-- KamelB - 15 Jan 2009

• Should be "utopian".

• Suppose for a moment that what you call "the wall of reality" is a prison for your mind, one that you are unconsciously being conscripted to help build. Do you want to be the architect of the prison that holds you? What Uchechi suggests below is correct: the lock on the prison is opened if you refuse to join those who doubt your power to change the world. That's why you're looking for each other: so together you can plan your escape.

I found it interesting that Moglen mentioned in class that many of us do not realize it, but "we are looking for one another." I spoke to you briefly, but the more I read these, the more I realize that your intro resonated with me. You want growth; I want mentorship. You want the advantages of a legal education; I, too, want the stability and recognition such an education used to afford.

• I am Eben, with you.

I was born in the US, but as a member of an immigrant family, have also felt the pressure to commit oneself to an activity for the sake of the family or rather, for what some would call long-term stability. Fighting for justice and making the world a better place are lofty goals, but I share these goals with you. I have found that when voiced, they are much too often met with incredulous stares or accusations of misguided idealism; perhaps this is your wall of reality. But what I ask myself each day and what I challenge you to ask yourself as well is: whose reality really is it? Why not just say to hell with the doubters?

It is not easy and in a few months I, too, may accept the fact that there is a high likelihood I will have a personally unrewarding career, but to me, it seems as though half the battle of law school requires maintaining a willingness to hang on to who you are despite the stares and critiques, a desire to define success in one's own terms, and a realization, as Holmes would say, that "an intellect great enough to win the prize" needs other food as well (p.14).

• There is no likelihood you will have any career you don't conspire for. Remember that yours is the mind and yours the hand the locks the prison door upon you.

-- UchechiAmadi - 24 Jan 2009

I wander through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear

                        from "London,"
                        William Blake, 1794

Thank you for your thoughts fellows. And I apologise for the misuse of words, I will be more careful in the future. I agree with you saying that I created myself my own representations of the world. Stringent insitutions, sometimes corrupt officials, and only economic stakes which prevail. Not to mention the incredible weight of what we call here ‘lobbies’. A noun that does not even exist in my country, but a concept that is however present in every mind. I am a product of this system. I am a slave of this system. What came to my mind reading you was Alain’s thought. ‘Saying no’. and the example of Alexander the Great, who, in the middle of nowhere, leading his starving troops, refused to drink the small amount of water brought to him in solidarity with his soldiers. The power of’ negation’. Being free, being yourself. And being ready.

But before’ changing the world’, I need to change some personal features. Modeling an armour, that would help me survive . Sharpening my intellectual tools, and using them as my finest foil. This is what I meant by ‘growing up’. What could one do, at 21? Many things, I agree, but still, I feel powerless, and in need of model figures, or as refering to Uchechi’s semantic field, ‘mentors’, or simply put, ‘’Others’’. I have some. Michel Aflaq, Gandhi, King, of course, and to some extent members of my family. Others, to learn from them. Others, to build and fight together. Others, to escape the mental prison I am slightly being idle in, nurished by this Ivy fruit I decided to indulge in. You are right. I might need help in my journey. I can’t pretend I am MacGyver? anymore. But are my prospects similar to yours? Is my battle yours? Let’s share our thoughts. In real life.

-- KamelB - 28 Jan 2009