What do they mean by “justice?”
Well, from dictionary.com we get:
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness:
to uphold the justice of a cause.
2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason:
to complain with justice.
3. the moral principle determining just conduct.
4. conformity to this principle, as manifested in conduct; just conduct, dealing, or treatment.
5. the administering of deserved punishment or reward.
6. the maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings:
a court of justice.
7. judgment of persons or causes by judicial process: to administer justice in a community.
8. a judicial officer; a judge or magistrate.
9. (initial capital letter). Also called Justice Department. the Department of Justice.
Idioms
10. bring to justice, to cause to come before a court for trial or to receive punishment for one's misdeeds: The murderer was brought to justice.
11. do justice,
a. to act or treat justly or fairly.
b. to appreciate properly: We must see this play again to do it justice.
c. to acquit in accordance with one's abilities or potentialities: He finally got a role in which he could do himself justice as an actor.
The crowds wanted numbers 5 and 10. They did not want a fair evaluation of the facts in evidence and a decision. The Grand Jury was not good enough or right enough.
What was wanted is the following:
Indictment
Jury trial
Conviction
Death penalty
Our justice system does not work that way. It is not influenced by mob rule (or riots, or marches, or noise.)
Defending oneself by killing the aggressor is extended to police officers as well as citizens. If I, a woman of just over 5 feet in height in possession of a pistol, killed a man of almost 6 feet who is unarmed and is threatening me, I am not going to jail. Self-defense.
I do not profess to know exactly how our legal system works. I do know that a grand jury convenes to determine whether or not there is a case for trial. If the determination is “yes” then the suspect is indicted and awaits trial.
When a person is thought to have committed a crime, our system uses words like “alleged” and the suspect is at the advantage: the defendant needs to establish doubt. The state has to prove guilt.
The result may not be popular. Casey Anthony: not guilty. We thought she was. The jury said the evidence did not prove it. She’s free. O.J. Simpson: not guilty. We thought he was. The jury said “nope.” He was free until he did something he did get convicted of.
No, our system is not perfect. Innocent people have been convicted and even put to death. Innocent people have also gone free. But it is the system we have. Usually the decision is left to a jury of six or twelve. In some cases the defendant wants just a judge. Appeals are possible. So we do have checks and balances. There are hoops to jump through. Again, it’s the best thing we’ve got.
In the Michael Brown case, the police officer was not indicted. The grand jury said “no” to any charges. No amount of rioting, looting, burning, yelling, or breast beating is going to change that.
Michael Brown is mostly responsible for what happened to him. He stole cigarillos. He punched a police officer. He continued to fight after being shot (in the hand).
Do you want this kind of violence and killing to end? Teach your children to respect authority. They need to respect their parents’ authority, the school’s authority, their boss’s authority, the police’s authority.
My $.02
