JERRY SPRINGER RETURNS TO LAW COLLEGE
Jerry SpringerEditors Note: The below speech is in it's original form straight from Jerry Springer's notes. It is all in caps, because that is the way Jerry wrote it so he could read it. Jerry was a graduate of Northwestern School Of Law in 1968. He returned to his alumni the other day amid controversy. Not all of the graduates endorsed the invitation, which is something Springer said he understands."I've run into that a lot in terms of most people can separate the show from the person," Springer said. "The show is crazy, it's nuts, it's silly -- it's show business. But in real life, we have other dimensions, and I think the students got that and the parents got that."
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THE JERRY SPRINGER SPEECH UN-EDITED
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40 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – I SAT WHERE YOU NOW DO – DEGREE IN HAND – THE PRESTIGE OF THIS GREAT LAW SCHOOL ON MY RESUME – AND PERHAPS IMMODESTLY, A REAL SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT IN MY HEART – BUT NO SENSE OF WHAT MY FUTURE WOULD BE, OR IF IN FACT, THERE WOULD EVEN BE ONE.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND. I WAS NOT ALONE IN MY UNCERTAINTY – FOR THIS WAS 1968 – AND AMERICA WAS UNRAVELING. OUR CITIES WERE BURNING – VIET NAM WAS BECKONING – IA WAS NO LONGER A GRADE – BUT RATHER A SENTENCE – A DRAFT CLASSIFICATION TO A WAR THAT GROPED FOR JUSTIFICATION – AND FOUND NONE. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD JUST BEEN ASSASSINATED – BOBBY KENNEDY WAS ABOUT TO BE – AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND 2 MILES FROM HERE, CHICAGO WOULD EXPLODE AROUND THE DYSFUNCTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. TO BE HONEST – CONTRACTS, TORTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE SEEMED OF LITTLE RELEVANCE – BECAUSE IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE LINCOLN HALL – NOTHING SEEMED CIVIL AT ALL. I REMEMBER THINKING AT THE TIME THAT OUR SHELTERED EXISTENCE AT LAW SCHOOL – HOWEVER PRESTIGIOUS – SEEMED TOTALLY DETACHED FROM THE CHAOS THAT CONSUMED THE WORLD OUTSIDE. THERE WERE 190 OF US IN MY GRADUATING CLASS – AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONLY 2 OF THE 190 WERE WOMEN. OF THE 188 MEN – ONLY ONE WAS AFRICAN-AMERICAN. AS A CLASS, WE WERE TOO WHITE – TOO MALE AND TOO PRIVILEGED. AND THOUGH IT CERTAINLY TOOK TOO LONG TO CHANGE, WHAT COMFORT IT IS TODAY TO LOOK OUT AT ALL OF YOU AND SEE THE RACIAL, GENDER AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAT REALLY IS AMERICA. BUT AS HAPPY AS I AM TO LOOK OUT AND SEE ALL OF YOUR FACES – I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOU WHO AREN’T TOO HAPPY TO SEE MINE. TO THE STUDENTS WHO INVITED ME – THANK YOU. I AM HONORED. TO THE STUDENTS WHO OBJECT TO MY PRESENCE – WELL, YOU’VE GOT A POINT. I TOO WOULD’VE CHOSEN SOMEONE ELSE – BUT ONCE ASKED, I DON’T KNOW – IT WOULD’VE BEEN KIND OF ARROGANT, OR AT LEAST UNAPPRECIATIVE, FOR ME TO HAVE SAID “NO”. SO, HERE I AM. BUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOFTEN THE