The Impeachment Closure: Too Much Learnedness, Too Little Truthfulness; And Homage To A Judge
Rajan Philips
I have heard a story about a little known University Lecturer in Mathematics and a well-known Queen’s Counsel Lawyer in Colombo. The lecturer did not agree with a circular put out by his university administration regarding the terms of employment of university teachers. Being a man of logical mind, he thought that the circular was illogical, wrong, and unjust. Being also a principled man, he wanted to challenge it whereas all his colleagues went about their business of teaching unconcerned about the circular. So our mathematical man took his anxiety to another level and got a referral to the Queen’s Counsel of this story. At the appointed time, the little known lecturer walked into the intimidating palatial house of the lawyer in the heart of Colombo, and was then led by the house valet into the even more intimidating chamber of the great QC. The lecturer stated his problem, the learned lawyer read aloud the relevant law, and gave his considered opinion. “It does not quite follow”, deadpanned the mathematician. The meeting did not go much longer after that impertinent contradiction.
