More Identity Politics
Sonia Sotomayor is President Obama's pick for the SCOTUS. She deserves to have an up or down vote and that vote will rule the day. She should be seated. I have no doubt that she's qualified in that she's a lawyer, she's smart, blah blah blah. I don't particularly agree with her politics. But in this case, that shouldn't really matter.
But ... I really, really dislike identity politics. I wish - and she may yet do this - she would say at some point, you know I deserve this post and this position not because I'm a Latina woman, but because I've worked my tail off to get where I am and I'm smart and I've earned it.
Another quote that's circling the inter webs:
Please guys ... real equality means men and women are equal, not that women are better than men.
Now does this quote encompass her entire belief system? Probably not. I've said a lot of dumb things that I really hope I don't get judged for down the line. But there is an entire group of women out there that think Sotomayor's brilliance comes not from her brain but from her gender. And that's simply not the case.
And Harry Reid better read her opinions. I mean, I have little to no respect for the guy anyway, so it won't hurt him if he doesn't ... but what a complete moron. I, and this feeling knows no bounds, despise Senators.
But ... I really, really dislike identity politics. I wish - and she may yet do this - she would say at some point, you know I deserve this post and this position not because I'm a Latina woman, but because I've worked my tail off to get where I am and I'm smart and I've earned it.
Another quote that's circling the inter webs:
“Justice O’Connor has often been cited as saying that “a wise old man and a wise old woman reach the same conclusion in dueling cases. I am not so sure Justice O’Connor is the author of that line since Professor Resnik attributes the line to Supreme Court Justice Coyle. I am not so sure that I agree with the statement. First, if Prof. Martha Minnow is correct, there can never be a universal definition of ‘wise.’ Second, I would hope that a wise woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion.”
Please guys ... real equality means men and women are equal, not that women are better than men.
Now does this quote encompass her entire belief system? Probably not. I've said a lot of dumb things that I really hope I don't get judged for down the line. But there is an entire group of women out there that think Sotomayor's brilliance comes not from her brain but from her gender. And that's simply not the case.
And Harry Reid better read her opinions. I mean, I have little to no respect for the guy anyway, so it won't hurt him if he doesn't ... but what a complete moron. I, and this feeling knows no bounds, despise Senators.
Comments
Men don't have to think exactly the same way as women and vice versa.
In my mind what is important is can the person reach a decision that is supported by law & logic. It doesn't matter as much as how they derive that decision as if the decision meets those requirements.
Very thought provoking post.
There are so many individual things that men are superior at (and vice versa) but when it comes to politics and jobs and such ... if we really want equality, than gender needs to be removed from the equation.
Now ... if we're willing to admit that there are things that men are better suited to than women ... that's a whole different kettle of fish.
As an aside, I don't particularly care whether Reid reads any of her opinions or not. If he has a staff member he trusts doing it, especially if that staff member is a lawyer, that's plenty good enough for me.
Like reading full resumes of important appointees and legislation. In fact ... I'd say all staffers and the Senator himself should have to read the bills / resumes of these type of things.
If gender is to be considered then women need to shut up about combat zones.
I agree with Stacy. I didn't elect my representatives staff, I elected that single person.
If the work is too much for that person to do, then we need to get different people in the office.
I don't expect the representatives to draft all their own laws, but I certainly expect them to fully and completely understand them, the impact of the laws, etc.
Similarly, I elected the representative for his/her judgment, not that of their staff.
I expect the representative to read the decision, to see the nuances, the depth of the reasoning, how aptly the laws are applied. That information is needed by the representative during the discussion, during the confirmation to develop questions that will draw out the ability of the judge.