PAIN – LET ME STIPULATE TO THE FACTS. YOU ARE RIGHT. I AM AN IMPERFECT BEING – (ON MY TALK SHOW, MORE COLORFUL LANGUAGE MIGHT BE EMPLOYED) – AND I FEEL HARDLY QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIVES. THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THOUGH I’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO ENJOY A COMFORTABLE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN MY VARIOUS CAREERS – LETS BE HONEST – I’VE BEEN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU CAN’T RESPECT – A LAWYER, A MAYOR, A MAJOR MARKET NEWS ANCHOR AND A TALK SHOW HOST. PRAY FOR ME. IF I GET TO HEAVEN, WE’RE ALL GOING. NO, I DON’T FEEL AT ALL QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIVES – BECAUSE I’VE NOTICED AS I’VE GOTTEN OLDER, THE WISDOM OF WINSTON CHURCHILL’S WORDS, THAT I’M NOT NEARLY AS CERTAIN ABOUT ANYTHING – AS I USED TO BE ABOUT EVERYTHING.BUT IF I’M ADMITTEDLY NOT UP TO THE TASK OF ADVISING YOU WHAT TO DO, MAYBE I CAN AT LEAST SHARE SOME LIFE OBSERVATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL.LET’S ASSUME THAT YOUR PRIME DISCOMFORT WITH ME IS BASED ON THE ETHICS OF WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. WELL, THAT’S A FAIR QUESTION – WORTHY OF A SERIOUS RESPONSE – BECAUSE ON THIS YOUR GRADUATION DAY – I CAN TELL YOU WITH SOME CONFIDENCE, THAT YOU TOO WILL LIKELY DEAL WITH THESE VERY SAME ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS, NO MATTER WHAT PATH YOUR CAREER TAKES.SURELY, IN EVERY ONE OF MY CHOSEN PROFESSIONS – THERE WERE ETHICAL “RED FLAGS” RISING VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY. WHEN I WAS CINCINNATI’S MAYOR, THERE WERE 2 OR 3 ISSUES I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON – BUT HOW MUCH WOULD I COMPROMISE ON OTHER LEGISLATION – JUST TO GET THE VOTES I NEEDED ON MY PRIORITIES?AND HOW MUCH PANDERING WOULD I DO TO THE VOTERS, RATIONALIZING ALL THE WHILE, THAT IF I DIDN’T GET RE-ELECTED I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE? THEN FOR 10 YEARS I BECAME A JOURNALIST – PERHAPS THE MOST ETHICALLY CHALLENGING PROFESSION OF ALL. YOU SEE, I KNEW THAT 90% OF WHAT’S IN THE PAPER OR ON THE TELEVISION NEWS, WE DON’T REALLY NEED TO KNOW. OH, WE MAY WANT TO KNOW IT – OR WE MIGHT FIND THE STORY INTERESTING – BUT WE DON’T REALLY NEED TO KNOW – AND YET, EVEN THOUGH REPORTING THE STORY ISN’T NECESSARY, HOW OFTEN DO WE GO WITH A STORY ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A GREAT HEADLINE, SELL PAPERS OR DRIVE UP RATINGS – EVEN IF WE KNOW IT MIGHT EMBARRASS OR HURT THE BUSINESS OR CAREER OR FAMILY OR REPUTATION OF THE PERSON WE’RE REPORTING ON? THAT IS A DAILY ETHICAL QUESTION THAT I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING BEEN IN THE NEWSROOM, IS ALMOST ALWAYS IGNORED. AND THEN OF COURSE, IN MY PROFESSION NOW AS A HOST OF A CRAZY TALK SHOW. WELL, AT LEAST WITH THIS, I CAN RATIONALIZE THAT THE SHOW IS ONLY OPEN TO THOSE WHO REALLY, AND I MEAN REALLY WANT TO BE ON – AND THEY GET TO CHOOSE THE SUBJECT MATTER – WHAT IS REVEALED – AND WHAT MUST NOT BE REVEALED. BUT EVEN WITH THIS, I GRAPPLE WITH ETHICAL QUESTIONS – NOT TO MENTION THE BUSINESS