So I clicked on one of the old thread links in the OP and was perusing an old article about Sonia Sotomayor's appointment to the Supreme Court. I recall when she was being appointed I was quite irritated with a couple of her statements, and it's interesting to reread them with my current perspective, almost 7 years later, and think about how I have a different reaction now.
I considered her qualified to be on the court, but her statement below irked me. I remember discussing it with two of my roommates (both also white males, though I voted for Obama and they voted for McCain) at the time and we were all pretty "ugh".
"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 hasnt lived that life"
I guess I felt... offended. Like that she thinks being a Latina woman made her better than me. I didn't like the thought of someone thinking they were better than me based on who I was born as, which was something I couldn't control.
I certainly realize now that her background and struggles and different situation absolutely give her a different perspective, and honestly I think she would reach a more fair conclusion than someone who has lived a much cushier life. Not actually experiencing poverty, racism, and sexism firsthand can make it a lot more difficult to understand how impactful these barriers can be. I don't think she is trying to disparage white men, she's just trying to say that the voice that she brings is not being heard and it is disenfranchising certain demographics. This is related to my opinion at that time that affirmative action was a negative thing, while now I see the benefit of it.
It's interesting to look at personal growth and view change over time, and I think it's also helpful to look back so that I can remember how I felt to better convey my current stance to someone who may disagree. Just wanted to share
