Our new president has appointed a new judge to sit on the highest court in the land. Much is being made about the fact that she is Hispanic. What does this have to do with her ability to set on the Supreme Court.

Just as much as been made about our new president being the first African-American president, to me this is just another way to label someone. Much was made of his African heritage, however, he was raised by his mother and grandmother who just happened to be white.

Here again we are judging and labeling individuals by the color of their skin rather than their ability. We are so caught up in labeling individuals so we can decide whether they are good or bad that we have lost sight of the fact that we are Americans first and foremost. All of us are descendents of people who came here from other countries. Unless you happen to be a member of one of the Native American tribes still left in the USA. Whether our heritage is Asian, European, African or something else. It is not what defines us as a people. We are all Americans; citizens of what, in my humble opinion, is the greatest nation in the world.

Much was made of John Kennedy's religion, Roman Catholic, when he ran for president. Just as much has been made of Mr. Obama's African heritage. But those do not define the man or woman. Yes, they are part of his or her character and established some of the parameters that define their lives. However, we all share some of those traits and parameters. There are many Americans of African and Hispanic descent, just as there are many Americans who are Roman Catholic or Protestant or even Atheists. This should not be how we define an individual or group of individuals. We are all Americans. That should be the only criteria that defines us.

Our brave men and women who died serving our country in the military, are not defined as a Roman Catholic or Hispanic. Their tombstones do not reflect anything other than their names, rank, date of birth and date of death. For only in death, it seems, are all men and women equal. The grave does not care if you are black, white, Hispanic, Catholic, Jewish or other.

Maybe it is pollyanna to hope that one day, the living will be afforded the same right.