CONSIDERATION, THAT A SO-CALLED “CLEANER” SHOW WOULD CERTAINLY BE MORE PROFITABLE, ALA “OPRAH” AND “ELLEN” AND “DR. PHIL”. THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT ABOUT THE CAREER MOST OF YOU WILL BE CHOOSING? THAT OF AN ATTORNEY. THINK OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. WILL YOU WORK FOR A CORPORATE CLIENT WHO PERHAPS IS POLLUTING – WILL YOU WALK INTO YOUR SENIOR PARTNER’S OFFICE AFTER HAVING BEEN ASKED TO PREPARE A MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLIENT’S CASE AND SAY, “I’M SORRY, I’LL HAVE TO LEAVE AND FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO WORK”, AND THEN EXPLAIN TO YOUR FAMILY WHY THERE WON’T BE A PAY CHECK COMING IN THIS MONTH, DESPITE THE NEED TO PAY YOUR CHILD’S TUITION? WILL YOU WORK FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WOULD PREFER TO FIND A WAY NOT TO PAY A CLAIM, OR TO PAY LESS THAN IS WARRANTED? HOW ABOUT A CLIENT WHO SEEKS PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES WHEN YOU KIND OF KNOW IT WASN’T THAT BAD? WILL YOU HELP A CLIENT FIND A WAY TO PAY LESS TAXES, EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN UNINTENDED LOOPHOLE? IN DEFENDING A CLIENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE – BELIEVING THE TRUTH LIES ELSEWHERE, WILL YOU NEVERTHELESS FOLLOW THE WISDOM OF THAT GREAT TEXAS TRIAL ATTORNEY, PERCY FOREMAN, “MY CLIENTS WANT FREEDOM, NOT JUSTICE!” LOOK, I’M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THESE MORAL DILEMMAS DON’T HAVE ANSWERS – AND MY GUESS IS YOU’VE COME UP WITH A FEW, EVEN AS I’VE BEEN TALKING.BUT WHAT I AM SAYING, IS THAT WHATEVER PROFESSION YOU CHOOSE – WHATEVER IT IS YOU PLAN TO DO WITH THIS LAW SCHOOL DIPLOMA – THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS WILL NEVER STOP. INDEED, IT’S THE FRUSTRATION WE FEEL FROM OUR FIRST CLASS HERE AT NORTHWESTERN, WHEN WE ARE EXPOSED, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO THE SOCRATIC METHOD OF TEACHING BY OUR INTIMIDATING PROFESSORS – ALWAYS QUESTIONS – NEVER REALLY ANSWERS. WELCOME TO LIFE. INDEED, DO NOT THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT MY BALANCING ACT ON THE PINNACLE OF YOUR PROTEST IS THE EXCEPTION. UNAVOIDABLY, YOU WILL ALL JOIN ME ON THIS WITNESS STAND OF CONSCIENCE – TRYING YOUR BEST TO FIGURE IT OUT – NEVER PERFECTLY – BUT HOPEFULLY, ALWAYS SINCERELY. IT IS PERHAPS INEVITABLE THAT WE ARE INCLINED TO ALWAYS BE JUDGING OTHERS. BUT LET ME SHARE THIS OBSERVATION. I AM NOT SUPERIOR TO THE PEOPLE ON MY SHOW – AND YOU ARE NOT SUPERIOR TO THE PEOPLE YOU WILL REPRESENT. THAT IS NOT AN INSULT. IT IS MERELY AN UNDERSTANDING DERIVED FROM A LIFE SPENT ON THE FRONT LINES OF HUMAN INTERACTION – BE IT IN THE ARENA OF POLITICS, LAW, JOURNALISM, OR IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE MEDIA. WE ARE ALL ALIKE. SOME OF US JUST DRESS BETTER – OR HAVE MORE MONEY – OR PERHAPS WE WERE BORN INTO BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES OF PARENTAL UPBRINGING, HEALTH, BRAINS AND LUCK. ON THIS GREAT DAY, WHEN WE HONOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT – WHICH IS CONSIDERABLE BY ANY STANDARD – WE MIGHT ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO GOD IN FULL RECOGNITION THAT WHATEVER WE ACHIEVE IN LIFE, IS 99% A GIFT. AFTER ALL, NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS HALL HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DECISION TO BE BORN – TO WHOM WE’D BE BORN – IN WHAT ERA – IN WHAT COUNTRY – WITH WHAT HEALTH – WITH WHAT MIND – INDEED, IF THE BRIGHTEST MOST SUCCESSFUL PERSON LIVING IN AMERICA TODAY – NO MATTER WHO YOU THINK THAT PERSON IS – IF HE OR SHE HAD BEEN BORN IN DARFUR – THE CHANCES ARE, HE OR SHE WOULD BE DEAD BY THE AGE OF 5. NO, LIFE IS A GIFT – AS IS LIVING IN AMERICA – AND I KNOW THAT – FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. YOU SEE, I AM NOT THE FIRST LAWYER IN MY FAMILY. MY DAD’S BROTHER WAS. HIS PRACTICE WAS CUT SHORT, AS WAS HIS LIFE – IN AUSCHWITZ. MY GRANDPARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS, COUSINS – THEY MET THEIR END AS WELL – CHELMO, THEREISENSTADT – CAMP AFTER CAMP – HITLER TURNING MY FAMILY TREE INTO A SINGLE VINE – MOM AND DAD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SURVIVING – ENABLING THEM TO BRING MY SISTER AND ME ULTIMATELY TO AMERICA. 4 TICKETS ON THE QUEEN MARY – JANUARY 1949 – SAILING INTO THE NEW YORK HARBOR. IN SILENCE – ALL THE SHIP’S PASSENGERS GATHERED ON THE TOP DECK OF THIS GRAND OCEANLINER AS WE PASSED BY THE MAJESTY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. MY MOM TOLD ME IN LATER YEARS (I WAS ONLY 5 AT THE TIME) SHIVERING IN THE COLD, THAT I HAD ASKED HER “WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WHAT DOES THE STATUE MEAN?” IN THE GERMAN SHE SPOKE, SHE REPLIED – “EIN TACH ALLAS”. “ONE DAY – EVERYTHING!” SHE WAS RIGHT. IN ONE GENERATION HERE IN AMERICA – MY FAMILY WENT FROM NEAR TOTAL ANNIHALATION TO THIS RIDICULOUSLY PRIVILEGED LIFE I LIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF MY SILLY SHOW. INDEED, IN AMERICA, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. SO ON THIS DAY – AS WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT – MAY IT BE FOR YOU – AS IT WAS FOR ME – “EIN TACH ALLAS” – ONE DAY EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND. I WAS NOT ALONE IN MY UNCERTAINTY – FOR THIS WAS 1968 – AND AMERICA WAS UNRAVELING. OUR CITIES WERE BURNING – VIET NAM WAS BECKONING – IA WAS NO LONGER A GRADE – BUT RATHER A SENTENCE – A DRAFT CLASSIFICATION TO A WAR THAT GROPED FOR JUSTIFICATION – AND FOUND NONE. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD JUST BEEN ASSASSINATED – BOBBY KENNEDY WAS ABOUT TO BE – AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND 2 MILES FROM HERE, CHICAGO WOULD EXPLODE AROUND THE DYSFUNCTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. TO BE HONEST – CONTRACTS, TORTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE SEEMED OF LITTLE RELEVANCE – BECAUSE IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE LINCOLN HALL – NOTHING SEEMED CIVIL AT ALL. I REMEMBER THINKING AT THE TIME THAT OUR SHELTERED EXISTENCE AT LAW SCHOOL – HOWEVER PRESTIGIOUS – SEEMED TOTALLY DETACHED FROM THE CHAOS THAT CONSUMED THE WORLD OUTSIDE. THERE WERE 190 OF US IN MY GRADUATING