Sonia Sotomayor & Nancy Drew

Boy are my e-mailed Google News Alerts on "Nancy Drew" going gangbusters today! How fun is that!

I don't want to rile up Nancy Drew fans--after all, we come from all kinds of political backgrounds. Democrats and Republicans alike enjoying Nancy Drew equally. Imagine that! Oh yes! In fact, that's why our Nancy Drew Sleuths fan club is so successful and people get along so well--especially at our annual Nancy Drew Conventions! We don't dwell on things that would tend to incite people and divide us! Nancy actually brings us all together. Amen to that sister! Washington DC could learn a thing or two from us!

One of things I love about intrepid teen sleuth Nancy Drew is that she's not partisan, she's not polarizing. She was never about politics, controversial topics, or taboo things. She was very family friendly and a good role model. These were "safe and sane" (A Stratemeyer Syndicate mantra!) children's books after all! So, politics aside, I'll keep this bi-partisan and short and sweet.

Nancy Drew is in the news today. In a big way! And it is exciting to see her there, it always inspires, gets women--and men--to rediscover their childhood heroine, and takes us back on that memorable roadster ride to exciting and thrilling mystery adventures.

President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor today for the US Supreme Court. He stated:

"It's my understanding that Judge Sotomayor's interest in the law was sparked as a young girl by reading the Nancy Drew series."

The zeal with which I've seen it reported that Sotomayor read and enjoyed Nancy Drew as a child, is mildly amusing. I've read hundreds of similar articles over the last several years about various attorneys, law enforcement officials, and mystery writers who often cite Nancy Drew as being an influence on their life and career. Justice Ginsberg on the Supreme Court was also a fan. Heck that influenced me going into law! But does Nancy Drew have anything to do with our politics or political views? No, not really. We didn't read her for her politics. There weren't any--and most eight to ten year olds are hardly politically charged.

When you think about the fact that most women read Nancy Drew when they were kids over the last 79 years, that she has influenced us all in some way or another, isn't really surprising or shocking. She's just that popular and good!

One of the great things we learned from Nancy Drew was that it's great to help others. Right wrongs. Be a good role model. Fight for justice for the downtrodden. What's ironic, is that Nancy wouldn't be partisan if she were nominated to the Supreme Court. She'd make the right decisions--EVERY time. She was that near perfect. She'd use logic, deduction, reasoning, and common sense to do what's right. Nancy wouldn't be a judicial activist. She'd interpret the existing law, not make laws! And she'd do it exceedingly well, regardless of politics, lobbying, special interests, or which party nominated her for the high court. In essence, she'd be a politician's nightmare! A real wild card! Someone who actually threw politics aside and did what is right for the people! Imagine that. She'd be the people's heroine for doing so. And she'd be a testament to what everyone on that court should be doing.

But alas, she's fictional. Enter real life. However, my hope is that if Sotomayor really holds Nancy Drew in such high regard as such a huge influence, that maybe she will embody those qualities that Nancy Drew inspired in us. And actually be a trailblazer on that court and make the right decisions regardless of politics on either side of the aisle. That's what I'd like to see happen! Time will tell...

Jenn:)