Hi Professor Nesson,<\/p>\n
I want to thank you for the three most inspiring classes I took at law school. Your classes challenged me and pushed me to think in directions I never would have imagined. One of the most vital truths I often was reminded of in your class is that the structure of how a message is delivered, is as important as the content itself, so with that in mind, my final paper for American Jury is attached. I also signed up to do an additional credit of work regarding my marijuana and Judaism paper, so I filmed a video, its on YouTube, of my soulmate (read: second life avatar) Rabbi Shtreimel, delivering a sermon in virtual synagogue on the topic. Here is the link: http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f_LOyJlqv-Y<\/p>\n
Good luck with everything in the future! I’ll be following the headlines!<\/p>\n
David Gross
\nProfessor Nesson
\nAmerican Jury
\nSpring \u201809<\/p>\n
All the King\u2019s Children<\/p>\n
A long time ago, in a far away world, an epic fairytale (without a fairy) unfolded. Twelve unsuspecting, unbiased, unprepared, uninitiated, and unlikely children were methodically hand-selected for their profound weaknesses. Yanked from their families, these children would soon enough be thrust into an unwitting battle with a power hungry, robe-wearing, menace, the King of all the land, who was notorious for wielding a hammer-like scepter. But let us not jump ahead. <\/p>\n
It all started with a royal letter. \u201cBRING FORTH YOUR CHILDREN FROM YOUR DIRTY LITTLE HOVELS LEST THEY BE ENTRAPPED IN MY DUNGEON!\u201d it read. Not surprisingly, the vague letter reached its desired effect. In the month of Adar of that year, every male and female child, throughout the land, was collected and brought to the King\u2019s stables, the stuffiest, sweatiest, smelliest, building in the whole county. The children were most uncomfortable, but nobody was concerned. Throughout the day, a lucky few children (or so they thought) were chosen, at random, to leave the stables, and march over to the royal court (which was nearby, but not near enough). One by one, these \u201clucky\u201d children were paraded in front of the King, to be evaluated for their potential for subversion.
\n\u201cYour highness!\u201d one of the King\u2019s henchmen sharply barked, \u201cThat child is unworthy to be in the King\u2019s presence!\u201d With a slam of the notorious scepter, the child was immediately dragged out of the royal court by his feet. As the lore would have it, nobody would ever see him again. <\/p>\n
Without missing a beat, the henchmen continued to whittle away at the group of scared little children. \u201cThat one was caught stealing!\u201d \u201cThat one wears baggy pants!\u201d \u201cThat one\u2019s skin color is not to the King\u2019s liking!\u201d \u201cThat one has access to magic beans!\u201d By the time the henchmen were through, only twelve \u201cpure\u201d children remained in the King\u2019s presence. His Highness looked them over, scanned them with his penetrating eyes, and felt satisfied that he had found the most frail, impotent children in all the land. <\/p>\n
In time, these twelve children would learn to rely on each other. But for now, they were too intimidated to even make acquaintances. One precocious speckled child, named Henry, who was obviously underestimated by the obtuse henchmen, seized upon a silence in the royal proceedings to make his voice known. \u201cHow long will I be here for?\u201d he whined. Astonished by this brash, high pitch, uncalled for tweet, the wide-eyed henchmen were paralyzed. The King though, grizzled by the battles he had waged to achieve such a lofty position, seemed intrigued, if not willing to entertain this small infraction. Delicately and purposefully, the King said, \u201cMy child, do not fear. You will be here only as long as the Law demands it, and not a moment longer.\u201d The scepter slammed creating a loud noise. Even though he was unsatisfied and bewildered by the King\u2019s response, Henry sat down quietly, afraid of the scepter\u2019s power, and chose not to push for more details. Needless to say, the other children in the room were awed by Henry\u2019s courage, and would not soon forget it. <\/p>\n
As the sun set on that fateful day, the King retired to his royal palace, in the center of the city. A banquet was being held in his honor, to which he was excited to attend. The children, on the other hand, were carried by the henchmen to a small, solitary, sleeping quarter at the edge of town. When they arrived at the deserted and dark destination, the henchmen bid the children farewell and promised to return first thing in the morning to pick them up for \u201croyal service\u201d. With that cold goodbye, the henchmen departed to their families, who were awaiting their arrival dutifully.<\/p>\n
The children were now alone in the darkness, and as any new parent knows, such a lethal combination can cause even the most confident child to unleash deafening cries. Most of the children quickly fell asleep, as if to block out the trauma of the day. Not Henry though. As tears began to slowly crawl out of his sad eyes, Henry\u2019s heavy breathing morphed into a small whimper. Just as he was about to lose total self control, a soft hand brushed his shoulder.<\/p>\n
