Resumo de The Street Lawyer

Whenever people find out that among my list of hobbies reading occupies one of the topmost positions, the reaction I get is usually full of skepticism, sometimes disbelief, whereas at other times, intrigue. But reading is something I deeply enjoy. In my opinion, there is nothing more relaxing or more satisfying then curling up on a comfortable sofa with a hot cup of coffee and reading one?s favorite book. Although I have read numerous books and there are many which are close to my heart, the one novel which was particularly moving and which I can include in my list of favorites is ?The Street Lawyer? written by John Grisham.

The novel ?The Street Lawyer? is about one man who is working in a reputed and well-established law firm located in the centre of New York. He is a corporate lawyer whose daily routine consists of resolving disputes and bankruptcy issues concerning top of the line businesses. However, one day his life is turned upside down when, during a meeting, a homeless black man barges in and takes all of the senior executives hostage, demanding that an eviction notice that has been charged against him be dropped. He is eventually shot down by the police, bringing a tragic end to the terrible and frightening ordeal; but things are just beginning for this young lawyer who just cannot get the image of the black man out of his mind; a homeless man who was driven by a corrupt society to the edge of his sanity and level of self control.
With many questions unanswered, he decides to go to a homeless shelter located in downtown New York. Once there, he realizes with shock and disbelief that in fact, there were many, many more people, mostly black, who are suffering at the hands of a fraudulent system and who are living in pathetic conditions. The shelter itself is severely understaffed and is lacking in facilities such as sanitation, electricity and even blankets. What he finds most inspiring and which leaves him in complete awe is the portrayal of pure determination and fortitude by the shelter?s volunteers. Steered through no desire for personal benefit but mainly out of sheer compassion and care for fellow human beings, these volunteers spend day and night trying to provide a home for these poor people, while at the same time, fight for their rights by stressing the importance of rented housing and the prevention of drugs to which most of these people fall victim.
Angered by this injustice and driven by the objective to make life better for the homeless, he turns over a new leaf by leaving his well-paid, high class job and instead fights cases in court concerning eviction notices and proper housing for the destitute. His sudden turnaround raises a few eyebrows in the high class society; once where he was revered by his peers and superiors alike, he is now looked down upon with contempt. Nevertheless, he moves on, creating a stir in the legal system of New York and ultimately achieving victory for the impoverished, but mostly for himself.

This novel, very eloquently, displays the true picture of our modern society in which we live. Caught up in our own web of problems pertaining to our career and jobs, we can never spare some time for the less privileged of our society. It has become a part of our nature to glance at the pitiable lives these individuals lead and then shrug our shoulders apathetically and move on with our hectic lives, without giving them a second thought. This book teaches all of us as human beings a valuable lesson; that the homeless person sleeping on the side of the pavement may be poor, but he is after all human. Therefore he deserves to lead a better life on this earth just as much as we all do. Engaging in acts of compassion and loving are ways of pleasing God too as our religion preaches to us.
After reading this book, my perspective towards the under privileged has changed immensely and thus I try my best to contribute as much to my society in the form of empathy and love for our fellow Pakistani Muslim beings.

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