Blog #7: "Law and Justice"

To begin with, the difference between law and justice is simple. Law is what the government requires us to do, and justice is what our personal set of morals tell us to do. However, the simplicity ends at that. One passage that I took to a higher meaning from the selected reading, Law and Justice, reads “Law is only a means. Government is only a means. ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness’ - these are the ends. And ‘whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.’” This statement definitely favors the justice side more so, stating that when the people don’t agree with the laws the government has enacted, then it is the people’s right to change to a government that better suits their needs. Above all else, it says that the basic human rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness stand, and that the law and related government are only a way to ensure that those rights are met.

I believe that both law and justice are necessary. First justice is required, and then the law is a means to make sure the justice is achieved. They are dependent on each other for success. However, when the law says one thing, but your moral code says another, the question comes up “What should I do?” Many people struggle with this question. Are you loyal to your country, or to yourself? While most of us are both, sometimes that answer can only be one or the other, and it is up to the individual to decide. However, when choosing morals over the law, one must be prepared to face the consequences that go hand in hand with breaking the law.

I thought it was interesting how the article discussed the different ways the law is handled according to the accused. The passage reads “…a CIA official commits perjury and gets off with a fine (Alger Hiss spent four years in jail for perjury), a president is pardoned in advance of prosecution for acts against the law, … and others are found guilty of violating the law in the Iran-Contra affair, but none go to prison.” It also mentions the impact people with power because of their money have on the political process. While I was aware of most of this already, it just seemed different in print. The law is supposed to be uniform for everyone to ensure fairness for everyone. However, when powerful and wealthy individuals get involved, it seems as if they can buy their way out of their problems. This is not right, and my morals say something must be done about it. With the upcoming presidential election approaching closer and closer every day, we will just have to wait to see if Barack Obama or John McCain stay true to their words in dealing with the many problems they would face if elected president on November 4th.

Over time, law and justice haven’t really changed in a sense of sometimes the law says one thing, but your morals say another. However the individual incidents have changed, as history changes. As wars occur, peoples’ opinions about them change, and drafts are protested. Yet during peace times, this doesn’t occur, because it is irreverent.

In closing, law and justice are different, and when the time comes to choose between the two, only you can decide for yourself.