Playing By Your Own Rules

One of my favourite programmes on television is Boston Legal, which is about the antics the lawyers at "Crane, Poole & Schmidt" get up to and their outlandish lawsuits. In the last episode I watched, Denny Crane, one of the senior partners, interviews a potential associate who happens to be black. Denny, being Denny, tells the man that he doesn't sound black which the man finds deeply offensive. The next thing you know "Crane, Poole & Schmidt" are under scrutiny in the media, again, for holding such a controversial opinion.

The rest of the partners at "Crane, Poole & Schmidt" are up in arms about Denny's attitude and call an emergency meeting to kick Denny out. Shirley Schmidt, another senior partner, decides the best way to salvage the situation is to have a press conference. However, the partners insist they have the meeting first to decide Denny's fate in the firm. Shirley asks for a show of hands to ascertain how many people want Denny out. Majority of the partners raise their hands. Shirley says "The nays have it," and Denny ends up keeping his job.

Shirley then attends her press conference. She argues that when Denny said the potential associate didn't sound black, Denny wasn't being racist but just stating an attribute the man has that was very appealing to their clients. Shirley admits that they like their black lawyers with a bit of cream to appeal to their white corporate clients. She points out that the media does the exact same thing with their black news readers to appeal to a mass audience. Shirley concludes that she's aware they are not perfect but that's the way things are. Then she walks out of the press room leaving the journalists speechless. The journalists can't comeback with questions because they know she is speaking the truth.

What I liked about this episode was the power that Shirley had to operate by her own rules. Usually when a vote is carried, the "ayes" usually win the vote. As a senior partner, Shirley was able to make up her own rules. At the press conference, she was also able to project the image she wanted of her firm.

A lucid dreamer is the equivalent of being your own boss. Then you are free to make up your own rules.

The nays have it. Too right!

Enocia

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