Nomination of Clarence Thomas
You’d think the liberals would love a Supreme Court nominee like Thomas who grew up poor and made it on his own (“Thomas’ Rise Inspires Friends, Irks Liberals,” July 2). Not so. Seems like the liberals are still hung up on the concept of selecting a person who surmounts mediocrity through affirmative action and job quotas--never mind brains, good character and hard work.
The liberals, and every other compassionate person for that matter, hope there’s nothing less for minorities than equal educational opportunities, escape from the ghettos and the chance to rise as high and as far as they can. But Thomas made a mistake: He got where he is by driving hard rather than being led by the hand by affirmative action.
For left-leaning Democrats to condemn a man who was brought up in sharecropper’s shack and who rose to the top as a conservative rather than a bleeding-heart liberal makes one begin to wonder if these people will ever be happy.
Thomas would be an outstanding role model for minorities who feel there’s no room at the top except through legislation.
NORMAN JACOBSON
Los Angeles
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