This white man thinks that, all things being equal, a latina woman IS likely

[Political Heretic]

to have experiences and an absence of much of the over-privilege that comes with being white and male in this society so that she (in many ways) damn well WOULD be wiser than many, if not most white men.

So there.

[county worker]

1. What I find funny in the hearings is that some of the white men are afraid that a Latina woman

will do what white men have been doing for hundreds of years and continue to do. A good example is the incarceration of Blacks using crack vs white using heroin.

[AspenRose]

3. They exhibit that same fear whenever any minority gets in a position of authority

black, hispanic, female, whatever.

That's quite telling in and of itself.

[Salviati]

2. My take on it is this:

Let's imagine the ideal supreme court justice, someone who would, without contest, be the absolute best person to sit on the bench. Would the court be any better if we just cloned this person 8 times and filled out the court with carbon copies of them? No, the whole point of having a panel of judges to provide a diversity of viewpoint and opinions, and thus any person who is well qualified to the position who broadens this diversity will improve the court.

[Hepburn]

4. +1...n/t

[TahitiNut]

13. Exactly. It's not a matter of which is 'better' but a matter of synergy.

:shrug:

[blondeatlast]

21. Exactly. nt

[hfojvt]

I don't know about that

I'd love to replace Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito with clones of Brandeis, or Marshall, or even O'Connor or Kennedy. I think that would be a much better court than the one we have now.

[alsame]

28. Yes. The court should reflect the diversity of our country and be

as representative as possible regarding gender, race, sexual orientation and religion.

[Cleita]

5. Even white women would, just from the perspective that even in today's

world she still has to negotiate a more difficult path because she still doesn't have the full recognition of the rights that men have. Like for instance, women's reproductive health issues are being left off the public option in the health care bill because the RW cracker caucus of religio-nutto white men are against abortion. I'm sure Viagra will be covered without a problem though and the accompanying condoms for when they visit their mistresses.

[Warpy]

6. There's nothing like not having white male entitlement

to allow one to spot it. That's what the old white males who are being so disrespectful to her will never get.

[cali]

7. I disagree. I don't believe that gender and ethnicity are determining factors

in obtaining wisdom.

[Mz Pip]

8. Some of those old white guys

sure seemed threatened by that wise Latina woman. THeir hold on the reigns of power is loosening and by their reaction to Sotomoyor they are none too pleased.

Progress means having to share the stage with all not just those that look like you.

Sessions is such a twit. What a nasty little man. He tries so hard to mask his contempt with an occasional compliment but his true bigotry shines through all the same. I am so relieve he never made it to the bench and even Republican recognized him for what he was and still is. Poor Alabama that is still stuck with him for Senator.

[Burma Jones]

9. The President nominated her, she is exceptionally qualified by any measure, that should be enough

The rest is posturing.

[ItNerd4life]

10. I thought only Republicans were racist. Silly me! nt

[Vickers]

11. Are you intentionally missing the point, or simply hopelessly obtuse?

:shrug:

[librechik]

12. What no one mentions when quoting this : SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CASES!

So, yes, when pondering the aspects of a racial discrimination case, ANYONE would hope that a Latina Woman would be slightly more capable of rendering a fair decision than a white man.

By stretching this to include all cases, the Republicans are misleading us and lying about a sincere candidate.

[TahitiNut]

15. She was also comparing experience with INexperience.

Despite the overall societal bias, it IS entirely possible for white males to experience discrimination and bigotry and that experience, coupled with empathy, is to be valued as well.

[GreenArrow]

17. So, all white people, or more specifically, white men, are racists?

That's what it sounds like.

[Karenina]

30. I remember you! Sehr lang nicht gesehen!

:hi: :eyes: :hi:

[BlooInBloo]

14. People talking about the false symmetry of "what if a white guy said it?"...

Deliberately ignore the historical asymmetry of American history, solely for the purpose of getting their whine on.

[Political Heretic]

19. For once I completely agree with you.

I was just talking to my father the other day, talking about how ridiculous it is when a white guy says "if I had said something like you had said (inverse of course) I would have been criticized for it."

Well no shit, that's because the contexts are not at all similar!

[blondeatlast]

22. Precisely, and it sickens me that that sad excuse is deemed fit to be raised,

much less considered.

[optimal-tomato]

16. As a white, straight, man...

I thought I understood discrimination. I knew it was bad, but I thought it was largely a thing of the past and that minorities make too big a deal about it now.

Then I became an atheist, and I realized what it feels like to be so completely outnumbered. Ever since then, I've been much more sensitive to all forms of discrimination.

No matter how thoughtful they are, people who have never been in the minority don't understand what that really means. I'm disappointed that she backtracked on this in the hearings. On the area of discrimination, at least, a white, Christian, straight man will almost certainly not fully understand both sides of the issue.

[slackmaster]

18. I think the concept of "over-privilege" is horseshit

The fact that others are oppressed doesn't mean that you or I have too much "privilege".

[Political Heretic]

20. That's not what "overprivilege" is about.

Read this:
http://www.antiracistalliance.com/Unpacking.html

Social conditions that put some at a disadvantage also put others at and advantage.

Racism, for example, isn't just about disadvantaging some, its also about creating undeserved advantages for others.

[slackmaster]

25. Every person should be able to have points 1-50 on that link apply to them

I don't have excessive privilege for being a white male.

The proper fix for the disparity is to grant the same level of privilege to everyone, not to reduce mine.

[hfojvt]

27. I have tried to say the same thing,

but it only makes me a racist in some eyes.

They say whites have privilege because, for example, we don't get harrassed for DWB (driving while black) or for shopping while black. Since nobody should be harrassed, the ability to not be harrassed shouldn't be called a 'privilege'.

Advantage would be a better word.

[Political Heretic]

31. But they don't

:(

Again, racism, for example, isn't just about disadvantaging some, its also about creating undeserved advantages for others.

Not everything is an undeserved advantage. But it is just as important to understand the ways in which we have had it easier as it is to understand the way someone else has had it harder - REGARDLESS of whether or not the answer is to "Bring everyone up" to our level or not.

[U4ikLefty]

23. Interesting terms you used.

You referred to the oppressed as "others" and to the (allegedly) privileged as "you or I".

[slackmaster]

24. That terminology was directed at the OP

i.e. "white man".

[On the Road]

26. Nobody Seems to Have a Problem

recognizing the problems of having decisions made by a group of old, conservative, homogeneous men.

At least when it comes to Iran. Half the country suddenly confused when the same issue is posed about the US.

[Enthusiast]

29. This white man agrees. nt