Latinos En Masse To Support Sotomayor
by: Ricardo González

---Commentary regarding the need for Latinos to be careful about segregating within ourselves over difference of opinion on Sotomayor---

One thing that concerns me is that Latinos are tending to move en masse regarding Judge Sotomayor. All people, whether Latino or not, are entitled to their own personal idealogies and belief systems.

Whether one supports Judge Sotomayor or not doesn't mean that one cares or doesn't care about the overall well-being of Latinos. I hope and pray we stop this segregation amongst ourselves. I hope Latinos are backing Judge Sotomayor because they truly believe she is the most qualified person for the job, not because she is Latina. Latinos don't need to prove themselves by holding more high offices. We have and do hold many high-level, high-profile offices already. We also hold many high-level business positions in this country. We are already integral to the political and business prosperity of this country.

Perhaps we need to stop acting like we are in need of proving ourselves every time one of us gets an extraordinary opportunity and people will stop treating us like we need to be treated differently. Judge Sotomayor's nomination, as wonderful as it is for her and those who support her, is not a defining moment for Latinos in general and I don't believe we should make it one.

If you disagree, I respect you. I just want us all to give some deeper thought to the long-term consequences of further separting ourselves over one person or one position, however you may see it.

Ricardo

Ricardo González is Founder and Executive Director of Bilingual America and Publisher of The González Report. He can be reached at 1.888.850.1555 or via this form.