29. september 2002

Is This Your Future Judge? Law students are always charicatured as snobbish, upper-class, fashion conscious and utterly materialistic. Often, stereotypes are debunked by serious studies. Alas, in the case of a recent special thesis by Inger Marie Bodin Åkvåg, about law students in Oslo, Norway, the results confirmed the worst stereotypes in a chilling way. Even leading law professors confirm that the typical law school student has few interests outside his law books, except landing a job making him or her rich. The typical law student is hysterically concerned about grades and about fashion. 30% of them admitted that grades was a part of the equation when they chose friends. Flunk an exam, and you may find your friends deserting you, even if you compensate with an Armani suit. This being the case, it should not be a surprise that law students are the students most likely to cheat an exam. They are also the most likely to need psychiatric help during their studies. This is not only your future lawyer, it may be your future judge, too. Lawyers also dominate top positions in major business corporations. And, considering how large proportion of politicians have a legal background, this is also likely to be your future elected representative, prime minister and president. From an article in Norwegian in Aftenposten. 5:03:31 AM    comment []

Freedom of Speech Under Fire in France French prize-winning author Michel Houellebecq is currently on trial in Paris, charged with "inciting racial hatred." Houellebecq made a number of statements, saying that Islam is "the dumbest religion" and calling the writing style of the Koran "mediocre," that has enraged Muslem organizations. Those of us having the Salman Rushdie affair in mind should not expect Islamic organizations to be champions of free speech. I do find it much more worrying that France's Human Rights League supports this attack of free speech. Should we trust the court to find out for itself that Islam is not a race but a religion? I hope we can. "Mr Houellebecq's lawyer, Emmanuel Pierrat, argues that the case effectively re-establishes the notion of blasphemy, despite the fact that France is a secular state and has no such law." Hear, hear! It is a depressing time for free speech advocates, with attacks coming from the left and the right at the same time. Leftists typically use "hate speech" laws, rightists "obscenity" or "national security" laws, to gag whatever opinions they don't like. I hope the courts are able to stop the attack from both sides, but I am not particularly optimistic. PS: Suzie Mackenzie of Guardian has written an excellent interview/profile/book review of Houellebecq and his books. She was also so kind to inform the reader that his name is pronounced "wellbeck." Now those of us unfortunate enough to not speak French need not sound like illiterates in polite company. 1:53:06 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.10.02; 02:19:54.