The Greatest Trick The Devil Ever Pulled

[Nevilledog]

https://newsletterwithecm.substack.com/p/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever?sd=pf

*snip*


I had faith once.

I believed in the rule of law and in the institutions and in the balance of power.

Despite the “flaws” in the system, despite becoming a lawyer because I wanted to fight for women’s rights and for human rights, I believed the law would let me do it, that it would be the vehicle for making the world a better place.

I believed that we were working on a more perfect union, that beautiful propaganda that makes you want to rise in court and plead your case and aim to make the law fit the moment.

I loved the lie.

But I sit here now, five days after Roe fell, and I think about how insane the law is. It’s just words, written in musty books, by largely old white men.

It’s supposed to be a social contract by which we all agree to abide. But it has never been that.

It has always been unjust and fragile, easily contorted to the whims of those longing to preserve minority rule, and in the most crass and violent moments repeated throughout history, and repeated right now, concerned more than anything with property rights, control, and extreme power over others’ lives and bodies.

It is not real, the law. It is not real.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. Precisely why I didn't go to law school.

Patriarchy.

[MineralMan]

2. I considered both law school and medical school.

I took the tests, and scored high enough on both to ensure admission to either.

In the end, I chose neither. Both would take additional years of my young life and promised only an opportunity to do something worthwhile. I ended up becoming a journalist.

Decisions. We all make them. Then, we go about our lives and do our best.

[KPN]

3. K & R. The full essay is well worth taking a few minutes to read. I found it actually very

powerful and even uplifting.

Recommended reading!

[Nevilledog]

4. Yeah.... Had difficulty picking an excerpt.

Glad you read it all!