Is Justice For All Possible In America?

The Concept of Justice in Society

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, Wait on time.”

The above quoted lines of “Martin Luther King Jr.” from his famous work “A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches” gives a pertinent overview of the concept of justice and the need for justice in the present day world. The concept of justice has captured the attention of the people since the dawn of the human civilization and in the present times as well continues to be the bone of contention for the majority of the nations as well as the individuals of the world (Walker, Cassia and DeLone p-21-89). Therefore, it can be said that the concept of justice forms the fulcrum of the constitution of the majority of the nations of the world (Walker, Cassia and DeLone p-21-89). However, it is seen that in the modern framework of the various nations of the world the individual rights of the various people are deprived and people generally do not get justice in the society for that matter. This essay will try to explore the question of whether justice is possible for all the people in the nation of the United States of America and if yes to what extent the people of the nation get justice as well as equality in the society of the concerned nation.

The nation of the United Kingdom States of America is one of the paradigms of the concept of equality as well as justice and the constitution of the nation itself provides various provisions so that the people of the nation are provided with the basic rights of justice and equality (Walker, Cassia and DeLone p-21-89). The “United States Flag Code” or more commonly called by the name of “Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag” gives a pertinent overview of this particular concept when it states that “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”. However, the history of the nation states otherwise and it is often seen that although the nation claims to believe in the concepts of “liberty, equality and fraternity” yet all kinds of injustices abound in the nation (Elkouri et al p-67-90). For example, in the opinion of many people the economic growth of the nation was possible only because of the exploitation which the various slaves from the continent of Africa and others had to face in the nation of the United States of America in the 18^th and the 19^th centuries (Elkouri et al p-67-90). The slaves in that particular point of time were not only subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatments but also deprived of their basic rights of justice and equality in the society (Elkouri et al p-67-90). This is in complete contrast to the dictum of justice and equality for all propounded by the constitution of the nation (Elkouri et al p-67-90).

The History of Slavery in the United States of America

Racism is another common problem is a part of the framework of the society of the nation of the United States of America (Ash et al. 94:616-636). It is significant to note that in the nation of the United States of America not only the black people but the other colored people like the Mexican, Asian and others as well have to face the cruel machinery of racism (Ash et al. 94:616-636). This particular machinery which forms a part of the society of the nation is a thing which is in complete contradiction to the dictum of the nation which proclaims justice and equality for all its citizens (Sherraden and Gilbert p-12-78). The opinion of Cornel West is significant to note in this particular context when he says that “The fundamental crisis in black America is twofold: too much poverty and too little self-love” (Ash et al. 94:616-636). Furthermore, because of this particular fact the various individuals of the nations have to face various kinds of discrimination not only in the social sphere but also in the other walks of life like the educational opportunities, job prospects and others (Sherraden and Gilbert p-12-78). Therefore, it can be said that although the nation of the United States of America proclaims to offer justice and equality to all its citizens yet the institution of slavery is in complete opposition to that particular idea (Ash et al. 94:616-636).

Sexism is another problem which is currently inflicting the society of the United States of America and which is in complete contradiction to the dictum of the nation which claims to offer equality as well as justice on equal footing to all the citizens of the nation (Sikkink and Lutz p-319-351). It is significant to note that inspite of the government’s dictum to provide equality to all its citizens it is usually seen that the women of the nation have to face various kinds of discrimination on the basis of their sex and sexual orientation (Sikkink and Lutz p-319-351). The comment of the “Afro-America author” bell hooks, who writes her name in the lower case in a bid to symbolize her skepticism of the very concept of fame, is significant to note in this particular context when she says that “women have been socialized to think of racism solely in terms of racial hatred without regard to racial imperialism” (Sikkink and Lutz p-319-351). It is significant to note that even in the present times the women of the nation are discriminated not only in the social sphere but also in other walks of life education, job prospects and others (Todd and Frost p-34-90). In the opinion of Suzanne Pharr “the weapons of sexism are economics, violence, and homophobia”(Todd and Frost p-34-90). Furthermore, regarding this particular aspect he goes on to say that “Homophobia is a weapon of sexism because homosexuals threaten a male dominated society” (Todd and Frost p-34-90). It is significant to note that this particular feature of the society is in complete opposition to the dictum of the constitution of the nation which seeks to provide equality as well as justice to all the citizens of the nation irrespective of their gender and other attributes (Sikkink and Lutz p-319-351).

Racism and Discrimination

The actions of the global leaders or more specifically the present day leaders of the nation of the United States of America is a pertinent example of the fact that the concepts of justice as well as equality are not meant for the citizens of the nation (Della Porta et al. p-45-78). The opinion of Derrick A. Bell articulated in his famous work “Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth” becomes pertinent to note in this particular context when he says that “We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained” (Della Porta et al. p-45-78). Therefore, it can be said that the citizens of the nation of the United States of America are the victims of the cruel machinery of the discrimination not only on the basis of wealth but also on the perspective of power (Della Porta et al. p-45-78). The opinion of George Orwell articulated in his famous novel “Animal Farm” is a pertinent reflection of the current condition of the nation where he says that “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than the others”. Thus, it is generally seen that although the nation is one of the most developed ones of the world and is generally considered to be one of the paradigms of the concepts of democracy as well as equality yet the society of the nation is segregated on the basis of injustice as well as inequality (Della Porta et al. p-45-78). Furthermore, the unequal distribution of wealth as well as power in the nation of the United States of America is another fact which is commonly used by the various individuals to argue about the fact that the people of the nation do not get justice as well as equality in the land of the United States of America (Walters et al. 648:6).

The rise of the various forms of terrorism is a reflection of the fact that the people of the nation of the United States of America do not get justice as well as equality in the nation (Walters et al. 648:6). In the opinion of many people “Terrorists often justify the use of violence for what they believe is a just cause” (Walters et al. 648:6). Therefore, it can be said that the various rights as well as the expectations of the people are not met in the framework of the legal order and other governmental bodies and thus the people of the nation resort to all kinds of violent and other activities in a bid to seek justice and remedy for the wrongs which they have incurred from society as well as the nation (Guglielmo and Salvatore p-45-89). Furthermore, the injustices as well as inhuman treatments which the people from the other nations of the world in the nation of the United States of America had to face post the various terrorist activities like the “World Trade Center” attack and others are pertinent examples of the fact that the nation although preaches the dictums of justice as well as equality for all yet in practice it rarely follows that (Guglielmo and Salvatore p-45-89).

Sexism and Discrimination

To conclude, the concepts of justice as well as equality form an important requirement as well as need of the people of the various nations of the world. It is generally seen that the various nations of the world proclaim to provide equality as well as justice to all its citizens but in practice it is seen that the various nations of the world rarely practice this particular concept. For example, when the nation of the United States of America is taken into consideration it will be seen that although the nation is one of the most famous representatives of the systems of democracy as well as the human rights yet in practice it is generally seen that the various individuals of the nation do not always get justice as well as equal rights in the nation of the United States of America. This can be seen as a reflection of the nature of the society which the nation has at its core and the act of giving priority to the concepts of wealth and power.

References

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