Last night as I watched former President Jimmy Carter speak and the Democratic National Convention, I was disturbed by his semantics. He said, “All former presidents, Democratic and Republican, have attempted to secure a comprehensive peace for Israel with hope and justice for the Palestinians.”
It was at that moment that I knew that the fate of the Palestinians wasn’t likely to be good.
Justice is a much bandied about word these days.
“We want to bring Saddam Hussein to justice.” When you hear this phrase, a fair and impartial trial doesn’t come to mind. Instead images of jail and the death penalty arise. In Cleveland, the criminal court’s building was called the Justice Center — but for such a lofty name, I wouldn’t have wanted my fate decided there.
When I’m watching the ‘local’ news in the evenings, and anchors speak of brining Scott Peterson to justice or bringing Michael Jackson to justice — my first thought is not — let’s see the truth come out. More often than not, justice these days means jail or death.
Webster’s defines justice with words like fairness, impartiality, righteousness, or conforming to principles or ideals. The words death, jail, and punishment don’t prevail.
Like the word ‘liberal,’ justice has been perverted to serve the goals of conservative speakers and instead of challenging these uses, many have been swept up in the fervor of justice or the avoidance of liberal.
Years ago, there was a movement of people who believed words would lose their sting if they were re-claimed — words like nigger and dyke. I say that we reclaim justice. I’m willing to let liberal go — because frankly the folks avoiding the label aren’t living the label. But justice, I think that’s a word worth fighting for.
