JUSTICE VERSES SOCIAL JUSTICE
Let’s continue our previous conversation regarding social justice. We can start with the fact that true justice is not always the same as social justice. Most Christians only hear that word “justice.” Then they immediately associate “social justice” with the practice of “just” Christianity. This was especially true during the past when certain practices of “social gospel” prevailed over racial issues.
In all of these discussions it is important to remember that “social justice” and “justice” are not the same thing.
By definition, they are actually miles apart.
Today; social justice is more of a type of cultural movement. This “social justice” movement is based on a certain defined system which has been set up by social scientists.
Justice, however, is a just way of treating your fellowman. True justice is based on complete truth and fairness.
God is the author of justice.
Human beings have created their own various definitions of social justice. The latest human definition is commonly called diversity, equity and inclusion.
THE LAWS OF THE LAND
In today’s modern culture, the current laws of the land define the methods of justice. These methods are processed and carried out by the rules of the state.
We should not confuse these two very different definitions (justice and social justice), or even lump them together.
In true justice all men are equal; but with social justice movements and under current social justice standards only the groups identified as victimized are allowed the means to upward mobility in a society using the culture’s latest popular social justice system.
Those Christian people who are hearing only the justice side of “social justice” haven’t quite discerned the truth behind the movement of such social justice patterns in modern society.
You can fight for a just cause; or you can fight for social justice.
The battles will be different in every way.
DISCERNING THE DOUBLE-SPEAK
At this point in our history, the words “social justice” have evolved into a whole different concept than the justice of past generations. This new concept is not at all related to charity for all, or compassion for all; though it may actually help some. Its definition of “helping” some actually harms others. True justice usually entitles ALL involved parties to equal treatment. This new definition of society doesn’t work that way though.
So, let’s take the time to study and discern just how this evolution of social justice has come about. As concerned and caring citizens we should try to discern how justice has become defined in different terms than its original meaning.
POLITICZED DEFINITIONS OF JUSTICE
On the other side of all of this is the fact that many people DO understand the patterns of the current movements for social justice. They simply choose to use these patterns as a tool or a method to bring about their own political desires instead of openly fighting for what they consider to be fair, true and moral causes.
Most of these people believe that the end results of their actions justify the fake means they use to achieve this end. However; there are those who are simply greedy. These will stop at nothing in order to achieve their own way, which always relates back to their own personal or corporate gain.
POLITICAL MANIPULATIONS
With all of this double-talk going on because of misinterpretations of certain definitions within the current system of social justice, politicians can easily manage to speak out of both sides of their mouth. They can say one thing and mean another and get away with it. They do this by using the ignorance of the common people as their defense when they are called down.
Words and definitions can be twisted to glean votes from those who do not completely understand.
FRONTS FOR POLITICAL ACTIONS
Social justice movements that appear to be movements for ethics or morality are often only fronts for other types of political actions. The REAL goal isn’t always the perceived goal of the public.
The standards of social justice make deception and smoke-screens common and harmful to the whole. The best example I can give you of this is the way Planned Parenthood calls their abortion machine a “health benefit” for women. Ask the female babies who they murder in abortions, those innocent ones who cannot speak out for themselves about social justice.
Others (not politicians) who might actually be fighting for some type of true, faihave used the system as a means to a desired end which they could not bring about by any other way. Sometimes this has worked for the good of society (in the case of desegregation fought for by Martin Luther King, Jr..) Other times it has worked for the bad of society (in the case of the ethnic cleansing used by Hitler.)
Looking down through history, the bad outcomes for society have almost always out-numbered the good.
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
The social justice sought in this war was about domination.
Would France or Britain dominate the Ohio River Valley?
Was it even fair for either one of them to do so?
This example, like most of the history we will discuss today has to do with only the social justice history for America. Perhaps we will attempt to go further into a more-encompassing world-view in future articles.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
America was actually forged by people seeking social justice.
The government of King George III was oppressing so many that they risked their lives to come to a place that had not yet been colonized.
Upon their arrival to an unsettled America, these brave newcomers began to form a whole new way to live.
Once they settled in and formed the American colonies; the Britain sought to tax everyone heavily and unfairly. The former Brits and Irish settlers-turned-farmers protested with their own form of social justice. They had a little tea party right in the middle of Boston Harbor.
