So I am having a cup of coffee at Starbucks and in a dubious moment of consciousness (I am not a morning person; I am not even an afternoon person) I noticed a feature on the cup that’s probably been around for 10 years: Starbucks’ “The Way I See It” series of quotes from famous people.  My coffee mates, one live, one virtual (don’t ask) had quotes from Newt Gingrich and Madeline Albright.  I had this one from Presumed Innocent author Scott Turow.

 

The Way I See It #271:  “The law, for all its failings, has a noble goal – to make the little bit of life that people can actually control more just. We can’t end disease or natural disasters, but we can devise rules for our dealings with one another that fairly weigh the rights and needs of everyone, and which, therefore, reflect our best vision of ourselves.” 

 

Nice, huh?  Nothing controversial there!  Does anyone want to step up and disagree?  Agree?  Positioned right below the message was Starbucks’ disclaimer:  “This is the author’s opinion, not necessarily that of Starbucks.”   You know it’s a tough environment when a major corporation, known for coming out with deliciously strong coffee, can’t come out strongly in favor of, say, law.   Or, well, justice. 

DISCLAIMER: This opinion about how the quote is not the opinion of Starbucks, is the opinion of the author, and is not necessarily the opinion of LexisNexis or its parent Reed Elsevier. It’s not even an opinion so much as a quasi-humorous observation. The statement that this is more of a quasi-humorous observation and less of an opinion is the opinion of the author; it is not necessarily the opinion or quasi-humorous observation of LexisNexis or its parent Reed Elsevier. It might not even be the opinion or quasi-humorous observation of the author. He may have stolen it. The statement that this might not be the opinion or quasi-humorous observation of the author, and the flip comment that he is a felon, are not necessarily even worth reading this far.