Alan Shore Fighting the Bush Administration
I haven’t said enough about Alan Shore (James Spader). That character was first introduced on The Practice in 2003 and continued onto Boston Legal the next year, together with Denny Crane (William Shatner). I know that there are many real-life attorneys out there who idolize Alan. Not necessarily because they would act like him (that would be too uncomfortable and risky, meaning they would have to break laws and act unethically), but because they would like to fight the good fight and deliver the kind of brilliant and grand speeches that Alan delivers in every one of his trials. Alan Shore is a liberal fighter, a defender of civil and human rights (unlike his best friend, Denny, who is an avid Republican).
I would like to quote Alan. The following is taken from an episode called “Stick It”, written by Janet Leahy and Kelley, which was featured in season 2. It’s one of Alan’s trial speeches, one that questions the American public’s inability to stand up against the Bush administration. Thanks to a blog called Howl at the Moon for the text:
- “When the weapons of mass destruction thing turned out to be not true, I expected the American people to rise up. Ha! They didn’t. Then, when the Abu Ghraib torture thing surfaced and it was revealed that our government participated in rendition, a practice where we kidnap people and turn them over to regimes who specialize in torture, I was sure then the American people would be heard from. We stood mute.”
“Then came the news that we jailed thousands of so-called terrorist suspects, locked them up without the right to a trial or even the right to confront their accusers. Certainly, we would never stand for that. We did. And now, it’s been discovered the executive branch has been conducting massive, illegal, domestic surveillance on its own citizens. You and me. And I at least consoled myself that finally, finally the American people will have had enough. Evidentially, we haven’t.”
“In fact, if the people of this country have spoken, the message is we’re okay with it all. Torture, warrantless search and seizure, illegal wiretappings, prison without a fair trial – or any trial, war on false pretenses. We, as a citizenry, are apparently not offended.
There are no demonstrations on college campuses. In fact, there’s no clear indication that young people seem to notice. Well, Melissa Hughes [Alan’s client] noticed. Now, you might think, instead of withholding her taxes, she could have protested the old fashioned way. Made a placard and demonstrated at a Presidential or Vice-Presidential appearance, but we’ve lost the right to that as well. The Secret Service can now declare free speech zones to contain, control and, in effect, criminalize protest.”
“Stop for a second and try to fathom that. At a presidential rally, parade or appearance, if you have on a supportive t-shirt, you can be there. If you are wearing or carrying something in protest, you can be removed. This, in the United States of America. This in the United States of America. Is Melissa Hughes the only one embarrassed? Last night, I went to bed with a book. Not as much fun as a 29 year old, but the book contained a speech by Adlai Stevenson. The year was 1952. He said, ‘The tragedy of our day is the climate of fear in which we live and fear breeds repression. Too often, sinister threats to the Bill of Rights, to freedom of the mind are concealed under the patriotic cloak of anti-Communism’”.
“Today, it’s the cloak of anti-terrorism. Stevenson also remarked, ‘It’s far easier to fight for principles than to live up to them‘“.
It is indeed a memorable speech. And he delivers a new one every week. Sometimes you wish the Democratic candidates had Alan Shore delivering their talking points.
Andra bloggar om: tv usa politik juridik
Published by Stefan Hedmark 2007-06-04 11:57
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Chris K. Elson writes:
Any chance you could point me in the direction of one of “ real-life attorneys out there who idolize Alan.” “A liberal fighter, a defender of civil and human rights.” I’m in desperate need of someone who can right a terrible wrong that has been committed against me.
Chris