So the news broke this morning that President Obama will nominate Sonia Sotomayor to fill the Supreme Court vacancy about to be created by the retirement of David Souter. Reactions have been all over the board depending on which side of the political aisle you’re on, but we think it’s a thrilling choice for women. Sotomayor, if confirmed, would become only the third woman ever to sit on the land’s highest court, following Sandra Day O’Connor and Rose Bader Ginsburg, possibly the next justice to retire.
What makes this such an exciting choice is that it represents another instance in which a woman is being considered for an imporant position based solely on factors that have nothing to do with her appearance. On the heels of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, that’s extraordinary.
For Sotomayor, the only thing that matters is her legal, judicial and intellectual pedigree, and by any account it is exceptional: rising from a modest upbringing in the Bronx and overcoming diabetes to attend Princeton, graduate from Yale Law School, edit the Yale Law Review and go on to become a New York district attorney. She is largely regarded as the most important Hispanic jurist in the country at this time. Aside from the abortion or gay marriage questions that will be posed by some special interest groups, those are the only qualifications that matter for Sotomayor. That’s marvelous.
As we have said before, intelligence is part of Inner Beauty, which informs and shapes overall beauty. A women like Judge Sotomayor makes us hopeful because whether she is ultimately confirmed or not, her selection sends yet another message to young women that what you achieve in this world is less about how pretty you can make yourself look and more about what you have between your ears, what you accomplish with the gifts you’re given, and most important, what you give back to others. As Obama introduced his nominee, her mother, Celia Sotomayor, sat in the front row of the press room, weeping tears of joy for her daughter. Only she knows all that Sonia has had to overcome to reach this pinnacle.
So this is a day to celebrate. Another woman of incredible substance and accomplishment stands ready to join the ranks of the finest leaders in the country. It’s a truly exciting time to be a woman…and an American. We’ll keep you posted on the comments, attacks, and news that comes up about her progress toward a Senate vote.
Unless you’ve been living on the moon, you know by now about President Obama’s unfortunate Special Olympics comment made on The Tonight Show. Obama was talking about his weak performance on the White House bowling lanes and said that it was “like the Special Olympics.” The presidential spin machine went into overdrive immediately, knowing that what would be a forgettable flub from anyone else instantly becomes national news when it comes from the mouth of the Most Powerful Man, etc. While we know that the president was not trying to be derogatory or cruel to people challenged by mental or physical conditions, the incident serves as a reminder of how easy it is to hurt such men, women and children with thoughtless words.
This issue hits home with us because Eva’s daughter, Marissa, was born with hemiparesis, weakness on one side of the body. She was teased about it from a very young age, and though she has been extremely courageous in dealing with this condition and has grown into a proud and lovely young woman, it has still been hard for her and her parents to deal with the comments, the looks and the self-consciousness that comes with it. We’ve touched on this question before, but it bears asking again: why is it so hard for us to find beauty in those who are different from the mainstream?
Of course, the irony is that we’re all different in some way. No one is perfect. Everyone has a blemish, a tic, a scar, a stutter—something that makes them less than ideal. So why has the Special Olympics, one of the most admirable organizations in the world for the way in which it helps people with intellectual disabilities compete in sports, get physically fit and bolster their self-esteem, become synonymous with lack of coordination? For that matter, why is it OK to ask someone who fails to see something obvious, “Are you blind?” when millions suffer from visual impairment?
Our view is this: we all deserve to be recognized and respected for the beauty within—the beauty of our actions. No matter what a person’s physical or mental condition, every one walking this earth has something about them that’s beautiful, admirable and unique. That deserves recognition, not idle, even unintentional scorn. Some people may accuse us of making a mountain out of a molehill, but the fact that Barack Obama or anyone else can even casually (and later, regretably) toss off a comment about the Special Olympics, AIDS, deafness or any other condition tells us that deep down, we still only value physical and psychological perfection…or at least the appearance of it. We are still shallow. We still venerate celebrities who look flawless while exhibiting emotional problems and snicker at physically challenged individuals who exhibit compassion and kindness that humbles the rest of us. If we’re ever to truly mature as people, that’s something that’s got to change. And it’s something we’re going to continue to call out.
We’re fortunate enough to be in Washington, DC with hundreds of thousands of our closest friends for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. It’s an incredibly exciting time, and when we think about Obama’s message of “Change,” it’s impossible for us not to put that in the context of our favorite subject. So at a time when change is on everyone’s mind, how will you change the way beauty impacts your life in the coming year?
In keeping with the political news that’s on everyone’s mind, we’ve organized our ideas according to our own imaginary presidential cabinet. If Barack Obama had these as his priorities, we don’t know how the economy would do, but we do know the entire country would look and feel fabulous.
State: In the spirit of foreign relations, you could reach out to people in your life with whom your relationships haven’t been as close as they could be and find the beauty in them.
Treasury: At a time when the economy seems to be in for a prolonged slump, get creative and find ways to get quality beauty and skin care products for less. Share your secrets with friends and invite them to share theirs with you.
Agriculture: Discover natural and organic cosmetics and beauty products. There are many sources for these; see our last posting about the Ecocert designation, which guarantees that your product is 100% natural.
Health and Human Services: Adopt at least one healthy new habit, such as working out five days a week, eating fish at least twice a week, or taking up meditation as a daily practice. Do something great for your body and watch it become more beautiful.
Commerce: Get into the community and bring your beauty business to locally owned businesses like hair salons and makers of handmade cosmetics. You’ll meet new people who will be grateful for your patronage, make new friends and feel like a part of the fabric of where you live.
Labor: Make your work environment more conducive to beauty by doing everything from getting an anti-glare filter for your computer to take the strain off your eyes, taking 15 minutes a day to walk around the building or do deep breathing, or simply filling your workspace with beautiful things.
Interior: Work on your Inner Beauty by taking a candid look at behaviors that have caused you pain in the past, such as jealousy, being passive when you should be assertive, or beating yourself up for little things. Vow to become more aware of these behaviors and work to turn them into positive energy.
Housing and Urban Development: Beautify the physical space where you live. This doesn’t to be expensive; it could be a matter of lighting, plants, music, fabrics and rearranging the things you already own. But a beautiful physical environment makes you feel more content, peaceful and in love with your own life.
Change will be on everyone’s mind as this exciting year moves ahead. How will you change yourself for the better? Please share your stories with us on Comments. And to paraphrase our new president: “Yes you can!”
