Why I'm starting to love America
My relationship to America has long been disdainful and even, at times, moderately hostile. But recently, I've started to love America.
Please, let me qualify. I'm not talking about contemporary America, that of gas guzzling SUVs, unchecked participation in global warming, vapid reality TV shows, the Moral Majority and embrace of vice over virtue.
It may seem trite to talk about history, but what I'm talking about it is the America that grew out of a rebellion against tyranny and was unafraid to evaluate itself. In contrast to other governmental overthrows (Russia and France come to mind), when the "united states" governed by the Articles of Confederation realized their government was not working, they figured it out. Buoyed by a form of statesmanship not often seen in today's politicians, the citizens of the new nation saw the flaws they had created, and fixed them. Since then, it has continued to do so, although the progress is not often plain or immediate.
In response to the post updating my readership on what's been going on in my head and life lately, I received this comment:
Now, Anonymous points out what I think has gone wrong in American politics in the past thirty years (maybe more). Around the time of the writing of the Constitution, many of the people we remember most fondly (despite their flaws) were lawyers: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and many more. But that buoying statemanship, for which these people were respected, has seemingly been thrown by the wayside. Today, politicians and lawyers are popularly conceived to be horrible people with no souls. That is a problem.
My basic philosophy is that law students are horrible people only because good people don't become law students as often as they used to. Plus, students are less prepared for the rigors of law school then they used to be. So, statistically, these factors result in less good people making it through law school.
I am not married to the idea of a dim, soul-crushed future as a horrible person and law school graduate. There does, however, seem to be an unfilled niche in the governmental ecosystem, at least according to Anonymous, that I am well-qualified to fill: the pleasant law student who comes out intact.
My law school decision (assuming it holds--I once wanted to be a Power Ranger) is prompted not by a desire for money or property, but a desire to participate in a system that I fundamentally believe in. Maybe Anonymous is a horrible, soul-crushed law school graduate (or non-graduate), and Anonymous, I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate your concern and hope you keep reading my blog. Really, my response is less directed at you than your sentiment. Please allow me to retain my tempered idealism. I know some wonderful law grads and law students, and I hope to be like them.
Please, let me qualify. I'm not talking about contemporary America, that of gas guzzling SUVs, unchecked participation in global warming, vapid reality TV shows, the Moral Majority and embrace of vice over virtue.
It may seem trite to talk about history, but what I'm talking about it is the America that grew out of a rebellion against tyranny and was unafraid to evaluate itself. In contrast to other governmental overthrows (Russia and France come to mind), when the "united states" governed by the Articles of Confederation realized their government was not working, they figured it out. Buoyed by a form of statesmanship not often seen in today's politicians, the citizens of the new nation saw the flaws they had created, and fixed them. Since then, it has continued to do so, although the progress is not often plain or immediate.
In response to the post updating my readership on what's been going on in my head and life lately, I received this comment:
Now, Anonymous points out what I think has gone wrong in American politics in the past thirty years (maybe more). Around the time of the writing of the Constitution, many of the people we remember most fondly (despite their flaws) were lawyers: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and many more. But that buoying statemanship, for which these people were respected, has seemingly been thrown by the wayside. Today, politicians and lawyers are popularly conceived to be horrible people with no souls. That is a problem.
My basic philosophy is that law students are horrible people only because good people don't become law students as often as they used to. Plus, students are less prepared for the rigors of law school then they used to be. So, statistically, these factors result in less good people making it through law school.
I am not married to the idea of a dim, soul-crushed future as a horrible person and law school graduate. There does, however, seem to be an unfilled niche in the governmental ecosystem, at least according to Anonymous, that I am well-qualified to fill: the pleasant law student who comes out intact.
My law school decision (assuming it holds--I once wanted to be a Power Ranger) is prompted not by a desire for money or property, but a desire to participate in a system that I fundamentally believe in. Maybe Anonymous is a horrible, soul-crushed law school graduate (or non-graduate), and Anonymous, I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate your concern and hope you keep reading my blog. Really, my response is less directed at you than your sentiment. Please allow me to retain my tempered idealism. I know some wonderful law grads and law students, and I hope to be like them.
Law school is soul crushing and law students are horrible people. Just thought I should let you know.
10:57 PM