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Even though no one wants to admit it, there are stereotypes. People try to be good, but we all are at fault when it comes to looking at someone and putting them in a category. The photo that ran on the front page of the Wall Street Journal on May 11th doesn't do much good for the Republican rumors that Elena Kagan is a lesbian, considering the photo is her playing softball 17 years ago.
I’ve been Mexico for two weeks. I had a great time. One thing you learn there is to take things at face value. If your boat or shuttle has not arrived and it’s getting dark consider it gone. You need to get another way back to the hacienda even though you’ve been assured multiple times that someone was on the way an hour ago.
I liked the newspapers they gave me down there also. USA Today. Flat. Bright. Simple. Face value news for people with a Margarita in their hand. A sprinkling of world news with flat, bright, simple photos right at the top. A prime example was the story of President Obama’s Supreme Court pick, Elena Kagan:
Nice shot. Ran May 9th.
I could do the art critique thing, but you get the idea. Flat. Bright. Simple.
Of course like everything good does, my vacation had to end and I was too soon looking at complicated newspapers written in English and drinking coffee with no Kahlúa in it. Here’s a picture of the front page of the Wall Street Journal that ran May 11th.
It’s Elena Kagan 17 years ago.
What do you think about it? No big deal, right? Coming on the heels of Republican rumors that she’s a lesbian I’m sure that no one will take this photo as a hint implying anything more than she’s ready to swing the gavel.
Bullshit.
Even though no one wants to admit it, there are stereotypes. People try to be good, but we all are at fault when it comes to looking at someone and putting them in a category. The first step is admitting that you do it.
For example: All women who play softball are lesbians. I happen to believe that sometimes the stereotypes fit, but I also know that to be labeled by one really pisses me off. I also know that all the women on my softball team aren’t gay. What’s more, I can’t even do the math to tell you what percentage actually are. All I care about is if they can make the throw to second in time.
So here’s what I promise to think about Elena Kagan. I believe that President Obama has done a great deal of vetting regarding her. She is his choice. She is single. She looks like she might have choked up on that bat a little too much, but seems to enjoy the game. I promise to take her at face value. No hopes of latent or hidden lesbianism included…just a right-handed batter that will swing left in the court for this yellow-dog Democrat.
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