Author Topic: Sotomayor, the 1st Hispanic justice (Read 34214 times)

B E C K · « **on:** Aug 06, 2009, 07:39:09 PM »

Like, la raza or whatever. She reminds me of my dead grandma. My grandma used to knit. She taught my dad to knit and he used this gift for evil.

Senate Confirms Sotomayor in Largely Partisan 68-31 Vote

I actually watched some of the-- eh, I don't know what it was. You know, that hearing thing where they asked her a bunch of questions and shit. I swear Al Franken(stein) nearly rimmed her. It came out on PBS. I had it on while I was straightening sodas. Because I do that. Straighten sodas. They look nice that way. Like at the store.

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B E C K · « **Reply #1 on:** Aug 06, 2009, 07:41:23 PM »

You know, in light of how I ended that post, I think I should call her "Sodamayor". What do you think? It sounds tastier. Or at least fizzier.

IDE · « **Reply #2 on:** Aug 06, 2009, 08:29:03 PM »

I want to see a sc decision allowing police to deport illegals.

B E C K · « **Reply #3 on:** Aug 06, 2009, 09:47:20 PM »

I don't know what good it would do when they can just saunter back in.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #4 on:** Aug 06, 2009, 10:35:44 PM »

Well, she's for using international law as precedent for U.S. law, is for illegal immigrant rights, is for eminent domain (a position I'm downright hostile with), does not support the second amendment, opposes the death penalty because she sees it as racist, is for allowing convicted felons voting rights, believes judges have the right to make law and dismiss the citing of those with which the disagree (elevating personal biases and empathy over the law itself), and claims her decisions are better because she's not white or male.

But she's the first hispanic on the court, so I'm supposed to be happy. Hooray.

IDE · « **Reply #5 on:** Aug 06, 2009, 11:27:23 PM »

Ugh.

B E C K · « **Reply #6 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 01:53:40 AM »

Quote from: Rodent of Unusual Size on Aug 06, 2009, 10:35:44 PM

Well, she's for using international law as precedent for U.S. law, is for illegal immigrant rights, is for eminent domain (a position I'm downright hostile with), does not support the second amendment, opposes the death penalty because she sees it as racist, is for allowing convicted felons voting rights, believes judges have the right to make law and dismiss the citing of those with which the disagree (elevating personal biases and empathy over the law itself), and claims her decisions are better because she's not white or male.

But she's the first hispanic on the court, so I'm supposed to be happy. Hooray.

I just realize I forgot my disclaimer that her reminding me of my grandma is not necessarily a positive.

I think the whole "claims her decisions are better because she's not white or male" is a vast misinterpretation. Using her own quote:

Quote from: NY Times

“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,” said Judge Sotomayor, who is now considered to be near the top of President Obama’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees.

I don't think she meant to say white males are stupid and can't be trusted or something. A 55 year old Hispanic female will have an important perspective that an old crusty white male judge won't. It's just a sad fact. With a growing minority population, that perspective is in dire need. This blog post says it best: http://www.racialicious.com/2009/06/11/a-word-on-empathy/

It also brings me to another sad fact: 55 year old Hispanic females always have the knack for wording shit WRONG that leaves it open to the worse interpretation possible. I fully expect more of these flubs in the future.

Derrick · « **Reply #7 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 06:16:55 AM »

I wonder if the press will shield her's like they do Obama's?

IDE · « **Reply #8 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 11:21:23 AM »

That quote reads that she'd make a better conclusion in general than a white male not only on issues that pertain to minorities. And why would you even say something like that? Why bring race into it in the first place...unless you're a racist.

B E C K · « **Reply #9 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 05:15:17 PM »

Quote from: IDE on Aug 07, 2009, 11:21:23 AM

That quote reads that she'd make a better conclusion in general than a white male not only on issues that pertain to minorities.

No, it doesn't. It says "reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life". Just what do you think that implies? It's completely about conclusions concerning minority issues.

I have no gripes about people pinpointing Soda-mayor on her past decisions and declared stances or her frizzy-ass hair, but the way ppl are jumping on this all "Mamacita says she's smarter than the white man" is maddeningly ridiculous.

IDE · « **Reply #10 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 05:18:22 PM »

The fact that she even brought it up implies that she does think that. There was no reason to bring race into it.

IDE · « **Reply #11 on:** Aug 07, 2009, 05:19:10 PM »

And grammatically I'm pretty sure I'm right also.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #12 on:** Aug 08, 2009, 08:21:16 PM »

I don't want to be overly (or overtly) political, but I guess it's too late at this point.

I want to know, if I wanted to be wise as she is, how the spotted hell do I live the life of a wise Latina woman? I'm white and have Y chromosomes...it's umpossible! So it's therefore umpossible to reach (caveat emptor: more often than not, don't let me forget) a better judicial decision than her, meaning that I'm fundamentally and irreversibly flawed.

I just don't know if I should take it as more racist or sexist in nature, since I'm fairly sure that's the thinking of the vast majority of women at large

IDE · « **Reply #13 on:** Aug 08, 2009, 09:44:15 PM »

Also I don't need to appoint a guy that has had his arm cut off to tell me that having your arm cut off sucks balls.

