October 3, 2007

Justice Thomas is into comparative going-away parties.

Page 202:
Leaving EEOC was far more difficult than I'd expected. The employees decorated all eight floors of the building at their own expense, brought in a veritable cornucopia of home-cooked food, and threw me a heartfelt going-away party. One staffer after another thanked me with warm smiles and hugs for all I had done and said that things would never be the same without me.
Page 173:
[M]y schedule prevented me from accepting an invitation from Sonya Jarvis, Anita's roommate, to attend her going-away party. Revealingly, EEOC staff had refused to throw a party for her.

14 comments:

former law student said...

Hill was a weirdo that nobody liked, whereas everybody liked decent guy Thomas.

Trooper York said...

James Morrison: [narrating] The cast was assembled, all the actors: beggars and beauties and benefactors. Millionaires and zeroes; lovers, clowns, and heroes. Met on set. They rushed to their places in the grand salon, the curtain was rising, the show was on. Starring loners and owners of Babylon; phonies and cronies and hangers-on. The whole freeloading pantheon. The wheel was spinning, the course was charted. Comedy was beginning, and tradgedy had started.
(The Wild Party 1975)

Daryl said...

Wouldn't it be more interesting to compare his going-away party from the EEOC to the times in his life that he went away from his family?

Jennifer said...

Well, obviously a boss is going to leave with more fanfare than a staffer. But, I find it telling that a lot of his life seems to be judged (by him) through the prism of him vs. her.

former law student said...

Well, obviously a boss is going to leave with more fanfare than a staffer
I don't know the government culture, but in my experience, bosses' farewells are held at restaurants. People cook food and throw going away parties at their own expense only when they sincerely liked the person who's leaving.

Revenant said...

Yeah, bosses only leave with more fanfare when the bosses are paying for the going-away parties.

Anonymous said...

Judging from what we have seen here, this must be the worst autobiography ever. I am serious.

rcocean said...

Just confirming the sworn testimony at the hearing from her co-workers.

Anita Hill was an aggressive A**hole, who felt entitled because she was a Yale Law School graduate, dammit.

None of her co-workers thought she was harassed, except for one who was fired by Thomas. All said her demure, Christian, mild manner was an act for TV. She was in fact hell on wheels.

Hence, no going away party.

Jennifer said...

Hmm..good points. I worked on the stock market, where we didn't do going away parties unless someone (usually a boss) was retiring. In that world, people just leave. Really quietly. And go to your competitors.

Unknown said...

Worst autobiography ever? I imagine Althouse spitting on Justice Thomas if they crossed paths. It is nice not having the rabid trolls vomiting all over the comment section though. I guess Doyle and the rest just ignore anything that doesn't fit their world view. Suprise.

Ann Althouse said...

Actually, the book is quite good. I'm extracting tidbits, and haven't done a post on my overall opinion yet.

Anonymous said...

I read those two quotes and can come up with a completely opposite opinion. First, Thomas's going away was celebrated by his staff and coworkers, because they were glad to be rid of him. It was truly a time to rejoice. Concerning Hill's departure, perhaps everyone was too busy picking up the slack in the void she left, and couldn't make it to the party. Plus, they were sore at her for leaving them.

Those are both contrived interpretations, but the bigger point is that the perspectives of the storyteller and listeners can produce myriad conclusions based on the same data.

former law student said...

Thomas's going away was celebrated by his staff and coworkers, because they were glad to be rid of him. It was truly a time to rejoice.

The "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" party is held once the bad guy is gone -- having to say nice things to him and listening to his bullshit would suck the joy out of that party.

couldn't make it to the party. Plus, they were sore at her for leaving them.

Could be a self-serving lie, but the claim is the staff REFUSED to hold a party, not that they were busy. Plus, if you really liked someone you'd regret their leaving, but you'd hardly be mad enough not to go to their farewell.

Gahrie said...

former law student:

Shush.....

You're letting facts ruin the narrative......