Justice Isn’t a Mirror: It Shouldn’t Change Based on Who’s Looking

Some people want the law enforced—until it’s enforced on them. What does that say about justice, fairness, and who we really are?

I couldn’t avoid a person I don’t care for as I was leaving the gym. She started talking and asked me if I knew a good lawyer who could take care of a speeding ticket.I didn’t. She was angry because she got a ticket for speeding more than 4 miles an hour over the speed limit. She referred to the policeman who stopped her with an irreverent cuss word. The same person has expressed her delight with how the government is treating immigrants. She gave me a lot to think about. In my.observations I see lots of people who will demand one set of laws be applied. But when those laws apply to themselves, they get angry. There’s something wrong there. In a just society, the laws apply equally to everyone. It doesn’t matter if one is rich or poor. The person’s color doesn’t matter. Where the person is from has no bearing in the fair application of the law. The laws in a just society need to be applied equally.

Points to Ponder:

1. Why do some people support strict enforcement of laws—until those same laws impact their own lives?
2. Can a society truly call itself just if the law bends for those with power, privilege, or popularity?
3. How can we as individuals challenge our own biases when it comes to fairness and accountability?