A MEDITATION ON RACE AND LAW

David Mamet, Race: A Play (New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2010) (As to law: "Let me enlighten you. 'Belief,' sir, hamstrings the advocate. Who is, then, 'anchored to the facts.' I 'believe' in the process. Whereby: each side is permitted. To engage an attorney. Does this find the truth? Neither side wants the truth. Each wants to prevail. Does society 'deserve' the truth? Alright. Will they get it? Never. Why? As the truth is in doubt even to the litigants. Each of whom will lie first to himself, then to his attorney, and then to the court, to bring about an outcome which he deems just. Which is to say, 'victory.' You understand? And, on the scaffold, the condemned man having lied to his lawyer, the judge, and himself, will then lie to God. That is the long speech. The short speech is: you came here because you think we can help you. Perhaps we can. What can you do?" Id. at 7. I want to see this play.).