CULTIVATING THE INNER DEMOCRACY

Elif Shafak, Black Milk: On Writing, Motherhood, and the Harem Within, translated from the Turkish by Hande Zapsu (New York: Viking, 2007) ("The Sufis believe that every human being is a mirror that reflect the universe at large. They say each of us is a walking microcosm. To be human, therefore, means to live with an orchestra of conflicting voices and mixed emotions. This could be rewarding and enriching experience were we not inclined to praise some members of that inner orchestra at the expense of others. We suppress many aspects of our personalities in order to conform to the perfect image we try to live up to. In this way, there is rarely--if ever-- a democracy inside of us but instead a solid oligarchy where some voices reign over the rest. [] While it would be naive to assume that a democratic regime is a bed of roses, it is still preferable to any kind of despotism. Only when we harmonize and synchronize the voices within can we become better mothers, better fathers and yes, probably better writer." Id. at xii-xiii. Perhaps this harmonizing and synchronize the inner voices can make us better lawyers? Food for thought for those living in the age of branding and marketing. That is, in an age where we have made products of ourselves. I do not think one can be both a product and a truly well-developed human being.).