Eventually these protests led to the formation of the Continental Congress, which led to the forming of the troops led by George Washington in the American Revolution.
I would call this a more positive result of social justice in action.
CONSTITUTIONAL JUSTICE
However; I will also bring up the fact that the colonist were not acting under our modern-day system of social justice.
They desired, defined and designed the system that is now called the American Constitution.
Over and over again, the Constitution has proven to be the most perfect avenue to bring true social justice. Our present colleges and universities (with a few exceptions) seem to have forgotten how to teach this fact to their students.
Not many are patient enough to use the system’s slow turning wheels, Yet; those who do eliminate future problems that could arise from new generations because of the actions of their own culture’s revolutions.
THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY AND CIVIL WAR
The use of slaves helped to prolong the Industrial Revolution. Slaves were central to the cause. They were the muscle that provided the labor for harvesting the cotton that was sold to the textile mills that all of the new machines turned into cloth.
Was this fair?
Absolutely not.
So, now comes forth a new reason to seek social justice; but first the slaves had to be declared to be real people.
How ironic is that?
They had no rights; even if they were able to be free; they could not have existed in the culture without trouble.
OTHER PROBLEMS
If someone stepped up to help the slaves; they had to deal with another form of social justice; the Ku Klux Klan. This organization terrorized the local communities just as the end of slavery began to happen.
Another issue that occurred during The Civil War opened discussions as to the fairness of social justice. This issue involved the right for some men to substitute their service in the military by paying someone to serve in their place.
Was this right or wrong?
This issue became a new social justice question, not just during the civil war; but the debate carried over into other wars. It was defined by the way that the draft system was defined.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
At the beginning of the industrial revolution, the church was trying to help those who had been oppressed by so many sudden and new cultural developments.
Because of the inventions of machines and the increase of industry, people were beginning to move into the cities. They took jobs at companies that often forced them to work long hours at laborious tasks in order to have gainful employment.
Those who had once farmed the land bought into the latest dream; that they could gain wealth by being industrious instead of farming.
The new factories needed eager workers.
This move from the country to the city did work out well for many. For the vast majority it failed by keeping them from gaining a more true quality of life and security.
THE CRUELTY OF POVERTY
Those workers who had previously farmed the land now worked in cities for manufacturing facilities. They often became stuck in a state of poverty and helplessness which they could not escape.
Seeing the problems, many churches offered their help to individuals. Still; as time moved on these problems became more obvious. Eventually, the problems became larger than many religious establishments had the means to handle.
There was no way to sustain a livelihood or survive in the cramped quarters of the suddenly overpopulated cities unless the employees working there lived and conformed to the systems that were already in place.
None of the older or traditionally established systems worked for this new life of industrial development.
THE COMPLICATED WORLD OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
No rules for labor had yet been established. Most workers were faced daily with terribly difficult decisions.
They had to decide whether to eat or pay their rent.
Some had no money for medicine or help for unexpected emergencies. They worked in cramped and dangerous situations with many injuries.
Situations and circumstances quickly declined.
Yes, they were paid wages; but they also encountered more expenses than they ever dreamed possible. The employers of most of these cities often took advantage of the admirable work ethics of these former farmers. Most of the former farmers were not educated enough to move into management positions and better themselves.
Once they made the change; they were stuck there with no way out.
HELP IN THE FORM OF CHARITY
Previously, farmers had banned together during the hard times.
Neighbors were always willing to help their neighbors.
Now these workers were in a city full of strangers with no neighbors to count upon. With the help of the charity of churches and religious organizations, many survived until they could do better.
This charity came from many churches, but the larger organizations were mostly Catholic. It was a good and righteous thing that these religious groups were doing – helping their brothers and sisters in need until they could manage to sort out their own living conditions and do better.
I have to stop and wonder what if things had stayed at this stage; what would have developed differently?
Hindsight is 20/20 though.
From that point forward, things changed rapidly.
LABOR UNIONS FORM
Eventually, this particular problem led to the establishment of organized labor unions.
The “Christian” help, though it continued on a smaller scale, was not as powerful as before. That type of help gave way to more organized groups who were paid (by the factory workers) to take over the welfare problems where the churches had originally been helping.
The labor unions were good too; in the beginning.
They helped to establish better laws and more reasonable ways for companies with many employees to live fairly when employees and employers did not agree about practices.
