At the end of the day...

The ruling is "a sign that individual achievement should not take a back seat to race or ethnicity," said Karen Torre, the firefighters' attorney. "I think the import of the decision is that cities cannot bow to politics and pressure and lobbying by special interest groups or act to achieve racial quotas."

At a press conference on the steps of city hall in New Haven, firefighter Frank Ricci said the ruling showed that "if you work hard, you can succeed in America."

Coming from Cook County, Illinois myself, you really can't underestimate the message this ruling sends to everyday Americans living under continually corrupt leadership. Keep hope alive, indeed.