I possess the ability to empathize with other human beings. And guess what, this powet is not mine alone!

There are no rights for illegal immigrants. I should be able to run them over on accident and receive no penalty for doing so. How can I be punished for running someone over that isn't supposed to be here?

When this country falls into the shitter I will rise from my grave (hopefully I won't live to see it) and with the help of zombie lincoln we will set things right once more.

Just to illustrate a little culture clash I experienced yesterday. I saw a mexican woman pull the pants down on her toddler in the middle of the sidewalk so he could piss all over said sidewalk. Perhaps this is the status quo in mexico (I know the dutch do it) but over here that isn't kosher.

Rodent of Unusual Size · « **Reply #14 on:** Aug 08, 2009, 10:41:31 PM »

What are you talking about, my granddad used to do that. Sure, he was in his 90's, on his own property, and was known to carry concealed weapons, but still.

IDE · « **Reply #15 on:** Aug 08, 2009, 11:25:37 PM »

Well now that this chick is in office we can all look forward to pissing on the sidewalk.

Rama · « **Reply #16 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 12:28:13 AM »

Good pissing on the Mail Box was getting old.

Derrick · « **Reply #17 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 12:33:08 AM »

Quote from: Rodent of Unusual Size on Aug 08, 2009, 08:21:16 PM

I don't want to be overly (or overtly) political, but I guess it's too late at this point.

I want to know, if I wanted to be wise as she is, how the spotted hell do I live the life of a wise Latina woman? I'm white and have Y chromosomes...it's umpossible! So it's therefore umpossible to reach (caveat emptor: more often than not, don't let me forget) a better judicial decision than her, meaning that I'm fundamentally and irreversibly flawed.

I just don't know if I should take it as more racist or sexist in nature, since I'm fairly sure that's the thinking of the vast majority of women at large

White men still rule the world, so I'm not worried about this. Did George Bush ever listen to the supreme court? No. He did what he wanted and didn't worry about the reprecussions. Ah, America.

B E C K · « **Reply #18 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 03:34:50 AM »

Quote

meaning that I'm fundamentally and irreversibly flawed.

Every human being is flawed. That's why we need people with different backgrounds and different flaws to balance out the highest court in the land. I think that's reasonable.

Quote

The fact that she even brought it up implies that she does think that. There was no reason to bring race into it.

She brought race into it because race IS a factor and it will sadly continue to be for many years to come. Tom knows where it's at: This is a white world with white people in the high income brackets and the best jobs, white people dominating TV and other mass media, white people occupying the majority of the ruling offices in this nation. Latinos for the most part are the poor, the uneducated**, the subserviant, and the tokens who are supposed to be fortunate they can just hang out in the background when the crackers needs them for some spice.

You would really hope that people of all races and both genders can empathize equally with one another but it's not possible. This can't be new to you. Dudes, come on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_privilege

You are completely misconstruing her meaning. I say that with abosolute confidence. She does not think she's fundamentally smarter than you, she's saying she's in a position to make better decisions concerning me and Merla than an Anthony Kennedy or Stephen Breyer. I am connected--through blood, work, neighborhood, friendship, and/or acquaintance--to literally tons of people with several background similarities to Sotomayor and I'm supposed to believe that John Paul Stevensses of the world would understand and serve them equally well as Sotomayor?

** This is a semi off-topic rant to elaborate the "uneducated" comment from my own perspective. Seriously, I went to a "brown" school--predominantly poor, dark Hispanics--in the second grade here in SA and it was a complete shock. 90-95% of the collective students and teachers I encountered were fucking morons and you learn retard math and fucking retard English. You want to know why a lot of brown people are fucking retards, it's because the schools teach them to be fucking retards. The "standards", if you can call them that, are shit. It was a BIG shock from having come from the nice white schools I went to in North Texas. I ended up in a predominantly white school for 3rd to 8th and while it still felt too slow for me, at least I was actually learning shit. I went to a magnet school for high school where it was far more mixed with more brown folks, but given the amount that were part of the magnet school, the majority of them were the brightest from their respective schools. But I could still easily pick out the people who went to the poorer brown schools. The way they talked and acted, it was sadly obvious. There is no way in hell someone who goes to nothing but "brown" schools here--in the seventh largest city in the country, mind you--is properly prepared for college. NO FUCKING WAY. I met loads of them as an SI at my old uni, they are so not prepared you almost want to cry. They'd have to fed Encyclopædia Britannica like Celina Sotomayor did for Sonia, and that shit just doesn't happen.

Rama · « **Reply #19 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 11:03:35 AM »

If there is some great white male overlord conspiracy called "The Man" who helps his own and keeps everyone else down that isn't white or male then he hasn't down jack shit for me. So fuck'em.

B E C K · « **Reply #20 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 01:36:15 PM »

Yeah, I'm aware you guys fuck over your own, too. I'm not really talking about a "conspiracy". It's an ingrained cultural bias that favors white skin and maleness.

This is an interesting read. I think a lot of it applies more to black people:
http://www.amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html

Rama · « **Reply #21 on:** Aug 09, 2009, 11:48:23 PM »

Really? Cause I have not gotten jobs cause I didn't have a vagina. But whatever..again if Cultural favors that then I havn't seen it in my own life any.

Derrick · « **Reply #22 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 01:35:01 AM »

I'm not getting thrown money, unfortunately, even though I am white and male. I know there is a bias, but the best way to combat it is not to point it out constantly and overexaggerate it while holding that all white males are evil and everyone else is much better. It just further devides and places white males in the same position.

IDE · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 04:00:12 AM »

Race shouldn't be a factor and bringing it up makes it a bigger one like tomderrick said.

Some group of people will always be dominating other groups it's fucking human nature. If it wasn't the whites it would be some other group subjugating the rest. This doesn't preclude awareness of this and the ability to empathize with others. Just because I'm not mexican doesn't mean I couldn't take up the cause of all mexicans and make mexican supreme court decisions. I could open the border and give them all driver's licenses and diplomatic immunity. We'd change the names of the streets to mexican national heroes and force everyone to speak spanish.

B E C K · « **Reply #24 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 05:24:50 AM »

Sometimes I really don't know if you're fucking with me or if you actually believe anything you've typed, IDE.

Quote from: Derrick on Aug 10, 2009, 01:35:01 AM

not to point it out constantly and overexaggerate it while holding that all white males are evil and everyone else is much better. It just further devides and places white males in the same position.

I've met people like this so I know what you mean but the "point it out constantly" part is a dilemma because if they don't point it out, nothing changes. And when they do, well, they're complainers, nitpickers, and whiners. So they don't win either way.

Quote from: Rama on Aug 09, 2009, 11:48:23 PM

Really?

WTF, do you mean "really", man, do you think I'm making this shit up?

Quote from: Rama on Aug 09, 2009, 11:48:23 PM

again if Cultural favors that then I havn't seen it in my own life any.

You don't have to look far. Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Star Trek, Masters of the Universe, G.I.Joe, X-Men, the Justice League. Look at the main characters. Where are the colored people? How many are women? Storm and Uhura? Cha-ching.

Top 15 films so far for 2009: Transformers 2, Up, Harry Potter 6, The Hangover, Star Trek, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Night at the Museum 2, Fast and Furious 4, The Proposal, Paul Blart, Taken, Angels and Demons, Terminator 4. Main characters that are colored women? About six. (Although there could've been at least one more.) Latinas? Two, to my knowledge.

On this list of top TV shows, how many have main character--a star, not a sideling just to make the cast look colorful--that is a colored woman? http://www.tv.com/shows/top-shows/today.html I see 3 definites: Selena Gomez, her bff Demi, and Ugly Betty. Possibly one more with the chick from iCarly. (I don't know how big of a role Salli Richardson has on Eureka, but if she stars in it equally with Colin Fergurson, we have nother.) Even if I've deviated as far as 6, that still leaves about 90 shows starring a man or white woman.

BTW, two blogs that have had interesting mentions on race issues:
http://www.angryasianman.com/angry.html
http://theangryblackwoman.com/

Both angry, neither Latino, both good reads. Angry Asian Man is more fun because he pretty much talks about anything Asian, while Angry Black Woman is more issue-centric.

B E C K · « **Reply #25 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 05:46:37 AM »

Why the hell didn't that become a link? The top TV show list again: http://www.tv.com/shows/top-shows/today.html

IDE · « **Reply #26 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 09:51:00 AM »

Quote from: B E C K on Aug 10, 2009, 05:24:50 AM

Sometimes I really don't know if you're fucking with me or if you actually believe anything you've typed, IDE.

A little from column A, a little from column B.

As far as entertainment being mostly white characters you have to remember this is a mostly white country. It wasn't the asians and latinos fighting to free it from the brittish. If it had been I'm sure you'd see El Supermang and The Yellow Lantern on the big screen instead.

IDE · « **Reply #27 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 10:14:58 AM »

How many non latinos are in latino country productions right now?

I could be on a mexican soap opera right now slamming out mad mamacita's and drinking patron all day but I can't because El Man is holding me down.

Marinate on that.

Rama · « **Reply #28 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 12:39:58 PM »

You know the idea that there would be some antimosity from someone like Beck (a Hispanic woman) to someone like me (A white male) just because of something I can't even help (being white and male) is troubling to me. Especially with someone like Beck who I know we are more a like then different. =\

IDE · « **Reply #29 on:** Aug 10, 2009, 02:49:14 PM »

straiiightt fromm the hearrrt!

Yeah that animosity would stem from racism, and it's not an intrinsic trait of all hispanic women (see nuri, merla. etc.)

And as far as men dominating everything I wonder if that will ever change. The powet that women have today seems to be powet given (to them by men). Whereas the powet that men possess over women is a powet taken since the dawn of time. That's millions of years of evolution you're up against there. The very nature of the beast as it were.