NATHANIEL WOODWARD
It’s undeniable that life comes with big and unexpected changes, so a few weeks ago my wife and I made the announcement to friends and family that we have decided to move out of state. My wife is from Michigan so the decision to leave was only moderately hard for her but I grew up here and have only spent a few years living elsewhere. The difficulty of leaving family and lifelong friends weighed heavily on us. But we know what needed to be done and sadly, there is nothing left here for me to help accomplish what I intend to do.
Within the past 18 months the decision was made that the best way for me to advance my career was for me to attend law school. The question has been asked of me, “Why would a scientist want to go to law school?”
This is a valid inquiry. The reason I chose to attend law school was not because I in any way, shape or form am interested in becoming a lawyer but because I want to hold those in power accountable for the decisions they make.
Let me ask you a rhetorical question. If an individual in power, someone who had the authority to make and change laws and policy, intentionally enacted legislation that would, as a result, cause injury or death on another human, should that individual be held criminally responsible? The answer should be “yes!” but unfortunately that is not the case.
Denying the evidence
I understand science is not for everyone, it can be tedious and require a high level of education to comprehend but we have politicians in power who are touting their view of “scientific fact” with a degree earned from Lobbyist University.
From the White House to our own local Country Commissioner Chamber I have heard rhetoric that was shouted with enthusiasm but lacked entirely in evidence, I mean our county commissioners even handed out free copies of climate denial book. The book has no scientific backing and has been panned globally by every single major university with actual science programs, yet it was handed out like a “favor” to enlighten us poor uniformed people.
See what I’m saying here? I’m not saying it was a corrupt decision, just a demonstration of poor judgment and lack of scientific understanding.
So since we are barreling down this anti-science path as a nation I feel the best way for me to contribute is to enter the legal profession and begin working towards holding companies, politicians and governments responsible for their uniformed, malicious or ignorant acts that will and do have a direct effect on human life.
You may well disagree with climate change, I have heard every single argument against it but it does not change the reality of its existence nor the threat it brings with it. Your opinion is entirely irrelevant to its efficacy but unfortunately the opinions of some matter on what we are gong to do about it and I feel they are not aware of the implications of their ignorance.
Not a political decision
Please don’t believe this is politically motivated on my part, I intend to hammer down on both sides of our republics aisles. I greatly admired that work of Senator Bernie Sanders over the past decade but his views of genetically modified organisms and vaccines is asinine and dangerous and he too should be held accountable if legislation he supports harms human life.
Science knows no political party but it desperately needs a legal voice and I intend on being one of them. So if you disagree with a scientific fact, I suggest you open a book not written by a corrupt weather man or misguided Kentucky pastor and begin studying what makes science, well science. It doesn’t care what you believe.