Can Eminem & Donald Trump teach Canadian lawyers a lesson?

In the world of public figures, few embody the idea of calling out the establishment as boldly as Rapper Eminem and U.S. President Donald Trump.?

Both have built careers and personas by challenging the status quo, rejecting political correctness and demanding accountability - even if it is upsetting. Their actions provide an interesting lens through which we can examine the role of Canadian lawyers where a culture of decorum, cordiality and civility could result in a reluctance to call out fellow lawyers, mediators, arbitrators, experts and, especially, judges.

Eminem, in his iconic song "The Real Slim Shady," does more than simply critique those in authority - he exposes their contradictions, hypocrisies and injustices.?

The lyrics "Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?" are an invitation to choose aggressive speech, hostile criticism and vulgarity in a world that prefers civility and courtesy.?

The lines, "I don’t gotta be false or sugarcoat it at all”, “I just get on the mic and spit it" and “I got the balls to say it in front of y'all”,?illustrates the contrast to a commonplace refusal to avoid confrontation, be polite and sugarcoat the truth - in the name of political correctness.

This rawness is what has made Eminem both adored and controversial. He does not conform to societal expectations, and he doesn't shy away from calling out those in positions of power. He challenges listeners and the public to face uncomfortable truths, even if they don't like what they hear.

Donald Trump’s public persona shares many similarities with Eminem’s. While Trump’s rhetoric is often criticized for being inflammatory, his approach to truth-telling (or at least his brand of truth-telling) is rude, bombastic and unfiltered. He has built a political career around challenging established norms and calling out both political rivals and the media. Like Eminem, Trump is arrogant, unapologetic and unconcerned with being unpopular as long as his message gets across.

In a political climate where politeness and civility are expected, Trump has broken through the barriers of what is considered acceptable discourse. His disregard for “sugar-coating” the truth, much like Eminem’s, has made him a polarizing figure.?

However, both Trump and Eminem’s willingness to say the unsayable has earned them large followings - because, for many, there is something appealing about unvarnished, unfiltered, even controversial, speech.

When we turn to the legal world, especially in Canada, we find a stark contrast to speakers like Eminem and Trump. Canadian lawyers are educated, trained and licensed to advocate using civility, courtesy and decorum. This requirement of politeness can sometimes lead to a legal system where it is impossible to criticize judges in open court, challenge mediators and arbitrators, call out lawyers, etc. Lawyers are often hesitant to be aggressive, fearing the negative reputational consequences of stepping out of line.

The ingrained culture of deference to authority can sometimes result in lawyers being less forceful in holding those in power accountable. This reluctance to speak truth to power can leave the weak, the poor and the disenfranchised vulnerable to exploitation or injustice.

The lesson that both Eminem and Donald Trump provide to lawyers is clear: sometimes, the truth is uncomfortable, and speaking it can make you unpopular - but that does not make it any less necessary. Both figures have shown that there is value in rejecting the pressure to conform, to be polite or to sugarcoat difficult truths. Their approach, while controversial, challenges the status quo and forces people to confront realities they might prefer to ignore.

Much like Eminem in his song "The Real Slim Shady," lawyers may need to ponder whether they will maintain the status quo or "stand up" and "spit" the truth, without fear of being unpopular or offending the powerful.

The message of "The Real Slim Shady" can thus be applied to the legal world. Sometimes, it’s not about playing nice or staying within the lines - it’s about speaking up, calling out the injustices, and fighting for what’s right, no matter how unpopular it might be.

By following the examples of figures like Donald Trump and Eminem, lawyers can break free from the constraints of politeness and challenge the people, issues and systems that perpetuate inequality, injustice and oppression.

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

Steve Benmor, B.Sc., LL.B., LL.M. (Family Law), C.S., is the founder and principal lawyer of Benmor Family Law Group, a boutique matrimonial law firm in downtown Toronto.?He is a Certified?Specialist?in Family Law and was admitted as a Fellow to the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers. Steve is regularly retained as a Divorce Mediator, Arbitrator and Parenting Coordinator. As a?Divorce Mediator, Steve uses his 30 years of in-depth knowledge of family law,?court-room experience?and expert problem-solving skills in Divorce Mediation to help spouses reach fair, fast and cooperative divorce settlements without the financial losses, emotional costs and lengthy delays from divorce court.?You can find his CV at https://benmor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Steve_CV_Nov23.pdf.?He can be reached at [email protected]