The Showdown, Part 2

You, quite simply, have got to be kidding me.

This happens a lot. 

Two teams compete in a high stakes Mock Trial competition, usually being the County Finals.

One team, we'll call them..."Us"...is from a small, middle-class town. They send, oh, maybe 35 students to a four year school every year. This team is made up of kids from all different cliques, and all different ethnicities. They come from a town of teachers, construction workers, and bank managers. They are coached by a brilliant lawyer, one who chooses to make an impact on the lives of young people. They are taught the law, rigorously, and reminded that even though they may be made to feel out of place in a courtroom by more affluent teams, they belong there all the same. 

The other team, we'll call them..."Them"...is from an average sized, upper-class town. They send 35 students to UC San Diego every year, and, oh, maybe 300 students to a four year school every year. These students don't have to worry about money...they are set. They come from a town of lawyers, firefighters, and...lawyers. They are advised by lawyers, teachers, and acting coaches. They are taught the law, somewhat rigorously, but focus more on acting and convincing the scoring attorneys that they look like they know what they are talking about, rather than actually knowing what they are talking about. They are condescending to just about everyone, especially the upstart teams from less affluent communities that they find themselves competing against for the County Title. 

In effect, it is David vs. Goliath. And guess what, year after year, after year...Goliath wins. How about David wins once in a while? How about the scoring attorneys listen to the content of what is being spoken, rather than simply how it is being spoken? Yes, "Us" is intimidated by "Them," but they know the law, and they perform admirably every year. This is not an acting competition, rather, it is a competition of the law.

And, regarding the law, the former deserves the victory.