Do Color, Race and Gender Matter

In life, should it matter what color you are, what your race is or if you are a man or a woman. Well, for me, I actually would want a male firefighter and not a female firefighter to save me if I were in a burning building (much stronger), but that does not really fit in to my blog, so it is neither here nor there. You might as 'Why would I bring it up then?', but this is my blog so I can do what I want! lol In most things, I don't think it should matter. Today on the radio I heard them talking about President Obama nominating Sonia Sotomayor to be a justice on the Supreme Court. Now, I don't really know much about her, but it kept being brought up that she was Hispanic. It was also talked about how the Republican party was going to try to shoot down anyone that Obama picked, but now they might not even try because she was Hispanic and think about what the backlash would be if they tried. Really?! If race doesn't matter in getting in to a political office, why should it matter in opposing someone? This seems like a double standard to me. I felt this way during the presidential elections. People saying that they were voting for Obama because he was black or they were voting for Hilary because she was a woman. Why should that matter? I think it is wrong to vote for someone because of that(well, more stupid than wrong) and I think it is wrong to not vote for them because of the same thing. I am a strong believer and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but you can bet I would not be voting for Harry Reid just because he is a member of the same church! In politics vote for someone who feels the way you do on the important things, and will vote the way you would like them to the majority of the time, not because of the color of their skin or their gender. If you don't want someone in because of their views, then oppose them! Don't not do it because they are Hispanic, black, white, brown, female or male, but because of their views. I am not an idiot and I realize that racism still exists. I have seen it. I don't agree with it. I have a hard time with people who feel that way, although I recognize it is their right...however wrong it may be. But I also believe that people have the right to oppose someone, even if they are in the minority, and that does not make them racist. The door has to swing both ways.