Stand Up For The Truth

I just watched a very inspiring movie that based on a true story. It's "A Civil Action".

The movie told about Jan Schlichtmann, a lawyer (casted by John Travolta), who tried to defend a small group of people in Woburn area, New England, against a big industry who contaminated the environment by the toxic waste which caused illness to death to several people who lived there. The industry dumped the toxic chemical waste to a nearby river and canal that connected to the neighborhood. Since the houses there certainly using tap water for drinking, so in a very short time it spoiled their immune system.

In the process of defending people of Woburn, the attorney had to spend everything they have to run the case. They needed to fund themselves with everything they have until nothing left, worse they had to borrow a big sum of money and even mortgaged all properties. Their objective was to make the industry admit their mistake and give compensation to the victims as an apology.


But as we know, defending the right thing is not that easy...

Jan Schlichtmann should face the mean and dirty world of court law.

Jerome Facher: What's your take?
Jan Schlichtmann: They'll see the truth.
Jerome Facher: The truth? I thought we were talking about a court of law. Come on, you've been around long enough to know that a courtroom isn't a place to look for the truth.
(conversation between Jan as a prosecutor of Woburn people & Facher as an attorney of defense for the industry)

Then after, he lost the case.

James Gordon: [Regarding the case and the following settlement] Mrs. Anderson, you're looking at four guys who are broke. We lost everything trying this case.
Anne Anderson: How can you even begin to compare what you've lost, to what we've lost.
(conversation between the prosecutors and the victims)

And then Jan began to drown in a debt and even worse, his partners gave up and left him. He's the only one who still have faith to defend the truth no matter what it takes.

In the trial to appeal the case, he tried all by himself with everything left. He didn't give up on the case. As a lawyer, of course he had a chance to earn money from the case he's been doing aside from whether he win the case or not. Facher, the attorney of defense for the industry, did offer him a big sum of money to push him giving up, while waiting for the judge's decision. It's about 10 million grand. But he burnt the offer.

“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich, famous, and doing good--now, that's very difficult.” 

Though he's all by himself, no money, no partner, not enough resources, only idealism and faith he's got, he suddenly found his way by giving up in the last attempt. He collected the witnesses, ask for their testify, and the last thing he's surrendered by writing to the environment protection from government side to ask for a sympathy and a help. Not long from there, the case was opened again, the truth revealed by showing some evidences, and at the end... he won the case!

What I found interesting from the movie is at the last part when Jan had a conversation with a woman who interviewed him about his wealth :

Kathy Bates (the Bankruptcy Judge): Mr. Schlichtmann,? Mr. Schlichtmann?
John Travolta: I'm sorry. Yes?
Kathy Bates: The purpose of these questions is not to embarrass or humiliate you but, rather, to verify the information that you have declared as your assets. 
John Travolta: I understand.
Kathy Bates: Because what you are asking your creditors to believe with this petition. Well...well, it's hard to believe...
John Travolta (with a chuckle): I know.
Kathy Bates: ...that after seventeen years of practicing law, all you have to show for it is $14 in a checking account and a portable radio? 
John Travolta: That's correct.
Kathy Bates: Where did it all go?
John Travolta: The money?
Kathy Bates: The money, the property, the personal belongings? The things one acquires in one's life, Mr.Schlichtmann. The things by which one measures one's life? 
[Long, silent pause with the camera focused on Travolta]
Kathy Bates (sighing): What happened?
[Another long, non-verbal pause and then the screen fades to black]

Later on, Jan Schlichtmann became a well-known lawyer who defends on environmental cases in New England. And though it takes years for him to pay the debt, but one thing for sure is he got his pride and stood bravely for his idealism.

By seeing this movie, I just want to say that no matter what happened, the truth will reveal sooner or later. So do as best as we can to stand for the truth as the truth will defend us one day, and do the right thing while we still alive. Don't sacrifice your idealism for money even it's very hard at the beginning and we will be tested for our own faith. Instead, give all you've got even it takes everything you have to do what you should do.


Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, hendaklah kamu menjadi orang-orang yang selalu menegakkan (kebenaran) karena Allah, menjadi saksi dengan adil, dan janganlah sekali-kali kebencianmu terhadap suatu kaum mendorong kamu untuk berbuat tidak adil, berlaku adillah karena adil lebih dekat kepada takwa, dan bertakwalah kepada Allah, sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan.
— al-Maa’idah [5]: 8