Whatever happened to the concept of Justice when discussing law?

[inthebrain]

This has thrown me for a loop over the last couple of days when talking to some self professed liberals on issues of immigration and a few other things. I have always held that the prime focus of liberalism is on social justice and economic justice.

Too many issues are being framed to sway liberals to the right by using "It's against the law!!!!". In order to move that bar in the middle. We as liberals have historicly understood that the laws are not always just. We understand that Rosa Parks refusing to move to the back of the bus was an issue surrounding the concept of "Justice". Today these very same conservatives would have Rosa Parks jailed and claim "she may be right but she deserves her punishment because she broke the law!!!"

Liberals would never fall for that plastic excuse.

This same idea that someone should be demonized for breaking the law has taken place in the gay marriage debate. When mayors decided to dissobey the law and marry gay and lesbian couples, conservatives framed the issue in terms of "he broke the law".

I have always held that we have a better lock on understanding Justice than our conservative blowhards that use it as a front to hide their bigotry. During the Industrial Revolution, The Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam Protest we broke the laws because we understood that the laws were not "Just Laws".

Conservatives today all too easily blow the fastball of bigotry by us by claiming obedience to unjust law. We as liberals have a great legacy of change because we understand that Unjust Laws need to be broken.

I was wondering if many have that in mind while taking up issues regarding those that "break the law". I for one think it's ridiculous to demonize those for breaking laws that are unjust.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. You are so very correct. Somehow in this *-hell world, justice has been

forgotten.

[valerief]

2. Justice is just a word like 2500 dead soldiers is just a number. n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Civil disobedience isn't dead...

but it seems to be gravely ill and not exactly in favor lately.

Be that as it may, though, in this case there seems to be a lot of people who agree with the law as it is, and are not simply using the blind "illegality" argument but saying that what is illegal here should be illegal.

I am, of course, giving everyone who uses that argument the benefit of the doubt that they are simply in error and not stupid, closet reactionaries, or intellectually lazy.

I don't agree with much of present immigration policies, or much of what is planned, and I tend to prefer completely open borders as an ideal. But, I'm not sure where in Progressive, Liberal, or any other Leftist doctrine it is said that this is a goal. While many people may be a bit jingoistic, even on the Left, the concept of border security is worthy of discussion.

But, yeah, your rant is well justified in a larger sense. The Law is intended to bring justice, and when it fails at justice, it must be disobeyed until it is changed. If we accept unjust law, we are not worthy having law at all.

[opihimoimoi]

4. The Law??? Just who gets to make the LAWS? Not us...das fer sure

Its those super connected powerful dudes...das who...

And jus guess who those laws favor?

Yes, the outcome is LEGAL...but to whom does those Laws serve? Not for the Common Good are they?..Its a setup guys, we qre being scammed no end.

Peace, we tried everything else....thats where its at...PEACE in the WORLD...we could solve so much...even FAMINE abd POVERTY....