That scary barrier.

With the announcement of Supreme Court Justice Souter's retirement the hunt is on for a suitable replacement. Although Souter's replacement will likely not change the ideological make-up of the court, the demographic of the court is likely to change.

There is already wide speculation that President Obama will appoint a female to join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who is currently the only woman on the court, and an even greater chance that the new justice will be a minority.

Although It is great to see the advancement of traditionally underrepresented groups in the nation's highest offices, it is deplorable when those factors become determining components to nomination. We see it all too often in the failed policies of affirmative action. Yes affirmative action did increase diversity where implemented but at the same time denied qualified individuals the right to equal opportunity. There is a distinction between the promise of equal opportunity and equal results, the latter is not guaranteed by our Constitution. Minorities like myself would rather accept a hand-up, than a hand-out.

We can never move forward as a nation that has broken the racial or gender barriers if the push to hand out positions is based on either. It is in all actuality reverse discrimination.

 A resolve based on caliber is better than a decision based on courtesy any day.