We need to listen to heart and mind. Look at the first pairing in the title. Contrary to popular thinking, these are not synonymous nor do they necessarily mean the same thing or come together as a paired team. What is legal, what is the law, is not necessarily justice. Justice is doing right to and for others. It demands great internal searching at times and sometimes dangerous decisions.
What was legal in WWII Germany , what was the law, was not justice. What was legal in Communist Russia was not justice And lest you think that we here in the USA are exempt, well, the Jim Crow laws were not justice, nor were the laws that banned immigrants from Eastern Europe or Asia. Laws are fallible, justice not.
We are, unfortunately and frighteningly, in another period of time where law and justice are dividing, separating and the situation will only get worse unless we stand up for justice, unless we show those in power that we will not stand by and allow our rights, our system of justice, what is right under the heavens to be taken away. It is a scary thought, for most people wish to be obedient to the law, liking the idea of order, but today, I think we must be as brave as those souls who operated the Underground Railroad, against the law, but certainly for justice.
And what about law and order. Are they the same? Well, here we are on truly dangerous ground, swampy and shaky under our feet. We need law in society, anarchy is not a good idea. But, a great big but, this law must be tempered by that justice principle and we must remember that order does not mean violence and suppression against the members of the population in the name of order.
All these principles are necessary for a society to be safe, orderly, and above all, just, or seeking to be, seeking to improve itself. Yet when people are frightened, unsure, when the world seems to be dissolving in front of us, beneath us, when dictators seem to be multiplying on a daily basis, including right here in our own country, well, then we got troubles. That is where we are right now, today, this year, in the USA and we need to make choices.
Are we going to allow a demented dude take away what we have built? Are we going to allow his extreme supporters to use the keys to the kingdom? Are we going to forsake justice in the name of the law, for the sake of order? This kind of law and order leads to chaos in the long run for suppression builds up pressure and when it explodes- not pleasant nor quick.
Be the investigation lead to collusion or conspiracy - we must do something. Will these rollbacks of safety regulations on products, on chemicals, in every area of life do us irreparable harm? Yes, I believe so; we are teetering on dangerous and wobbly lines and when something tips, it will be on a permanent basis.
The interns in the White House were instructed to use thumbs up in their picture, imitating the deranged office occupier. Well, we got even more than that. We had a white power hand sign held up by a cruel looking intern and that, my friends scares me, even more than a Bannon does. This is a young person, with years ahead to do us harm to destroy our society and what are we going to do about it? Once again, it is we the people who must shout and scream and protest and defy and demand if we are going to save ourselves and our democracy and indeed, the democracies of the world. To do nothing is to allow it to happen.
Feel it is not your responsibility and all you want is to put your head down and slog on. Nope, doesn't work that way for one day you will raise your head and find out that what you thought you had is no more ad your head is so bent down that it is now locked into that position permanently and as for the kids - well, think on it.
WE the people need to decide on this cusp of a new year. WE the people need to think really hard.
WE THE PEOPLE!
A HAPPY, THOUGHTFUL AND PROGRESSIVE NEW YEAR FOR ALL OF US.
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