You said that the American Civil War was an occasion where social justice prevailed in the abolition of slavery. I ask, did social justice prevail when, during the same war, Union forces burned and destroyed personal property (Sherman’s march to the sea and the subsequent burning of Atlanta among many other examples)? Is it possible for social justice to be done when, in its establishment, injustice is done to others?
Social justice in what respect? In respect to slavery, yes. In respect to the burning of property, no.
Then how can you say that social justice prevailed? We hear (far to much) here on CAF that one is not permitted to do evil so that good may come of it. Doesn’t it apply in your example of the American Civil War?
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”?
But my point is that social justice did prevail in respect to slavery! Why do you have trouble accepting the fact? I never said that social justice will always prevail in every respect. All I did was raise a question.
Robert, if “justice” doesn’t prevail in every respect, then it isn’t Justice. If it took the deaths of thousands, the destruction of personal property and the collapse of an economy that impoverished most of the southern states to abolish slavery, then I think it can be argued that social justice did NOT prevail.
So, when does it happen?
That’s your opinion, which I happen to disagree with.
Then please give a definition of “justice.”
A simple dictionary definition of ‘just:’ “Fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience.”
The vast majority of Muslims are peaceful, loving people! Please don’t judge the majority based on the insane atrocities committed by a few extremists! The Syrian people deserve peace and love just the way most Americans do.
You say they deserve peace and love, but every expression of their culture is violent. Look at Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and every other country over there. I am not saying that all Muslims are bad or even that the majority are. I am saying that they both need and deserve a dictator. If the current dictator is removed, someone worse will come in to fill the void. We can’t force peace and democracy on them any more than we can force Jesus on them. Democracy can only come through a historical development that leads them to accept it themselves. When they are ready for it, they will make the moves themselves to bring it about. We need to stay out of it.
By your reasoning, we here in America are a violent society due to our high violent crime rate (just recently, a baby was shot dead in a baby stroller–senseless). Do we deserve a dictator too?
We already have one; hasn’t done much good.
I wouldn’t be surprised if that is in our future.
That isn’t “justice.” Justice is to render to each according to his due (FYI, this is the Church’s definition). If it doesn’t prevail in all respects, then it isn’t justice. The question then becomes, how do you propose to institute justice in respect to the Syrian crisis?
Well said. People don’t realize that that area of the world has known nothing but wave after wave of invasion throughout its history, often subjugated by cruel and powerful rulers. It is mind-numbing to read of the brutality that was inflicted upon these people through the past 4,000 years. The Enlightenment never did shine on the Middle East.
I would claim that Justice is actually a who, it’s God Himself.
