Sonia Sotomayor the anti-absolutist

Surely there will be some furor over the "qualifications" of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. She, as a longtime jurist (18 years) meets any reasonable definition of at least basic experience, but it is much, much more important that she represents the diversity of American culture and compassion for fellow humans. In that regard, from all I have read, I would attest that she would be almost overqualified for the job.

I believe that "qualifications" are not necessarily synonymous with credentials or experience. In this case our new President, so wise beyond his years, has emphasized empathy, which is not a function of longevity or persistence or number of judicial decisions rendered. Instead it is a trait of innate goodness of character. Empathy can't be quantified in tangible form nor on ledger sheets. Empathy is immeasurable as a ghost, but obvious as the bright morning sunshine. Ms. Sotomayor has shown this in her concern for the oppressed and the victims of injustice.

I would find it ironic that much of her opposition is from the "Christian right," which more often than not seems to be neither. The literalist point of view makes an idol not just of the Bible but the Constitution in the form of exact words. Isn't idolatry supposed to be unChristian?

We live in an age of enlightened awareness of and respect for subtlety and nuance. I would like to think that we as intellectual humans would be more mature and sophisticated in our thought processes than to take any document or book at face value, but instead probe for true meaning beyond the black letters. Must we be so absolute, so rigid, so constricting of ourselves so as to blind ourselves to the greater understanding present between and outside the lines?

My view of the Constitution is similar to the way I see the Christian Bible. Both are collectives of fluid and imperfect human writings, malleable in the context of the mores of the day and subject to as many interpretations as there are people who read them. And all these interpretations have equal validity, none either subservient or superior to any other. I see Ms. Sotomayor as an embodiment of the flexibility and fluidity that allows for interpretive leeway in favor of justice for the least powerful among us. This is why I will support her nomination.

Peace, love and compassion for all, Susan

http://www.codepink4peace.org