CLASS – AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ONLY 2 OF THE 190 WERE WOMEN. OF THE 188 MEN – ONLY ONE WAS AFRICAN-AMERICAN. AS A CLASS, WE WERE TOO WHITE – TOO MALE AND TOO PRIVILEGED. AND THOUGH IT CERTAINLY TOOK TOO LONG TO CHANGE, WHAT COMFORT IT IS TODAY TO LOOK OUT AT ALL OF YOU AND SEE THE RACIAL, GENDER AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY THAT REALLY IS AMERICA. BUT AS HAPPY AS I AM TO LOOK OUT AND SEE ALL OF YOUR FACES – I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOU WHO AREN’T TOO HAPPY TO SEE MINE. TO THE STUDENTS WHO INVITED ME – THANK YOU. I AM HONORED. TO THE STUDENTS WHO OBJECT TO MY PRESENCE – WELL, YOU’VE GOT A POINT. I TOO WOULD’VE CHOSEN SOMEONE ELSE – BUT ONCE ASKED, I DON’T KNOW – IT WOULD’VE BEEN KIND OF ARROGANT, OR AT LEAST UNAPPRECIATIVE, FOR ME TO HAVE SAID “NO”. SO, HERE I AM. BUT IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOFTEN THE PAIN – LET ME STIPULATE TO THE FACTS. YOU ARE RIGHT. I AM AN IMPERFECT BEING – (ON MY TALK SHOW, MORE COLORFUL LANGUAGE MIGHT BE EMPLOYED) – AND I FEEL HARDLY QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIVES. THE TRUTH BE TOLD, THOUGH I’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO ENJOY A COMFORTABLE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN MY VARIOUS CAREERS – LETS BE HONEST – I’VE BEEN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING YOU CAN’T RESPECT – A LAWYER, A MAYOR, A MAJOR MARKET NEWS ANCHOR AND A TALK SHOW HOST. PRAY FOR ME. IF I GET TO HEAVEN, WE’RE ALL GOING. NO, I DON’T FEEL AT ALL QUALIFIED TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR LIVES – BECAUSE I’VE NOTICED AS I’VE GOTTEN OLDER, THE WISDOM OF WINSTON CHURCHILL’S WORDS, THAT I’M NOT NEARLY AS CERTAIN ABOUT ANYTHING – AS I USED TO BE ABOUT EVERYTHING.BUT IF I’M ADMITTEDLY NOT UP TO THE TASK OF ADVISING YOU WHAT TO DO, MAYBE I CAN AT LEAST SHARE SOME LIFE OBSERVATIONS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND USEFUL.LET’S ASSUME THAT YOUR PRIME DISCOMFORT WITH ME IS BASED ON THE ETHICS OF WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. WELL, THAT’S A FAIR QUESTION – WORTHY OF A SERIOUS RESPONSE – BECAUSE ON THIS YOUR GRADUATION DAY – I CAN TELL YOU WITH SOME CONFIDENCE, THAT YOU TOO WILL LIKELY DEAL WITH THESE VERY SAME ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS, NO MATTER WHAT PATH YOUR CAREER TAKES.SURELY, IN EVERY ONE OF MY CHOSEN PROFESSIONS – THERE WERE ETHICAL “RED FLAGS” RISING VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY. WHEN I WAS CINCINNATI’S MAYOR, THERE WERE 2 OR 3 ISSUES I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON – BUT HOW MUCH WOULD I COMPROMISE ON OTHER LEGISLATION – JUST TO GET THE VOTES I NEEDED ON MY PRIORITIES?AND HOW MUCH PANDERING WOULD I DO TO THE VOTERS, RATIONALIZING ALL THE WHILE, THAT IF I DIDN’T GET RE-ELECTED I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO GET ANYTHING DONE? THEN FOR 10 YEARS I BECAME A JOURNALIST – PERHAPS THE MOST ETHICALLY CHALLENGING PROFESSION OF ALL. YOU SEE, I KNEW THAT 90% OF WHAT’S IN THE PAPER OR ON THE TELEVISION NEWS, WE DON’T REALLY NEED TO KNOW. OH, WE