CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM
T H U R S D AY, APRIL 30, 2026 | PAGE 9
Without the rule of law, the American Dream is just a dream Jawad R. Shalabi President, Arab American Bar Association
and never achieved happiness. I believe Scarface presents a warped version of the American Dream that highlights why the rule of law is so important. Beyond the simple idea that following the law is good and not following it is bad, there is the reality that our actions have consequences for society, not just ourselves. For America to remain the land of opportunity — and for every resident to pursue happiness — we must all play by the same rules. If laws are not followed, unethical behavior becomes normalized, social structures erode and trust in our system vanishes. The American Dream becomes just that — a dream, rather than a reality grounded in law and order. Happy Law Day to all of my fellow attorneys!
The Rev. Jesse Jackson described America as a “quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors ... all woven ... together.” The strength of this well-woven textile depends on rules and rights that create both structure and flexibility. The law provides the threads that hold our diverse and dynamic society together and is therefore essential to the fabric of American life. Without law, the social fabric would fray, leaving individuals vulnerable and institutions un- stable. The law quietly but powerfully shapes how Americans live. Contract law governs agreements from employment to home purchases, ensuring promises are honored. Criminal law protects public safety, deterring harm and promoting accountability. Constitutional law safeguards fundamental rights and allows individuals to seek redress when wronged. Even routine activities like driving on public roads, attending school or starting a business depend on a legal framework that provides order and predictability. The durability of this fabric depends not only on the law, but on those who interpret and uphold it. This is where lawyers play a critical role. Lawyers from both the bench and the bar serve as both weavers and stewards, helping to maintain the strength of the fabric through application and enforcement of the rule of law, and mend any fabric tears through both advocacy and dispute resolution. Engagement with law students is also vital to ensure that future attorneys are both intellectually prepared and grounded in practical skills and ethical judgment. Through mentoring and modeling professionalism, attorneys contribute to students’ abilities to navigate real-world complexities with integrity. This important connection ensures that new lawyers enter the pro- fession ready to reinforce, rather than unravel, the legal fabric ensuring that the law remains not just a system of rules, but a living, resilient weave that sustains American life.
The rule of law supports the pursuit of the American Dream because it is, itself, the only legitimate means of obtaining it.
It is telling that America is known as the “land of opportunity” — not the land of fulfillment and not the land of promised happiness. We have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and in pursuing happiness, we are all expected to follow the same laws. The American Dream is the idea that everyone in the United States has the opportunity to achieve a richer, fuller life, regardless of their background, through hard work, determination and, of course, by following the law. Without the rule of law, the American Dream cannot exist in any meaningful or sustainable way. The rule of law supports the pursuit of the American Dream because it is, itself, the only legitimate means of obtaining it. In the movie “Scarface,” Tony Montana, a low-level criminal from Cuba, comes to the United States and quickly rises in wealth and power, ultimately moving toward his own destruction. His presence in America gave him the opportunity to obtain more than he ever dreamed possible in his homeland, but he did so through illegitimate means
The law serves as an essential piece of the fabric of American life Nicky Boothe Dean & Professor, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
The law provides the threads that hold our diverse and dynamic society together and is therefore essential to the fabric of American life.
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