We humans have this nasty little vanity that causes us all sorts of tragic and destructive problems and that it's we always paint ourselves with the brush of purity - as opposed to the brush of honesty (which would be pure). And that's why we have ludicrously named institutions like the "Department Of Justice" and other grandiose titles decrying our inerrant virtues and pursuits. Makes us feel good to have a whole department dedicated for justice!
Of course, the reality is the number of people devoted to justice on this planet is few and far between and what we really have is a legal system, not a justice system (never have, never will). But calling it the "Department Of Legality" doesn't have the veneer of divine blessing we treasure so much. A legal system comes from men and we all know men make mistakes. But a justice system, that comes from God and God is perfect! So while a legal department would be open to all sorts of questioning a justice department is considered anointed in holy acclaim.
But every once in a while we get a sharp stick in our vain eyes reminding us what a lie it is to claim we have a justice system. From southern civil rights cases in the 60's to Rodney King and now our buddy Zimmerman our phony façade of purity gets painfully ripped apart - but never so much pain as to admit we are not actually devotees of the truth. And that's what allows the wheels of injustice to keep steamrolling right along.
If we were truly faithful to the ideals of justice we'd realize the greatest discrimination existing today in our court system: income disparity. The poor and out-of-favor (God help anyone accused of a sex crime) are railroaded and on their backs are built shining careers. Here in Dallas we've been forced to release more innocent prisoners than any other county in the country. But the D.A's during that past reign of terror were revered for "winning" and being "tough" on criminals. There's no kudos for letting a defendant go free even if it does serve the truth (and justice) of the case.
It's on record when the KGB under Stalin rounded up "enemies if the revolution" they knew they were imprisoning innocent people. But criminals had to be displayed and prosecuted for the whole of society to feel good. And while no one formally demands innocents be rounded up here, it's the same principle of imprisoning impressive numbers of people right or wrong for us to feel we're a country of law and order (even though the result is pure anarchy).
What's even more disturbing is the trend of intimidation used by well-funded prosecutors to even further enhance their record. Plea bargaining has now became tantamount to holding a gun to a defendant's head. First, there is the overcharging so if there is a conviction the accused faces an extended sentence and of course the accused has to consider the economic consideration of trying to fight. The result is innocent people pleading out when faced with a seeming no-win situation. Only the attorneys win in the end (don't think the system isn't rigged on both sides with wink-wink agreements).
But all this stuff can be readily researched and duly shouted from the rooftops every day but no one wants to hear it. Every few years a verdict comes along that gets everyone riled up because the truth of our false fidelity to justice comes to light and we're left scrambling to hide our private parts in sheer terror hoping no one remembers our naked embarrassment. It's a sad farce and the outrage and rioting in the world winds up being nothing more than a tempest in a teapot.
To be lazy, to be willfully ignorant, to be complacent in the face of injustice and simply substitute the word "legal" for "moral" is to endanger us all. If the DOJ came out tomorrow stating drone strikes were wholly illegal and liable to the President would we want him to stop? If, as so many people claim, these strikes are a matter of national security and executing justice would their legality be germane to their actual justice?
To the complacent that answer would actually be yes. The idea our legal system is not a just one is just too much to bear. So back to sleep good people, stay brainwashed and relax until the axe of injustice comes for you - because by then it will be too late do anything.
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