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In August, Sonia M. Sotomayor took her seat as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Ms. Sotomayor is the court’s first Hispanic justice, its 111th justice and its third female justice in the court’s 220-year history.
Of Puerto Rican descent, Ms. Sotomayor was born in the Bronx in New York City, N.Y. Ms. Sotomayor self-identifies herself as a “Nuyorican,” which is a blending of the terms New York and Puerto Rican.
In May, President Barack Obama nominated Ms. Sotomayor for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace retired Justice David Souter. Her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 68-31. She was sworn in Aug. 8.
Recently, the 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office polled some of Ramstein’s Airmen on their thoughts of their Hispanic and Latino heritage.
NAME: Master Sgt. Jaime Perez
UNIT/JOB TITLE: 86th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight chief
HOMETOWN: New London, Conn.
What is your favorite part of being Hispanic? My favorite part is the food. The dishes from Puerto Rico have a taste of their own and you can definitely tell the difference between someone from the island’s cooking and someone who’s not from the island’s cooking.
There are a lot of Hispanic/Latino first’s in our history. A recent example is Sonia Sotomayor becoming the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Do you have any Hispanic/Latino hero(s)? My Hispanic hero would be Roberto Clemente. Even though he died a tragic early death, Mr. Clemente paved the way for all Hispanics in professional baseball. Not only was he a true professional with natural talent, he was a great ambassador to all Hispanics as he used his “Star Power” to help people in need all over the world.
Do you believe the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” can be used interchangeably? It doesn’t make a bit of difference to me, considering there are so many different cultures that fit into those categories. I was raised in the United States but was born in Puerto Rico, so in my culture we go by Puerto Rican or Boricua. Either one specifies that we are Puerto Rican descent.
Do you and your family do anything special during Hispanic Heritage Month? I do celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Mardi Gras but only because it’s another fun tradition. I have no roots to these dates. Puerto Rico has festivals all year-round that tour the island. September is just another month over there. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month while in the military, I’ve shared our dishes and music with other Hispanic cultures and vice versa.
NAME: Airman First Class Miguel Mascorro
UNIT/JOB TITLE: 86th Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural journeyman
HOMETOWN: Canovanas, Puerto Rico
What is your favorite part of being Hispanic? My favorite part about my culture is how amicable people are toward other Hispanics/Latinos. It doesn’t matter if you are from Puerto Rico or Mexico, as soon as you realize that a servicemember is Latino/Hispanic, you feel an automatic bond with them.
There are a lot of Hispanic/Latino first’s in our history. A recent example is Sonia Sotomayor becoming the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Do you have any Hispanic/Latino hero(s)? Pfc. Fernando Luis Garza. He was the first of five Puerto Ricans to ever receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He jumped on top of a grenade to save another Marine.
Do you believe the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” can be used interchangeably? I believe they should be used interchangeable.
Do you and your family do anything special during Hispanic Heritage Month? I sadly don’t do anything special for Hispanic Heritage Month. But I do celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Puerto Rican Christmas is the most important time of the year for me as well as El dia de los Reyes.
