What it takes to become a Lawyer

Today we gave our final presentation in the class of Psychiatry, Law, and Society.

The subject given was to discuss (possible) government policies in dealing with suicide issues. I was surprised I was the only one discussing the legitimacy and justifiability of law intervention in such cases. Most groups focused on media and law (how media reports may affect people's thoughts towards suicide). Some groups gave possible explanations of suicide, which to me seemed too assumptive, lacking statistic basis or logical ratiocination. Some came up with policies that lacked feasibility. One group actually suggested we force media to stop misleading reports by having advertisers call of their commercials, and thus abolishing the importance of rating.

However, I was the only one to talk about justifiability of law intervention in suicide. I believe that before you deal with a problem, you must make sure it is a problem (and not just a phenomenon), and also make sure you are justified to interfere. I thought these were the very basic foundations to establish before proceeding to the details of regulations and practical issues. Yet it doesn't seem to be concerned. At least not in this class.

It made me wonder how often people act before they are authorized, and for worse, they take doing so for granted. Should's and could's are not two sides of a skyline, but total different ways to think. As I cross from literature to law, I realize how boundaries are to be taken care of cautiously. Some say, "Be careful what you wish! It may come true." I'd say, "Be careful what you define! It may be unnecessary."

After class, Dr. Wu praised my work. Yet something in me tumbled. At times, law seem to share essences with philosophy and literature; yet at other times, they seem to do the whole opposite. I am used to standing for absolute freedom, especially when it comes to spiritual freedom. And yet there are more faces to be considered than through simple artistic views.

Maybe writers and poets are crazy men. What socialization do you expect from them?