THE EVILS OF CORRUPTION IN THE MIDST OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
Then, some of the labor unions became corrupt and much too powerful.
Some of them grew greedy and began doing unlawful and unfair things which were covered up and used toward their own personal gain.
They began to demand control over the ways of management in many of the larger companies who were being as fair as possible. The labor unions executed rules over them that were unfair to the benefits of the company in the long run. If these companies did not conform; they were forced out of business.
These more corrupt labor unions hid behind the fact that they were in place to better the workers who were paying them.
They kept their support going based on the fact that they were “helping the common man.”
This wasn’t always the case. More often than not, the workers eventually lost mobility because their employers went under and out of business due to forced economics brought on by the unions. New rules meant that they could not maintain or afford to continue operating over the long-haul.
Profit levels went down. Thus, worker’s pay and benefits went down. Less companies surviving meant less employment for the general population. Family farms had gone by the way of progress. Poverty prevailed in the streets.
FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE NEXT – CREATING CHAOS
Daily life in the city went from early industrialists being evil and demanding to the opposite end of the spectrum. Large organized groups, thinking they were helping the cause, brought companies to the point of no profit.
This change in the system forced them to close their doors for business.
Neither side (employers, nor employees) wanted to listen to each other. Hence, both sides were economically hurt in the long run.
The only people who profited by were the attorneys of the labor unions.
A PATTERN OF POOR RESULTS
Often social justice movements work out this way. History shows these patterns appearing over and over again. The culture becomes flooded by its own reactive logic forming the stormy and dangerous waves of a vast and powerful ocean of new troubles.
These new ways often start out good. The whole original purpose is to bring about positive change. Somewhere along the way though, the original intentions get lost in the promotion of their victim’s rights. Things get twisted around and become one-sided and unfair to those whom they were meant to help.
Because of lack of the nature of the whole picture, good change becomes impossible for both parties.
SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS CREATE THEIR OWN PROBLEMS
There seems to be no stopping sense once the original goal is momentarily achieved. The old social justice machine still needs to keep going because it has by this time grown into a huge organization employing many people. Their jobs are to help the system teach the world to be fair and equitable by social justice standards and definitions.
Sometimes things become more about the survival of those organizations promoting the social justice movements than the survival and betterment of those who are their perceived victims.
By the time each different movements reach their immediate goals; the organizations which had originally helped to bring about changes is no longer needed.
If no new social justice causes come along; such organizations became unnecessary. Thus, those organizations that had been fighting society’s norms for social justice reasons sometimes become an enormous political machine in order to survive. They begin declaring the worth of the organization and raising funds from the unsuspecting public. They continue to enforce idealistic laws in the land, whether they are truly needed or not. The once helpful organization now becomes a selfishly-focused bureaucracy. They survive on past needs and language that sounds good.
MORE HISTORY TO CONSIDER
Before we dive deeper into whether or not many of these surviving social movement groups are still needed or useful today; we need to finish our study on the history of social justice. There is so much more to consider. Thus, we will take up the rest of this discussion on the American history of social justice, then the issues of the world at large, in some future articles from this series.
Let us leave on an up note today by stating that there are also illustrations of individual cases of social justice which have changed the world. At some point we will take up more of that discussion too.
Please stay with us.
The author and community here feels that such issues are very important to the formation of the thinking of the future voters and rulers of our country and our world.
Additionally, it is felt by most that we must KNOW what we are speaking about when educating our youth. Depending on the educational systems currently in place with many communities in our country has turned the children to become biased. Ignorance on our part, and a failed ability to pass on truth and good instruction, would be a bad mistake. Every citizen must learn to think these issues through for themselves. Each family should teach their children and grand-children to do the same.
Ignorance is not bliss, and truth is not always “misinformation”. Facts should be derived from evidence and other facts, not self-proclaimed and unelected authorities of the culture.
Future articles will also go into more details about the facts that the world is beginning to educate our children for us. We must not dwell in our silence and lack of response to the questions. It is up to us as parents to be teaching the young how to seek true and relevant answers.
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I sincerely hope you continue to patiently follow along with us on this long, long journey of finding the answers to social justice in today’s society.
I hope you continue to follow along as we take this journey through the true answers to social justice.
In our next article, let’s continue to plow through history. We need to think about whether or not we should ever even mention the term “social justice” again.
How important is this subject and how could it help us progress into a better world?