Our Country As A Whole, No Less

I Have Been Shaped By The Experiences Of The People Who Are Closest To Me, By The Things I've Learned From [my Wife] Martha, By My Hopes And My Concerns For My Children, Philip And Laura, By The Experiences Of Members Of My Family, Who Are Getting Older, By My Sister's Experiences As A Trial Lawyer In A Profession That Has Traditionally Been Dominated By Men.

When I Entered College, I Thought That I Wanted To Be A Lawyer, But By The Time I Was Set To Graduate, I Was Not Too Sure Of That.

In Southern Italy, Where My Grandparents Had Lived, There Were Few Opportunities. The Society Was Static, With Rigid Social Classes. Poor People, Like My Grandparents, Had Little Chance To Improve Their Lives, No Matter Their Talents Or Willingness To Work.

In Order To Have A Society In Which Public Issues Can Be Openly And Vigorously Debated, It Is Not Necessary To Allow The Brutalization Of Innocent Victims.

Justice Sandra Day O'connor Has Been A Pioneer, And Her Dedicated Service On The Supreme Court Will Never Be Forgotten. And The People Of The Country Certainly Owe Her A Great Debt For The Service That She Has Provided.