The Purpose of a Justice System

1843 Words4 Pages

At times, human beings need order. A part of this need for order stems from the desire to live in a peaceful society. To ensure order within a society, the creation and enforcement of rules and laws must be present. The enforcement of laws is the responsibility of a justice system. The purpose of a justice system is to ensure that all individuals receive fair treatment. However, at times justice systems can fail and lead to the oppression of certain individuals. Individuals must either endure the oppression, or choose to seek justice. Although individuals may choose to seek justice to escape the shackles of oppression, the act to seek justice may diminish growth and maturity. In society, the separatist movement in Ukraine is evidence that the act to seek justice can diminish growth and maturity. In Ukraine, both separatist and nationalist groups engage in open rebellion to seek justice for what they deem unfair. The separatists believe that Crimea rightfully belongs to the Russian Federation, whereas the nationalists believe that Crimea is a part of Ukraine. The violent protests culminate in destruction, loss of life, and turmoil. The consequences of the rebellion lead both sides to suffer, experience distress and endure hardship. Although, the results of the Independence referendum support the views of the separatists, neither the international community nor Ukraine accept the referendum as legitimate. Therefore, both sides continue to confront each other in open rebellion to seek justice. What are some actions at play that can diminish growth and maturity when individuals choose to seek justice? In some cases it is true that actions can diminish growth and maturity when individuals seek justice. Three actions through which grow... ... middle of paper ... ...ederick Douglass’ No Struggle, No Progress elucidates that under the rule of absolute power, individuals lack freedom from oppression and cannot be free unless they endure hardship. In the process to become free from oppression “[m]en may not get all they pay for / in this world, but they pay for all they get. / If we ever get free / from the oppressions and wrongs heaped on us, / we must pay for their removal. / We must do this / by labour, / by suffering, / by sacrifice, / and if needs be / by our lives and the lives of others” (Douglass 24-34). The suffering due to the absence of freedom when individuals seek justice through the attainment of absolute power can diminish growth and maturity, as oppression leads to the mistreatment of individuals. Therefore, growth and maturity can diminish when individuals seek justice through the attainment of absolute power.

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