We can’t legislate morality.  But there is a purpose in legislating laws, and there is a purpose to develop a means to define morality by way of public service campaigns.  Three things that underscore this are the: Civil Rights Act of 1866; Sesame Street; and a murder trial. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, according to Senator Trumbull, who introduced the bill on January 5, 1866, with the intent to “break down all discrimination between black men and white men.” (Foundations of Justice, Prof. Organ and Prof. Vischer, pp186-187, Spring 2012)  However, for decades, our American history has been tarnished with gross violations of this Act in which the white perpetrators received little consequences; if any.  Absolutely, in cases of murder, as discussed in Criminal Law, there needs to be laws for the purposes of deterrence, punishment, and a forum for victim’s resolution.  However, as our history books have documented, the intent of the Act did little affect to deter racial discrimination between blacks and whites. 

However, our history books have also told stories of whites and blacks committed to ending racial discrimination and the atrocities it created.  One such forum was a public service campaign developed in 1966 by way of a children’s educational TV show called Sesame Street; exactly 100 years after the Civil Rights Act of 1866 went into legislative law!!!  This is where American children were exposed to ‘children different then themselves’.  I remember skits where there were children with different hair types, skin colors, etc.  These children were wearing clothes like me and my friends, smiled and laughed at the same things we laughed at, and ate the same foods we ate.  In a very subtle way, black children were identified as Americans; just like me and my friends.  So within years of Hubert Humphrey rebuking the ‘adults’ for their red-ling and perpetrating racial discrimination in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the white children of Rosemount, Minnesota were developing ideas that blacks can be our friends too. 

No doubt there’s more work to be done to reduce racial discrimination.  As much as laws and public service campaigns where created by the greatest of all, our Father the Lord, the Church is made up of people who have their own agendas, fears, and desires.  Praise God there are religious and secular organizations that understand how to combine legislative laws and public service campaigns to reduce racial discrimination!  <><  One such secular organization is WATCH of MN.  WATCH of MN has shown me how to live out my life according to the image of God through the consistent actions of the staff, volunteers, and supporters.  Each person is dedicated to having compassion for the defendant while holding him/her accountable for his/her actions, all the while maintaining the safety of the victim with the utmost importance.  One such incident that I recall was a murder trial perpetrated by a white supremacist against a fellow band member.  This hate crime underscored the need to address Minnesota’s existing Firearms statutes in the courtrooms, and the need for advocates and police officers to develop public service campaigns to reduce incidents of murder. 

The teamwork between the police community, WATCH of MN, other advocates, and judges, such as my mentor, Hon. Mary Madden, is addressing racial discrimination affects on familial homicide.  This is being done by: addressing existing murder laws; escalating racial motivated murder to a hate crime; expanding hate and gang crimes into the domestic abuse realm; and developing campaigns to aid police, victims, and their families to recognize signs of escalating violence towards a victim.  For example, Minnesota has developed a campaign, Blueprint for Safety, which is intended to foresee fatal threats with higher accuracy, efficiency, and police-work accountability.  As a result of this duality of using existing laws and recent public service campaigns, Hennepin county has one of the highest conviction rates in America and has drastically reduced familial homicide in half within a mere decade!!  <><

So, we can’t legislate morality.  But there is a purpose in legislating laws, and there is a purpose to develop a means to define morality by way of public service campaigns that is reducing racial discrimination.  Hence, we now see how the intentions of Senator Trumbull, creators of Sesame Street, and the legal system and advocates of Minnesota are being realized by way of public service campaigns to reduce racial discrimination.  Thank you, Mardell Presler

Daily Discipleship

Christian Legal Society kicked off the new Daily Discipleship time this week. The idea started because our new president, Lucas, wanted to provide a daily opportunity to spend time in community with other Christians. In the past, a Bible study met once a week and the fellowship that was experienced through it left those of us participating wanting more opportunities like it.

The Daily Discipleship is available for anyone who is seeking an opportunity to spend more time with other Christians or wanting to learn more about being a Christian. The Bible reminds Christians repeatedly of the importance of meeting together to seek Him and hold each other accountable.

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

As Christians, we are called to provide encouragement and strength to each other. What better time to do that than in the middle of such a trying time as law school? The friendships made and established during this period will be invaluable to us as we go into the “real world”. Repeatedly, we hear about the importance of networking, but it is actually more than networking to find a job, isn’t it?

The importance of networking goes beyond the job market and should be considered in reference to networking to find a true group of friends. A group of friends committed to strengthening each other and holding each other accountable. No one has yet to tell me that the legal world is easy. Rather, we hear that you must have something to stand on, a base on which to hold your views and not be molded into the stereotype that society gives lawyers.

The Daily Discipleship presents an opportunity to build these friendships and meet others ready to encourage, strengthen, build-up and hold each other accountable. It is our hope that this daily opportunity will establish a foundation to carry us and our fellow classmates far beyond St. Thomas’s walls to make an impact on the legal profession.