How Do You Grow A Good Judge?

In New Mexico, Hispanics are the majority. Spanish surnames dominate in politics, and in every other statistic. In New Mexico, in fact, all legal documents are printed in both English and Spanish, and New Mexico identifies itself as a bi-lingual state. We Anglos are the minority. Well, not THE minority... persons of African descent are so few they rank only a little above the number of Eskimos!

Much is made here about our multi-cultural society. Most will tell you that means Hispanic, Native American, and Anglos. In southern New Mexico, the Native American population is also small (New Mexico's 19 Pueblos are largely in northern New Mexico). Multi-cultural, in my part of the state, really means Hispanic and Anglo cultures.

While there is much good to be found in Hispanic culture, there are elements which are not so good. For example, Hispanics generally have strong family ties. Sometimes too strong, in my opinion.

Two local items caught my eye recently. The first was a television ad - probably a Public Service Announcement, which said that in New Mexico, 300,000 persons do not know where their next meal is coming from. I doubt that figure. Given our total population of around two million, that means 15% of New Mexicans may be going hungry. Judging from the rampant obesity, that figure seems a bit of a stretch.

The second item was a news story that New Mexico ranked 48th out of 50 states in the per cent of students graduating from high school (less than 60% graduate). Doesn't it seem easy to connect those two statistics? Even if 15% hungry is high, the fact that less than six out of ten high school students graduate, tends to make one believe the population here are not being prepared for higher paying jobs.

I don't have the statistic at hand, but New Mexico also ranks very high in teen pregnancies. Once again, I am inclined to lay the blame with Hispanic culture. While I do agree that having a baby is occasion for great joy, it is apparent here that having a baby is more cherished than is acquiring an education.

Now, another news item that relates to Hispanic culture... Soñia Sotomayor's admission that she was a beneficiary of Affirmative Action... that her grades were not as good as her peers and that she was admitted to college because of her race, not her academic achievement.

Add to that, her statements about a wise Latina woman. Here she credits wisdom to her race, an ethnic group that seems to discount education. She admits she wasn't so wise herself, in that her grades were less than excellent.

For those jumping to the conclusion that I am belittling Hispanics, please note that I have oft stated my belief that all children are born with equal brain capacity. What is done with that brain can be greatly influenced by the culture in which it develops. My argument is with Hispanic culture... not Hispanic or Latino people.

Any culture that tolerates a high rate of high school dropouts while accepting lower pay scales which result; declines to take a strong stand against teen pregnancy and relies on the law to make up for academic laziness, does not seem a fertile ground for developing especially wise judges.