I've said this before but no one cares or listens, so I feel like I can say it again with relative impunity. Our view of justice is really a euphemistic desire for revenge. This may seem disagreeable to those of you reading this, but I challenge you to create a thorough argument as to why revenge and justice (as we, as a society, operate under those terms) are truly different. This isn't a rhetorical quest for the audience in which I'm certain of the accuracy of my own belief, but rather a sincere request for the reader.
This election cycle has shown some of the darker sides of humanity that still lurk behind our feigned philanthropic social media posts. For example: There was recently a video, and of course, subsequently a meme, generated comparing the events at a recent Trump rally to what occurred in Little Rock in the '60s. There is no questioning the vitriol and depravity of the individuals who do not hesitate to become violent and aggressive against one whom they oppose (this opposition is often based on salient features such as skin tone, ethnicity, or being discernibly a different race than the aggressive individual). I do not want to spend much time on this post dealing with the obvious racism and xenophobia going on within this election cycle (I'll write about that another time). Instead, I would like to focus on the individuals who are complicit in this degradation of humanity.
First, people with less education tend to be more prone towards violence and xenophobic sentiment. With this in mind, I would like to shift some of the blame behind this fascist, neo-nazi, nationalist fervor on the declining education system here in America. While it is true, that many of these behaviors are learned and even taught from parents or guardians, these prejudices can be overcome with the civilizing/liberating experience granted by a decent education. This decay has resulted in the reinstatement of outdated ideologies and a growing dismissal of difficult concepts. The result is a systemic dumbing down of what was poised to be the most educated and well-versed population in history. Obviously, this isn't the case everywhere in the United States. Places with wealthy populations have more access to private schooling, tutors, better teachers etc. so the promise of education is still kept in these locations. However, disproportionately, poorer pockets of society have to endure this gradual erosion of education, and the result is what we are seeing today.
Now back to the individual. How much blame do we put on a person who does not know better? Do we punish a child for making a mistake it couldn't have known it was making? Ah, this is where you say, "but they should know better!" You're right, they should. But do they? Probably. Hopefully. Though, it is entirely possible they do not. Let us not forget that the Civil Rights Movement is not that far removed from the present. Do you think hundreds of years of bigotry can just be absolved with a few laws? There are many people who have not had access to the education or even culture that is required to fight back against certain taught behaviors. For the record, I do not want to absolve these people of their crimes against humanity.
You may then ask, "What recourse does the one have in dealing with the mob if they are not liable for their actions?" My response may seem equally repressive but we have to try and better understand the mob and its origins. This isn't to say, necessarily, that we treat them like children. Rather, we must not meet their mob with another. We must try to remember what it is like to be afraid and confused, and show compassion towards our fellow man lives every day in a state of bewilderment and ignorance. Do not rejoice in seeing a fool get punished for his behavior. Instead, lament that he had to have ever been a fool. There is no reward for you, or anyone when a mean person is punished for their behavior. Your heart should not fill with glee, when a man loses his life or livelihood because he did not know better.
Then again maybe they did. I'm just saying what I think like every other asshole is. Should you give any more credence to what I'm saying than to what anyone else is? Probably not. I only ask that you give whatever piece of opinionated bullshit you read a thorough consideration. Let reason be your guiding voice.
No comments:
Post a Comment