A reader writes:
To me this is not about victimization per se, but a problem with assimilation, and Sotomayor's willingness to be "out" about her heritage. I see the parallels you have made here with gay marriage and relationships. You think there should be an erasure of the harsh distinction between gay and straight. I agree with you. But I don't believe you have ever said, that gay people should stop talking about being gay, or stop being out, quite the contrary. Are you suggesting that she hid her Nuyoricannes? That she just stop talking about it? Just pretend it isn't there? Look, she speaks English, she's educated here, she has dedicated her life to preserving, protecting and serving the American legal systerm. Her Latina identity is American.
Look I'm Latina too, I don't speak Spanish, it's been a century since my family lived in Mexico. I am pretty assimilated and that's fine and I'm proud to be an American. But for too long, many of us with a Spanish background, have been discriminated against, ignored, and told to shut up about our heritage. I live a wonderful life here, my life would be not possible without my family moving to Texas and California. I have no desire to "go back to" Mexico since there is nothing to go back to! I am here and don't live my life thinking i am a victim. If I really, truly believed that I would not be accepted because of my "mexicanness" I wouldn't do have the things I do. I don't think assimilation is a choice really, it just naturally happens, especially once you move up in the educational and professional world. But really? What's your definition of assimilation? If Samuel Alito can be American in all his "Italian-ness" and Barack in all his "Kansas and Kenyanness" why not Sonia? Her identity is already a party of American identity. Why would you want her to eradicate it?
I don't. I just want it kept in check - and, in my defense, I have noted repeatedly that her judicial record seems to bear this out, which is one reason why I'm fine with her appointment.