Saturday, May 30, 2009

A question for Sonia Sotomayor

President Obama's announcement of Sonia Sotomayor as his Supreme Court Justice Nominee unleashed a flood of favorable and unfavorable comments about her competency as a Supreme. Then came these 32 words from a 2001 lecture at UC Berkeley:
I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."


I am in the midst of a long overdue spring cleaning so I know how much glass is in my home. Therefore, I will not cast stones at Judge Sotomayor. I will ask a very rhetorical question.

Do you know about the Supreme Court ruling "Brown vs. Board of Education?" The long version is "Oliver Brown et al vs. the Topeka Board of Education." In 25 words or less, this decision declared the separate but equal doctrine for racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This decision kick started the civil rights movement and made this nation a much better place for everyone. This decision was also reached by white males. The arguments were made by Thurgood Marshall, a black man, but nonetheless the decision was made by white males. (Thurgood Marshall became the first Black Man to be appointed a Justice of the United States Supreme Court)

My question to Judge Sotomayor. How would your wise Latina wisdom and richness of experiences have improved this decision? Maybe, just maybe us white males have richness of experience as well. Remember, you put a lot of emphasis on your experiences, but you seem to have overlooked the wisdom and richness of experience of us white males. Besides, what difference does richness of experience make? This is a country that respects rule of law. Everything I read about you prior to your gaffe makes me think you respect and will defend this concept.

Oh well, that's off my my chest. I wish you the best even if you do not get the appointment. (I think you should get it. Nobody's perfect!)

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