler was the lone dissenter in Buck v. Bell. However, Butler did not write why he dissented. The reason may never be known, but this lone dissent will go down in history. Buck v. Bell led to “thousands upon thousands” (Lain 1032) of forced sterilizations. This case was also cited in the Nuremberg trials in defense of the Nazi sterilization experiments. Furthermore, Buck v. Bell has never been overturned. Therefore, not only is this ruling appalling because thousands of people were forced to have an intrusive medical procedure, but also think of this: a decision by the Supreme Court was cited in defense of those who had committed atrocious Nazi
How does the Supreme Court work? In order to answer this question, first one must understand that the Founding Fathers established …show more content…
Bell. In order to understand the court’s ruling, a brief overview of this case is necessary. “Buck is the 1927 decision that upheld involuntary sterilization of the hereditarily ‘feebleminded’” (Lain 1021). Just after the birth of her daughter, Vivian, Carrie Buck almost eighteen years of age with an estimated mental age of nine was sent to the Virginia Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded. Carrie’s mother, Emma, had been admitted four years earlier having an estimated mental age of eight. Carrie’s daughter, Vivian, had also shown signs of mental issues (Lain 1033-1034). As a result of this family, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in speaking for the entire court penned these appalling words: “Three generations of imbeciles are enough” (qtd. in Lain 1032). Consequently, Justice Holmes stated that life only has value when humans are not “imbeciles”. Again, the Supreme Court handed down a nefarious decision ruling on morality. One might ask how it is even possible for a ruling like this to be handed down, the absurdity of nine men having the power to decide what is right and wrong. Justice Butler was the lone dissenter in Buck v. Bell. However, Butler did not write why he dissented. The reason may never be known, but this lone dissent will go down in history. Buck v. Bell led to “thousands upon thousands” (Lain 1032) of forced sterilizations. This case was also cited in the Nuremberg trials in defense of the Nazi sterilization experiments. Furthermore, Buck v. Bell has never been overturned. Therefore, not only is this ruling appalling because thousands of people were forced to have an intrusive medical procedure, but also think of this: a decision by the Supreme Court was cited in defense of those who had committed atrocious Nazi