What Do You Believe?

The following is a mostly accurate re-enactment of a client interview that is actually a conglomerate of several conversations I've had with clients over the years. It is not a direct reflection of any one client, and gives no information about any case I've handled.


A prospective client recently asked me, "So, are you Italian, English....what"? I thought about the question for a couple of seconds, and I obviously knew "what" he was in terms of ethnicity, so fair is fair. "Irish", I said.

"100%"?, he continued.

"Probably not, since I am American by birth. But 3 of my 4 grandparents were born in Ireland, so I guess that makes me pretty Irish".

He shook his head, pondering whether to hire this Irish immigration lawyer, or to keep shopping. "The Irish are tough", he said. I didn't respond. "You tough"? he asked.

"Look, I'm not sure where this will get you. You want to know that I'll fight for you, and I will". He shook his head some more, not convinced.

"Well, I know a few people high up at DHS, and they say you're a handful. They say you are who they'd hire for themselves in a jam. But now that I'm here, you smile; you're straight-forward and just a normal guy. You don't seem tough".

I thought to myself, maybe I should hit him with a right hook. That might convince him. I decided explaining that to the Bar might prove difficult.

I instead explained that yes, I fight hard for my clients. Hard, but fair. And that I appreciated the referral from ICE, whoever it was. Always good to have the enemy looking out for you.

He wasn't done, unfortunately for me, because three weeks later, I still think about the rest. Good thing for this free therapy.

"Do you believe in God"?

Ugh.

I didn't want to answer the question, and was now getting irritated. Was he going to try to convert me?

What I believe or don't believe was none of this guy's business. Or.......was it? Our views of the world are irretrievably bound to our beliefs, especially whether we believe that our last breaths are really the end of our existence, or just a bridge to a new one. The answer to that one question reveals much about a person, though rarely in the sense of 'good or bad', unless you're the judgmental type. I'm not. He might be on the other hand, I thought, not much caring.

I have plenty of work to do, and don't have to justify my religious beliefs to a prospective client to get new work. I was leaning towards not answering.

I told him it was none of his business.

He persisted, "Of course it is. You are what you believe. If I lose my case, I will be killed. I need to know what you think about dying.

Long pauses before responding to people are often equated with uncertainty. I usually don't pause for long to answer clients' questions. This time, I did.

"That's a cliche, but what I will tell you is that I grew up Catholic. The kind of Catholic I grew up as -and there are many kinds of Catholics- was the social justice kind. My parents were always doing something for someone who was in need. They had 8 kids, and made room for foreign exchange students. They gave what little they had left over at the end of the month to others. My father argued with Senator Dirksen about the poll tax, and how it was simply a way to assure that blacks wouldn't vote. I have those letters, and read them now and again, because that tells me where I get my bend towards fighting for those without a voice".

Surely that would satiate his curiosity.....As if.

"You're a good lawyer. You answered the question without answering the question", he replied, semi-accurately.

I reconsidered a left, right combination. Or maybe a straight jab wouldn't abridge any ethical cannons.

I settled on answering his question the best I could. I told him my beliefs were mine to keep to myself, but that if he had to categorize me, yes, I was Catholic. I told him I believed in God, but not in the sense that my religion, or even my God, is the only correct one. I believe that any religion that has a delusion of exclusivity in their God and system of belief being the one and only was victim of the earliest form of propaganda, and usually that propaganda had very little to do with real beliefs. It was nearly always about power. And that includes the Catholic church.

I wasn't sure if I offended him, or surprised him, and didn't really care. I was annoyed. With him, but mostly for not having the conversation about what I believe, and what I don't, with myself more often. My world view is so much better when I think of myself dead and buried, or as ash, in the near future. I might live a day more, or a decade more, or 4 decades more if I'm lucky. Any way it comes out, it's happening fast. That much is for certain, and the legacy each of us leaves behind becomes much more preeminent in our psyche when we think of that reality. My legacy? Who knows, but part of it will be as a tough sob who fought for immigrants, because no matter what God you pray to, the underdog deserves a chance at getting his or her fair shake. And, perhaps as a bonus, the God I believe in will be pleased by that commitment.