MAY WANT TO KNOW IT – OR WE MIGHT FIND THE STORY INTERESTING – BUT WE DON’T REALLY NEED TO KNOW – AND YET, EVEN THOUGH REPORTING THE STORY ISN’T NECESSARY, HOW OFTEN DO WE GO WITH A STORY ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A GREAT HEADLINE, SELL PAPERS OR DRIVE UP RATINGS – EVEN IF WE KNOW IT MIGHT EMBARRASS OR HURT THE BUSINESS OR CAREER OR FAMILY OR REPUTATION OF THE PERSON WE’RE REPORTING ON? THAT IS A DAILY ETHICAL QUESTION THAT I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING BEEN IN THE NEWSROOM, IS ALMOST ALWAYS IGNORED. AND THEN OF COURSE, IN MY PROFESSION NOW AS A HOST OF A CRAZY TALK SHOW. WELL, AT LEAST WITH THIS, I CAN RATIONALIZE THAT THE SHOW IS ONLY OPEN TO THOSE WHO REALLY, AND I MEAN REALLY WANT TO BE ON – AND THEY GET TO CHOOSE THE SUBJECT MATTER – WHAT IS REVEALED – AND WHAT MUST NOT BE REVEALED. BUT EVEN WITH THIS, I GRAPPLE WITH ETHICAL QUESTIONS – NOT TO MENTION THE BUSINESS CONSIDERATION, THAT A SO-CALLED “CLEANER” SHOW WOULD CERTAINLY BE MORE PROFITABLE, ALA “OPRAH” AND “ELLEN” AND “DR. PHIL”. THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT ABOUT THE CAREER MOST OF YOU WILL BE CHOOSING? THAT OF AN ATTORNEY. THINK OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. WILL YOU WORK FOR A CORPORATE CLIENT WHO PERHAPS IS POLLUTING – WILL YOU WALK INTO YOUR SENIOR PARTNER’S OFFICE AFTER HAVING BEEN ASKED TO PREPARE A MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLIENT’S CASE AND SAY, “I’M SORRY, I’LL HAVE TO LEAVE AND FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO WORK”, AND THEN EXPLAIN TO YOUR FAMILY WHY THERE WON’T BE A PAY CHECK COMING IN THIS MONTH, DESPITE THE NEED TO PAY YOUR CHILD’S TUITION? WILL YOU WORK FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WOULD PREFER TO FIND A WAY NOT TO PAY A CLAIM, OR TO PAY LESS THAN IS WARRANTED? HOW ABOUT A CLIENT WHO SEEKS PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES WHEN YOU KIND OF KNOW IT WASN’T THAT BAD? WILL YOU HELP A CLIENT FIND A WAY TO PAY LESS TAXES, EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AN UNINTENDED LOOPHOLE? IN DEFENDING A CLIENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE – BELIEVING THE TRUTH LIES ELSEWHERE, WILL YOU NEVERTHELESS FOLLOW THE WISDOM OF THAT GREAT TEXAS TRIAL ATTORNEY, PERCY FOREMAN, “MY CLIENTS WANT FREEDOM, NOT JUSTICE!” LOOK, I’M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THESE MORAL DILEMMAS DON’T HAVE ANSWERS – AND MY GUESS IS YOU’VE COME UP WITH A FEW, EVEN AS I’VE BEEN TALKING.BUT WHAT I AM SAYING, IS THAT WHATEVER PROFESSION YOU CHOOSE – WHATEVER IT IS YOU PLAN TO DO WITH THIS LAW SCHOOL DIPLOMA – THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS WILL NEVER STOP. INDEED, IT’S THE FRUSTRATION WE FEEL FROM OUR FIRST CLASS HERE AT NORTHWESTERN, WHEN WE ARE EXPOSED, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO THE SOCRATIC METHOD OF TEACHING BY OUR INTIMIDATING PROFESSORS – ALWAYS QUESTIONS – NEVER REALLY ANSWERS. WELCOME TO LIFE. INDEED, DO NOT THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT MY BALANCING ACT ON THE PINNACLE OF YOUR PROTEST IS THE EXCEPTION. UNAVOIDABLY, YOU WILL ALL JOIN ME ON THIS WITNESS STAND OF CONSCIENCE – TRYING YOUR BEST TO FIGURE IT OUT – NEVER PERFECTLY – BUT HOPEFULLY, ALWAYS SINCERELY. IT IS PERHAPS INEVITABLE THAT WE ARE INCLINED TO ALWAYS BE JUDGING OTHERS. BUT LET ME SHARE THIS OBSERVATION. I AM NOT SUPERIOR TO THE PEOPLE ON MY SHOW – AND YOU ARE NOT SUPERIOR TO THE PEOPLE YOU WILL REPRESENT. THAT IS NOT AN INSULT. IT IS MERELY AN UNDERSTANDING DERIVED FROM A LIFE SPENT ON THE FRONT LINES OF HUMAN INTERACTION – BE IT IN THE ARENA OF POLITICS, LAW, JOURNALISM, OR IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE MEDIA. WE ARE ALL ALIKE. SOME OF US JUST DRESS BETTER – OR HAVE MORE MONEY – OR PERHAPS WE WERE BORN INTO BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES OF PARENTAL UPBRINGING, HEALTH, BRAINS AND LUCK. ON THIS GREAT DAY, WHEN WE HONOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT – WHICH IS CONSIDERABLE BY ANY STANDARD – WE MIGHT ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO GOD IN FULL RECOGNITION THAT WHATEVER WE ACHIEVE IN LIFE, IS 99% A GIFT. AFTER ALL, NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS HALL HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE DECISION TO BE BORN – TO WHOM WE’D BE BORN – IN WHAT ERA – IN WHAT COUNTRY – WITH WHAT HEALTH – WITH WHAT MIND – INDEED, IF THE BRIGHTEST MOST SUCCESSFUL PERSON LIVING IN AMERICA TODAY – NO MATTER WHO YOU THINK THAT PERSON IS – IF HE OR SHE HAD BEEN BORN IN DARFUR – THE CHANCES ARE, HE OR SHE WOULD BE DEAD BY THE AGE OF 5. NO, LIFE IS A GIFT – AS IS LIVING IN AMERICA – AND I KNOW THAT – FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. YOU SEE, I AM NOT THE FIRST LAWYER IN MY FAMILY. MY DAD’S BROTHER WAS. HIS PRACTICE WAS CUT SHORT, AS WAS HIS LIFE – IN AUSCHWITZ. MY GRANDPARENTS, UNCLES, AUNTS, COUSINS – THEY MET THEIR END AS WELL – CHELMO, THEREISENSTADT – CAMP AFTER CAMP – HITLER TURNING MY FAMILY TREE INTO A SINGLE VINE – MOM AND DAD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, SURVIVING – ENABLING THEM TO BRING MY SISTER AND ME ULTIMATELY TO AMERICA. 4 TICKETS ON THE QUEEN MARY – JANUARY 1949 – SAILING INTO THE NEW YORK HARBOR. IN SILENCE – ALL THE SHIP’S PASSENGERS GATHERED ON THE TOP DECK OF THIS GRAND OCEANLINER AS WE PASSED BY THE MAJESTY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. MY MOM TOLD ME IN LATER YEARS (I WAS ONLY 5 AT THE TIME) SHIVERING IN THE COLD, THAT I HAD ASKED HER “WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WHAT DOES THE STATUE MEAN?” IN THE GERMAN SHE SPOKE, SHE REPLIED – “EIN TACH ALLAS”. “ONE DAY – EVERYTHING!” SHE WAS RIGHT. IN ONE GENERATION HERE IN AMERICA – MY FAMILY WENT FROM NEAR TOTAL ANNIHALATION TO THIS RIDICULOUSLY PRIVILEGED LIFE I LIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF MY SILLY SHOW. INDEED, IN AMERICA, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. SO ON THIS DAY – AS WE CELEBRATE AND HONOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENT – MAY IT BE FOR YOU – AS IT WAS FOR ME – “EIN TACH ALLAS” – ONE DAY EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
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