On November 1, 2008, Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow, a 13 year old Somali girl was stoned to death in front of a crowd of a thousand people. Her crime? She’d been raped by three men, and thus, committed adultery.
Is that Justice?
Wikpedia says “Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, fairness and equity. A conception of justice is one of the key features of society.”
The image of American Justice is a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales. The United States Supreme Court building and many other government buildings are graced by a relief of Lady Justice. The myth of Justice is that she judges based on the facts, not wealth, social position or other basis. Everyone who comes before her is equal.
But this is a lie.
Many large firms charge in excess of $400.00 an hour making litigation a luxury of the rich. A business can be crippled, or driven out of business, by litigation costs. Parties often settle cases without regard to merit because it is less expensive to settle than to litigate. Litigation has become a cost of doing business and as the economic situation worsens, more litigation will arise.
Is that Justice?
Wikpedia says “Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, fairness and equity. A conception of justice is one of the key features of society.”
The image of American Justice is a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales. The United States Supreme Court building and many other government buildings are graced by a relief of Lady Justice. The myth of Justice is that she judges based on the facts, not wealth, social position or other basis. Everyone who comes before her is equal.
But this is a lie.
Many large firms charge in excess of $400.00 an hour making litigation a luxury of the rich. A business can be crippled, or driven out of business, by litigation costs. Parties often settle cases without regard to merit because it is less expensive to settle than to litigate. Litigation has become a cost of doing business and as the economic situation worsens, more litigation will arise.
In the criminal law context, it is commonly believed that the rich get away with murder, sometimes literally, because they can afford the very best defense attorneys. Lawyers create loopholes or side shows, often with racial overtones, as substitutes for “reasonable doubt” or innocence. Those thrown into the system without fortunes are denied the full benefit of the system. They get court appointed lawyers who, while often as good as their peers, are only paid a fraction of what their peers command. The court appointed system is designed to encourage plea deals. Defendants and their counsel have to beg the court for the money to hire expert witnesses to assist in the defense.
The “System” of Justice does not work.
It’s a no wonder that science fiction and fantasy have made a comeback in novels, television and movies. As the world comes apart around us there is no better place to find and explore Justice than fiction. We all know Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird. But we explore what is just in science fiction and fantasy. There are we freed from the rigors of what “is” and introduced to what is “possible.”
Over the next several posts, I’ll be exploring the concept of justice in fantasy novels.
It’s a no wonder that science fiction and fantasy have made a comeback in novels, television and movies. As the world comes apart around us there is no better place to find and explore Justice than fiction. We all know Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird. But we explore what is just in science fiction and fantasy. There are we freed from the rigors of what “is” and introduced to what is “possible.”
Over the next several posts, I’ll be exploring the concept of justice in fantasy novels.
