| | Peter,. thanks for the story. I wrote this email to the name at the top of the list of people in charge of things at Massey News, R. J. Donald. I sent it from my account on wccnet.edu
The internet has connected us. I am a student at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. I also work at the college as a security guard, a recent change in occupation for me. For twenty years, I was a technical writer, and I taught technical writing at Lansing Community College, here in Michigan.
In your June 6 online issue, you reported a series of ceremonial speeches including one from Deborah Manning, a lawyer.
"Humanities and Social Sciences graduands gave Deborah Manning, from law firm McLeod and Associates, a round of applause mid-speech, when she questioned the importance of money as a motivation to succeed."
http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2005/Massey_News/issue-06/stories/06-06-05.html
However, via the internet, I also learned that Ms. Manning's firm has been paid 2 million dollars to defend her client, Ahmed Zaoui. Not only is this a sizable income, but, more to the point, it came from the taxpayers, not from her client.
America and New Zealand share a common English tradition that demands the best possible defense in the face of legal action by the govenment. Without it, individual rights are weak at best. That said, the fact remains that McLeod and Associates and Ms. Manning are not working pro bono for their client. They are being paid very, very well for their work. Therefore, Ms. Manning's comments deserved not applause, but cat-calls.
I bring this to your attention because you seemed unaware of the disconnect between Ms. Manning's stated opinions and her actions.
Sincerely,
Michael E. Marotta
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