Heartbreak and Human Rights
Heartbreak and Human Rights A Reflection of the Lessons Learned from the Pursuit of Love and Social Justice
T Brendan Bresnahan Candidate for J.D., 2014
The harsh reality of discovering a passion for selflessness is that it may not inspire those around you to equally reciprocate this passion.
he summer of 2013 will forever be one of the most important and influential periods of my life. With the help of many great members of the Suffolk Law community, I was given the humbling opportunity to live in the Netherlands and intern with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The time I spent working at the tribunal bestowed upon me many blessings. Not only was I allowed to participate as an advocate for social justice and human rights at its highest level, I also met the first woman I ever truly loved. She worked alongside me as an advocate for those persecuted during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Her desire to see justice and her passion for life were both as foreign to me as her country and native language. Having spent two years fully absorbed in the “look at me” law school culture, one that values competition and individual achievement, it was truly bliss to have such a selfless person in my life. Arriving at the tribunal as an admittedly self-interested individual, the experience of simultaneously finding true love for both a person and a greater social cause is one that will forever impact my life. Highs do not come without lows, however, and sadly my experience also taught me that with both social justice and love, the end result is not always as we wish. The harsh reality of discovering a passion for selflessness is that it may not inspire those around you to equally reciprocate this passion. The naive bliss I initially experienced in finding true love for both a person and a cause has progressively been replaced with the realization that passion and love, alone, cannot control circumstance. I learned at the ICTY that sometimes a passion for justice is not enough to convince a judge that a genocidaire is “legally” guilty. Upon my return to the United States I painfully learned that love, on its own, could not overcome the reality of living 6,000 miles away from the woman of my dreams. My immediate reaction to these life lessons was anger and animosity towards the teaching party. Yet in order to truly advocate for others, one must be able see a situation through multiple lenses. Now, more than ever, I understand that a potential consequence of fighting for what is right is the pain of failure. This pain has a tendency to greatly affect the people we fight for. While it is true that I may never fully understand some of the actions taken by those I encounter in my life, I will always respect the human need to protect oneself from the pain the world has to offer. I cannot blame others for acting on fear, for it is our nature to seek safety and protection and I seek it as well. My experience with love and social justice has taught me that, as an advocate, I must rise above the natural human instinct of self-preservation and be the one who provides safety to others. I must be the rock that offers shelter for not only my partner, but for the social justice causes I hold to be true.
BEARING WITNESS 16
Volume 2 - Spring ‘14
As inspiring as my experience was, I am aware that the social justice dream I have chosen to chase, and the defeats that accompany it, will involve a daily battle for closure. Whether for social justice or love, sometimes you have to continue on with your head held high, knowing that you are sacrificing for a cause greater than you. In this there is no shame. Sadness? Yes. Disappointment? Absolutely. Yet never shame, for it is always honorable to have the courage to battle for what you believe in. Failing to reach goals you set in the name of a just cause is not a reason to live life jaded or quit on your dream. On the contrary, failure reminds us that while just causes are the most rewarding to achieve, the fight for what is right is often the hardest. Although we couldn’t overcome the burden of distance, I will always remember my beautiful Lucia and how special she was/is to me. While justice does not consistently prevail, I will always believe in what the ICTY stands for. Keeping these memories with me, while difficult, will ultimately help guide me down the path of my own personal legend. We must remember that love and the fear of failure are simply stimuli that can assist us in the fight to realize a dream. Defeat and suffering are inevitable obstacles, and we have all experienced both. Yet, if it is true that faith is a good thing, and good things never die, I will always have faith in the fight for causes greater than myself. n
BEARING WITNESS 17
Whether for social justice or love, sometimes you have to continue on with your head held high, knowing that you are sacrificing for a cause greater than you. In this there is no shame.
Volume 2 - Spring ‘14
T Brendan Bresnahan Candidate for J.D., 2014
The harsh reality of discovering a passion for selflessness is that it may not inspire those around you to equally reciprocate this passion.
he summer of 2013 will forever be one of the most important and influential periods of my life. With the help of many great members of the Suffolk Law community, I was given the humbling opportunity to live in the Netherlands and intern with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The time I spent working at the tribunal bestowed upon me many blessings. Not only was I allowed to participate as an advocate for social justice and human rights at its highest level, I also met the first woman I ever truly loved. She worked alongside me as an advocate for those persecuted during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Her desire to see justice and her passion for life were both as foreign to me as her country and native language. Having spent two years fully absorbed in the “look at me” law school culture, one that values competition and individual achievement, it was truly bliss to have such a selfless person in my life. Arriving at the tribunal as an admittedly self-interested individual, the experience of simultaneously finding true love for both a person and a greater social cause is one that will forever impact my life. Highs do not come without lows, however, and sadly my experience also taught me that with both social justice and love, the end result is not always as we wish. The harsh reality of discovering a passion for selflessness is that it may not inspire those around you to equally reciprocate this passion. The naive bliss I initially experienced in finding true love for both a person and a cause has progressively been replaced with the realization that passion and love, alone, cannot control circumstance. I learned at the ICTY that sometimes a passion for justice is not enough to convince a judge that a genocidaire is “legally” guilty. Upon my return to the United States I painfully learned that love, on its own, could not overcome the reality of living 6,000 miles away from the woman of my dreams. My immediate reaction to these life lessons was anger and animosity towards the teaching party. Yet in order to truly advocate for others, one must be able see a situation through multiple lenses. Now, more than ever, I understand that a potential consequence of fighting for what is right is the pain of failure. This pain has a tendency to greatly affect the people we fight for. While it is true that I may never fully understand some of the actions taken by those I encounter in my life, I will always respect the human need to protect oneself from the pain the world has to offer. I cannot blame others for acting on fear, for it is our nature to seek safety and protection and I seek it as well. My experience with love and social justice has taught me that, as an advocate, I must rise above the natural human instinct of self-preservation and be the one who provides safety to others. I must be the rock that offers shelter for not only my partner, but for the social justice causes I hold to be true.
BEARING WITNESS 16
Volume 2 - Spring ‘14
As inspiring as my experience was, I am aware that the social justice dream I have chosen to chase, and the defeats that accompany it, will involve a daily battle for closure. Whether for social justice or love, sometimes you have to continue on with your head held high, knowing that you are sacrificing for a cause greater than you. In this there is no shame. Sadness? Yes. Disappointment? Absolutely. Yet never shame, for it is always honorable to have the courage to battle for what you believe in. Failing to reach goals you set in the name of a just cause is not a reason to live life jaded or quit on your dream. On the contrary, failure reminds us that while just causes are the most rewarding to achieve, the fight for what is right is often the hardest. Although we couldn’t overcome the burden of distance, I will always remember my beautiful Lucia and how special she was/is to me. While justice does not consistently prevail, I will always believe in what the ICTY stands for. Keeping these memories with me, while difficult, will ultimately help guide me down the path of my own personal legend. We must remember that love and the fear of failure are simply stimuli that can assist us in the fight to realize a dream. Defeat and suffering are inevitable obstacles, and we have all experienced both. Yet, if it is true that faith is a good thing, and good things never die, I will always have faith in the fight for causes greater than myself. n
BEARING WITNESS 17
Whether for social justice or love, sometimes you have to continue on with your head held high, knowing that you are sacrificing for a cause greater than you. In this there is no shame.
Volume 2 - Spring ‘14
