Peace and Justice
by Joe Mayer
"…to promote peace and justice through nonviolent means." This quote is from the mission statement of the SE Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers. All peace groups that I'm familiar with unite peace and justice as primary if peace is ever to be attained.
Prior to the unjust and unprovoked attack on the sovereign state of Iraq by the United States, I was one of the speakers at a church gathering regarding the injustice of such an attack that the Bush administration was contemplating. As I was finishing my talk, an anonymous voice from the back shouted out, "What is justice?" I've heard it since. It's meant as an intimidation, defying one to speak of justice, almost denying its existence.
It's difficult to speak of justice in a nation that ties patriotism with militarism, that reduces justice to vengeance, that equates might with right, that draws its morality from "the market."
I recall from my college "Ethics" course this broad definition of justice: "Giving everyone his or her due." This is a better definition than the one in the dictionary which connects justice with law. Law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Law follows the dictates of the wealthy and the powerful. Law enforcement changes with the tone of one's skin. Law enforcement changes with one's cultural background, even with one's religious beliefs.
Law, not justice, is used by the powerful to impose trade agreements that are legal but which exploits resources and people, and grants the right to pollute.
Law, not justice, forces youth to fight the wars of their elders.
Law, not justice, allows, even encourages, a vast inequality of rights and wealth.
Law, not justice, designates some people as merchants and some as merchandise.
Law, not justice, permits five powerful nations to dominate world governance or lack thereof.
Law, not justice, establishes organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO that hold much of the world in economic bondage.
In the U.S., democracy and social justice have divorced. Democracy married capitalism (which is at best amoral), married survival-of-the-fittest, married self-interest, married militarism. And democracy became the supporting partner, became the misleading myth for world dominance.
As our rationalization for attacking and occupying Iraq evolved to "supporting freedom and democracy" our president sent Paul Bremer to Iraq to perform "shock and awe" on the Iraqi economy. The infrastructure, built and paid for by the Iraqi people, was privatized. Foreign multinational corporations were invited in to reap the benefits of U.S. reconstruction dollars. Foreign employees often make over $100,000 per year with the freedom to come and go while they are guarded by U.S. soldiers making $20,000 per year or less with no freedom of movement. Iraqis were left unemployed to "enjoy their freedom."
The war is over. Bush himself proclaimed this over three years ago. Our presence is an occupation. Foreign troops occupying another nation and enforcing imposed laws is always unjust. Also, how does one "win" an occupation?
"What is justice?' The Golden Rule sounds right: "Do unto others as …" Or maybe we "supposed" Christians should heed our own prayers: "Forgive us as we forgive those…"
"…to promote peace and justice through nonviolent means." This quote is from the mission statement of the SE Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers. All peace groups that I'm familiar with unite peace and justice as primary if peace is ever to be attained.
Prior to the unjust and unprovoked attack on the sovereign state of Iraq by the United States, I was one of the speakers at a church gathering regarding the injustice of such an attack that the Bush administration was contemplating. As I was finishing my talk, an anonymous voice from the back shouted out, "What is justice?" I've heard it since. It's meant as an intimidation, defying one to speak of justice, almost denying its existence.
It's difficult to speak of justice in a nation that ties patriotism with militarism, that reduces justice to vengeance, that equates might with right, that draws its morality from "the market."
I recall from my college "Ethics" course this broad definition of justice: "Giving everyone his or her due." This is a better definition than the one in the dictionary which connects justice with law. Law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Law follows the dictates of the wealthy and the powerful. Law enforcement changes with the tone of one's skin. Law enforcement changes with one's cultural background, even with one's religious beliefs.
Law, not justice, is used by the powerful to impose trade agreements that are legal but which exploits resources and people, and grants the right to pollute.
Law, not justice, forces youth to fight the wars of their elders.
Law, not justice, allows, even encourages, a vast inequality of rights and wealth.
Law, not justice, designates some people as merchants and some as merchandise.
Law, not justice, permits five powerful nations to dominate world governance or lack thereof.
Law, not justice, establishes organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, and the WTO that hold much of the world in economic bondage.
In the U.S., democracy and social justice have divorced. Democracy married capitalism (which is at best amoral), married survival-of-the-fittest, married self-interest, married militarism. And democracy became the supporting partner, became the misleading myth for world dominance.
As our rationalization for attacking and occupying Iraq evolved to "supporting freedom and democracy" our president sent Paul Bremer to Iraq to perform "shock and awe" on the Iraqi economy. The infrastructure, built and paid for by the Iraqi people, was privatized. Foreign multinational corporations were invited in to reap the benefits of U.S. reconstruction dollars. Foreign employees often make over $100,000 per year with the freedom to come and go while they are guarded by U.S. soldiers making $20,000 per year or less with no freedom of movement. Iraqis were left unemployed to "enjoy their freedom."
The war is over. Bush himself proclaimed this over three years ago. Our presence is an occupation. Foreign troops occupying another nation and enforcing imposed laws is always unjust. Also, how does one "win" an occupation?
"What is justice?' The Golden Rule sounds right: "Do unto others as …" Or maybe we "supposed" Christians should heed our own prayers: "Forgive us as we forgive those…"
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