When we think of justice, we think of righting wrongs by punishment. The word merit gives us the idea of getting benefit out of an accomplishment. Both concepts are actually quite close. What both are looking at is making things equal. If a person doesn’t do anything that deserves merit, then giving a reward is an injustice. We all want to see the same rules equally applied to everyone.  When we use the term justice for all, that is what is meant. Everyone’s perception of justice may be different too. Therefore we make written laws that we all agree on and follow. They are supposed to be guidelines to keep enforcement equal and in check, showing no bias to gender, race and other associations.

When we begin to associate others under classifications and groups in the same way a botanist does to plants, we form biases. The approach doesn’t work for justice since humans are individuals. It is discriminatory to apply laws according to generalizations and groups. Every individual is responsible to treat others well regardless what group he associates himself with. Some make a claim that by belonging to a certain union, nationality, race, gender, sexual prefence or any other association they deserve special merit; but we are all individuals and we should all answer to the same rules.

I recall friends getting beat up because they mouthed off while visiting a rival school. Even within a high school there are seniors against freshmen and certain peer groups in competition. At home there are sibling rivalries. All severe crime is based in hate and a lack of care for another individual’s well-being. In a civil society there can be no such thing as a hate crime because it gives special consideration to certain groups. If one individual murders or beats up another, it is terrible regardless of what the hate was based in. If it was self defense, then consideration could be made according to the circumstances, but premeditated murder should be treated with the same severity regardless of the motive associated with it. Violence and abuse are the same way. We want everyone to recognize that certain behavior isn’t acceptable and we have laws with enforcement to mete out justice. But to give special consideration to violence or insults due to color or any other distinguishing characteristic is discriminatory against those who don’t have it.  What happened to instilling strength in our children to take insults as a grain of sand?

All violence is an offspring of offense. Teaching children to point at others as the reason they cannot succeed starts a cycle in their thinking that can escalate into thinking violent behavior toward these people is a solution. Making a big thing out of their differences encourages them to form groups one against the other. It doesn’t matter if it is Palestinian/Israeli;  Black/White; North/South; Catholic/Protestant; Rich/Poor; teaching associations as a way to dismiss poor behavior is always wrong. So is expecting favors. We should educate on what it means to have a free hard working civil society of equals. People will always have prejudices. Envy and hatred in return only fuels the fire. Equality, kindness and determination are more effective than diversity.