One Latino’s Opinion on Sotomayor’s “Wise Latina Woman” Comment

I watched in amazement this morning as Senator John Cornyn, from the great state of Texas—a state where Latinos make up about 36% of the population—once again was fixated on the “wise Latina” contention.

Of course, Cornyn also brought up Sotomayor’s involvement with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, an organization whose mission is to provide equal opportunity for Latinos—a large part of Cornyn’s constituency.

At one time during the four days of hearings, it got so bad, that, after one of Cornyn’s commentaries, Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy announced that he was entering “into the record” a letter of support for Sotomayor from Latino chambers of commerce across the nation. Leahy specifically mentioned the chambers of commerce in Dallas, Houston and Odessa. Guess what state these cities are in.

But let’s focus on the wise Latina woman “issue.”

In a 2001 speech, Judge Sonia Sotomayor had the “temerity” to say: “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.”

Before and during the many hours of intense questioning by her Republican critics—Cornyn among them—Sotomayor explained, clarified, put into context, and even apologized for any offense or misunderstanding her remarks may have caused or resulted in.

For example:

If you read on and read the rest of my speech you wouldn’t be concerned with it, but it was a poor choice of words.

It was bad because it left an impression that I believed that life experiences commanded a result in a case, but that’s clearly not what I do as a judge.

And

No words I have ever spoken or written have received so much attention…I want to state up front, unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judging…”

But to no avail. The seven wise, white, male senators were intent on proving that Sotomayor remarks were racial, even racist.

But what is so wrong with Sotomayor’s comment?

In this Latino’s opinion, nothing, when viewed in context, and considering some aspects of Hispanic/Latino culture and tradition.

Others—including Latinos—may disagree with me, but as a Latino who grew up most of my young life with wise Latina women, I can attest that there is a lot of tradition behind and basis for Sotomayor’s words.

Hispanic/Latina women traditionally play a strong and central role in their community and within their family.

In the Latino home I grew up in, my grandmother (my abuelita) was a strong matriarch, and my loving grandfather (my abuelito) was a quiet man, a true gentle man.

And I know that in our home, our abuelita would more often than not make the decisions—and the right decisions.

Now, had our abuelito not been Hispanic—say, perhaps, a white male—I know that my abuelita would still have reached good conclusions, more often than not.

Hispanic women, mothers, grandmothers, and especially great-grandmothers (bisabuelas), with the richness of their heritage, their culture and their experiences are indeed wise women.

Their home is their castillo; they run a tight ship, and the male (white or not) understands and appreciates such.

When I view Sotomayor’s comments from this perspective, I can understand how she would have made them without any sinister, racist or ulterior motives.

I hasten to say that none of this should be viewed as implying that Hispanic or Latino males are meek, weak or indecisive. On the contrary, we respect women, we value their wisdom, and we tremendously appreciate the uniqueness and richness of their life experiences.

In final comments today, addressing a final question by the Republican Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, on the “wise Latina” issue, Sotomayor answered:

I regret that I have offended some people. I believe that my life demonstrates that that was not my intent to leave the impression that some have taken from my words.

To which the Senator from South Carolina, graciously answered, “You know what Judge, I agree with you. Good Luck”

Will the Texas Senator with a large Hispanic/Latino voting bloc in his state be equally gracious—and wise?