Justice may be blind, but we all know that diversity in the courts, as in all aspects of society, sharpens our vision and makes us a stronger nation.

The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists.

We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.

Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without.

represents the diversity of our society.

What we have to do . . . is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities.