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ManuelLorenzoSecondPaper 3 - 04 May 2012 - Main.ManuelLorenzo
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| | | While I do not completely agree with the tactics Mr. Brown employed, I do admire his courage and, along with Thoreau, “recognize his magnanimity.” Brown realized the inherent evils of slavery and did what he believed was right in order to fight against it. He did not use the laws of society to accomplish his goals, nor did he engage in extensive civil discourse to persuade others that his cause was just. He was courageous because he confronted the forces acting against him head on and continued to adhere to his beliefs no matter how fierce the resistance. This is a form of courage in its purest sense. It is a type of courage that most of us will not, and perhaps should not, achieve. Although Brown’s actions were justified against fighting the evils of slavery, they are bit more difficult to employ in contemporary society. There is an inherent conflict between the type of courage Brown displayed and that used by lawyers, because Brown worked outside of the legal system in which lawyers are confined. Nevertheless, we can still use his actions as inspiration. The courage Brown exhibits reflects the broader idea that individuals have the capacity to enact social change when they acknowledge a wrong within society and become determined to fix it. The first step towards this is identifying where it is we find our own courage.
Where We Find It | |
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< | Before we can realize the true potential of our courage, we must first break the numbness that prevents from reaching that goal. When Eben posed the question, “If four million people were enslaved in this country today what would you do,” the direction of the conversation almost immediately turned instead to the issue of whether we would actually do anything. This reaction reflects a distance many individuals feel to the problems currently plaguing society. We get so caught up in the issues that directly affect us that we lose sight of the broader plight of those who are less fortunate. It is only once we break out of our own comfort zones that can we begin to find the courage needed to actually fix any of the problems surrounding us. One of the lessons we can take away from John Brown is that we should be strong enough in our convictions and values to know when something is wrong, and be brave enough to actually do something to help. Brown found his courage partially through his religion and faith in God. Some people may find theirs in the morals and principles they were taught as children. Others may not even recognize their courage until they are forced to confront something that brings it out. Regardless, it is crucial that individuals discovery the extent of their courage because it is imperative to becoming a valuable lawyer and socially productive human being. | >
> | Before we can realize the true potential of our courage, we must first break the numbness that prevents us from reaching that goal. When Eben posed the question, “If four million people were enslaved in this country today what would you do,” the direction of the conversation almost immediately turned instead to the issue of whether we would actually do anything. This reaction reflects a distance many individuals feel to the problems currently plaguing society. We get so caught up in the issues that directly affect us that we lose sight of the broader plight of those who are less fortunate. It is only once we break out of our own comfort zones that can we begin to find the courage needed to actually fix any of the problems surrounding us. One of the lessons we can take away from John Brown is that we should be strong enough in our convictions and values to know when something is wrong, and be brave enough to actually do something to help. Brown found his courage partially through his religion and faith in God. Some people may find theirs in the morals and principles they were taught as children. Others may not even recognize their courage until they are forced to confront something that brings it out. Regardless, it is crucial that individuals discovery the extent of their courage because it is imperative to becoming a valuable lawyer and socially productive human being. | | | How We Use It
Despite the reputation of lawyers as risk averse individuals, courage is a necessary tool for being an effective attorney. Throughout our lives we will be forced to make choices that test our ability to stick to the moral and ideological values that made us choose this career path in the first place. We will be tempted to use our licenses in ways that go against our beliefs. It is during these times that our courage will be most crucial. We must be brave enough to adhere to our values and perform work that we truly feel is worthwhile. We should use the law in a manner that betters society, helping to provide legal services for the clients we choose to help. We should not be afraid to take risks, especially if we know that what we are doing is right. We should not let money be the sole decision maker that guides our career. We must be courageous enough to take a leap into uncharted waters, acknowledging the possibility of failure. While I am not advocating that everyone do as John Brown and take the law into their own hands, I do believe that we need to find the bit of John Brown inside of us and use that courage to help others who have not yet found their own. |
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