A young girl whispered, \u201cDon\u2019t be sad. Everything will be okay.\u201d The shock of her sweet touch helped console Henry\u2019s nerves. He could barely make out her shadow in the darkness, but just knowing that she was there was reassuring. Henry managed to get out a few coherent words before losing himself once again in emotion. \u201cI miss my mommy. I want to go home.\u201d The little girl nodded in agreement. She could relate to the natural desire to return to the security of the world she knew best. Yet, she persisted, \u201cWe can\u2019t go home yet. The King won\u2019t allow it.\u201d Henry, whose anger towards the King had been building furiously since being silenced in court, became enraged at the mere mention of his name. \u201cBut the King went home tonight! He got to see his mother!\u201d The little girl listened intently to his emotional outburst, but either brilliantly or ignorantly responded, \u201cYou heard the King in court. We will go home when the Law allows it. Not a moment later.\u201d The two children, Henry and Wendy, continued talking into the night, and before long they were both dreaming of memories past. <\/p>\n
The next morning, the henchmen woke the children from their slumber. They traveled together from the remote cave in which the children slept, to the royal court. The King was waiting for their arrival. \u201cWelcome, my children\u201d he bellowed. \u201cWelcome to my royal court, where you will have the esteemed honor and privilege to serve the entire county. You have been selected from amongst all the children of the land, because you are the most qualified to listen and carry out my instructions. After all, I am the King, and if what I say is followed, everyone in the county will be better off.\u201d The King slammed his scepter, and the children quivered with fear.<\/p>\n
The children were immediately put to work. Annabelle, Aaron, and Alex, were ordered to shine the King\u2019s shoes. Billy, Bertha, and Bethany, buffed the King\u2019s throne with toothbrushes. Charlie, Camille, and Carlton, polished the royal goblet. Finally, Henry, Wendy, and Mendy, were sent to wash the royal lavatory. Although the King often relied on his henchmen to interact with the children, every so often His Highness would speak (down) to them directly, usually to reassert his dominance. Months went by, and nothing changed.<\/p>\n
Since there were only two henchmen, and one King, one of the four groups of children was always left unsupervised. On this particular day, Henry, Wendy, and Mendy, were left to their own devices. Henry and Wendy had become fast friends since that first night in the cave, many months ago; Mendy was more than happy to act as a third wheel. As the trio was scrubbing the royal shower, Wendy began crying. \u201cI\u2019m sorry\u201d she said, directed at Henry. \u201cWe have been serving the King for so long. When I met you, that first night, I sincerely thought that a day would come when the Law would no longer be in need of our services. Now I fear that that day will never come.\u201d Henry tried to reassure her, but nothing would quench her despair. <\/p>\n
Suddenly, Mendy stood up. Something in Wendy\u2019s words resonated deeply with him. Mendy, who was ordinarily the silent type, could no longer contain himself. \u201cThe Law?\u201d he asked skeptically. \u201cI have never even seen the Law. How can something invisible keep us captive?\u201d Henry and Wendy were astonished. Not only was Mendy speaking (to other people), but his words were inflammatory, and showed the promise of subversion. Just at that moment, the door swung open and none other than the King was standing there. <\/p>\n
The children were frozen in fear, and after bowing in respect, they quickly shuffled out of the facility to give His Highness his royal privacy. Fortunately, the King had not overheard their conspiracy. He had simply come to take a shower. The children breathed a sigh of relief, but Henry, inspired by Mendy\u2019s passionate display, felt impelled to act on all of their behalf. He quietly reentered the royal lavatory, tiptoed as silently as his tiny child feet would allow for, and without knowing what exactly he was about to do, he stole the royal hammerhead scepter, as the King was busy bathing. As Henry turned to escape, Wendy and Mendy were standing beside him, holding the royal robes. The three children quickly ran out of the bathroom, unsure of what they had done. <\/p>\n
Suddenly, a deep, resonating voice blasted forth from their stolen spoils. The entire palace shook with vibrations. The other children came running, as did the fresh faced henchmen. The King, still covered in shampoo, stumbled furiously out of the lavatory, screaming incoherently. Without his robes and his scepter, the King looked just like a little boy, and could have easily blended into the other children. The hammerhead scepter began to speak. \u201cI am the Law!\u201d And then, as if taking on a personality of its own, the scepter looked squarely at the King, and said, \u201cAnd who the hell are you!\u201d<\/p>\n
The End.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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