By now you’ve likely heard of Sonia Sotomayor. This week, President Barrack Obama nominated her to fill the empty position in the U.S. Supreme Court (CNN announcement here).
As with any nomination, there’s always a lot of surrounding debate, sometimes from both sides, about whether or not that candidate is the right one for the job.
In the case of Sotomayor, however, I’d like for us to temporarily put the issues of the debate aside, and recognize the significance of her story.
Sonya is of Puerto Rican descent, but was born and raised in the South Bronx under extremely humble conditions.
Yet somehow she rose above those conditions, and beat the odds of her environment. She ended up going to Princeton University, and from there, Yale Law School. Over her career she continued to excel, and became a judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and in 1992 was named a U.S. District Court judge by President George H.W. Bush. She was later appointed to her current seat by President Bill Clinton.
And now, 54, she’s nominated to the prestigious, and important role as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. She would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, and the third woman to serve on the high court.
Obama said of her in a White House announcement (she) “is an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice.”
But what did she say of it all?
“I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences,”
Her path of excellence leaves a legacy of hope for those who find themselves in such humble circumstances as she once did, and is a beacon of inspiration for all those who dare to dream.
Within the fabric of the story of Sonya Sotomayor, we find the threads of evidence illustrating ones capacity to escape the natural limitations of their surroundings and inheritance, and to determine for themselves their path and destination.
Your potential is profound. Your ability to realize it is real.
Rusty
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Should we be concerned that she is a member of La Raza “The Race”? Isn’t La Raza a fringe organization?
I really admire what she has accomplished considering her humble beginnings. I haven’t watched all of the discussion, but her answers so far seem pretty bland, like she has been coached. It’s hard to know how she really feels, what her values are, and how she will vote on the issues. I’m sure she has strong opinions, otherwise she wouldn’t be where she is today. Would like to know what others think.