Thursday February 16, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Sotomayor denies bias in 'wise Latina' remark

World Jul. 15, 2009 - 04:40AM JST ( 16 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

16 Comments

0

elbudamexicanoJul. 15, 2009 - 08:19AM JST

What is so wrong about a wise Latina? We have a Black man as president of the USA, and it is time for WASPs to understand that it is not 1800s nor the 1930s anymore. The KKK is out there, sure but, no more public lynchigs will be tolerated anymore and it is tie for a Latina to be part of the U.S. Supreme Court.
0

bushloverJul. 15, 2009 - 09:09AM JST

It wasn't the wise latina comment that got her. It was the "than a white male" part that did. It indicates that she thinks all white males are stupider than the "wise latina". If that were "black male" you'd really hear the outrage. But we know that whites and especially white males are the only racists around. Funny when the shoe is on the other foot. However I'm sure she didn't want it to mean what it sounded like so I'm willing to forgive her. How's that for forgiving and forgetting? Hope all can do the same. Sounds like some people resent WASPs. How's that for discrimination? Would like to hear why it's time for only WASPs to understand this and that. Explanation please.
0

TriumvereJul. 15, 2009 - 10:01AM JST

I have less problem with the underlying message (that a diversity of experiene on the court will aid in the pursuit of justice), than the manner in which it was presented: "a wise Latina with a richness of experience" is just gagging on its own identity politics... It indicates a world view that I find both repellant incompatable with impartiality (and therefore justic). Now, Ms. Sotomayor denies this and insists in her capacity for impartiality as a judge. I truely hope this is the case. At any rate, I imagine Ms. Sotomayor is now seriously regreting making that comment regardless of how well it reflects her true feelings.
0

moonbeamsJul. 15, 2009 - 10:11AM JST

This is a non-issue. In the 2001 quote, all she did was give an example how that her perspective is different than the perspective of people who traditional hold roles of power.

Those offended by this need some self reflection.
0

TriumvereJul. 15, 2009 - 10:25AM JST

I don't know, moonbeams... you don't think the manner in which the message is delivered counts for anything? I'm not saying that she is biased, but I do find her language problematic. (I don't have a problem with her being liberal, but rather its hard for me to immagine someone being able to come up with the phrase "a wise Latina with a richness of experience" without comming from a perspective steeped in identity politics, which I despise.)
0

BadseyJul. 15, 2009 - 10:43AM JST

It's not Sotomayor's fault: -like Obama she needs to find better "handlers" that write the scripts for the TelePrompTer. Good "handlers" are hard to find it seems = always blame the "handlers."
0

skipthesongJul. 15, 2009 - 11:49AM JST

She is not as popular amongst us as many of you think. So, I think its time to drop the identity thing. Everyone has to do this from time to time, so that should be left alone. Also, we all know she is going to be approved, (was there ever anyone who wasn't in recent years?) so basically much of this is just a waste of time. elbundo: you are aware we got our own problems too, don't you?
0

yokomocJul. 15, 2009 - 01:26PM JST

She was specifically talking about race/sex discrimation cases, and how being a Latina woman in a predominantly white male profession who's personally experienced both kinds of discrimation would give her insights that a white man wouldn't as an example of the benefits fo diversity. In the original context the comment was just a simple common sense statement.
0

MadvertsJul. 15, 2009 - 06:12PM JST

Race shouldn't be an issue full stop.
0

Gombei424CanadaJul. 15, 2009 - 08:55PM JST

moonbeams:Those offended by this need some self reflection.

Yahtze!

I think it all boils down to republicans anger about certain events of last November. :>
0

BeaverCleaverJul. 15, 2009 - 09:22PM JST

Her statement was fine, even though I do not agree with its implication. What would have been a problem is if she said any idiot of a Latina woman could trump any white man any Sunday. That is not what she said, try as hard as some do to see it that way. Those who are I also suspect of feeling a great deal of pain since November.

Her points were wisdom, which anyone can have, and experience, of which a Latino woman is bound to have certain experiences concerning racism and sexism that a white man is not. Thus far, I have to agree. The problem is the belief that such a woman, experienced in those things is bound to make better decisions on such issues. I suppose it is true for the most part, but sometimes it can lead to a vindictive reverse discrimination. Perhaps that is why she threw the word "wise" in there, because a wise person would not be so affected?

But anyway, no one is free from racial bias. It just isn't possible. The question is whether one lets it affect their decisions or not. Parsing statements subject to interpretation is as productive as farting in the wind in trying to determine that. But I guess if you lost in November, farting in the wind is a full time occupation.
0

ca1ic0catJul. 16, 2009 - 12:05AM JST

I don't think there is any wisdom in Sotomayor. Anybody who would ramble on about race in public pronouncements and then issue rulings that perpetuated reverse discrimination with no explanation really is not at all wise but is, instead, acting on prejudice. That doesn't work well in a judge.

BTW guys, trying to assign motivations to others and then dismissing them as irrevelant is rather demeaning. "But I guess if you lost in November, farting in the wind is a full time occupation." for example. Not much to discuss there, is there?
0

Helter_SkelterJul. 16, 2009 - 01:51AM JST

a “wise Latina woman” would usually reach a better conclusion than a white male.

Predictable how the libs are rationalizing Sotomayor's statement. But imagine if a white male said, "a wise white male would usually reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman." The libs would screaming racism and there'd be 100 posts by now.
0

bushloverJul. 16, 2009 - 08:04AM JST

That sure is true Helter. When the shoe is on the other foot...
0

HonestDictatorJul. 17, 2009 - 04:08PM JST

Honestly, best if she said Wise person... one would think with all the PC going on people would show up with less ethnic identity concious statements when running for certain political positions.