21 February 2014

SHADES OF JUSTICE (Court Weekly)


Image Credit: atlanteanconspiracy
Her name is Faiza; she is a Muslim whose life is under threat. She is fleeing her hometown crying for justice, and wondering why the world is the way it is- unjust.

He is a Christian who has been taught that the Muslims have enslaved and dealt unjustly with them because of the ‘tolerance’ of Christianity. They have been taken for fools but no more. They must fight; take back the land. There is only one way to do that- kill.

Her name is Aisha and she is a prisoner, taken from her friends and family, a casualty in the on-going war of beliefs between the government and a sect of extremists. He is a child-soldier, a prisoner, held against his will and forced to partake in the war.

She is a mother of three presently in a coma having been hit by her husband.

He is an honest public servant who has been due for promotion for five years but has his file ‘somewhere in the circle’ till he can grease palms.

He is a hardworking farmer who sells proceeds from his farm at cheap prices so those who do not have much can afford them; but these proceeds get bought and sold at prices ten times higher.

Look at that pregnant girl raking the lawn? She is in that condition because she walked home in the evening alone. See that girl fleeing her country, the child-soldier and the man in the service of ‘God’, the mother of three in the hospital, the public servant, that honest farmer tilling his field, all are asking silently… where is the arm of justice? 

Image Credit: naij.com
Earlier this month, on the 14th of February, One Billion Rising in partnership with UN women created awareness to stop violence in relation to women and girls. They were seeking justice. The victims of the conflict in Central African Republic are wailing ‘justice’. Somewhere in the midst of hunger, pain, and different assaults lay twenty teenage girls abducted from their schools in Borno State, Nigeria, crying ‘justice’. The people in the northern part of Nigeria, CAR, Somalia,Venezuela, all have cracked throats from demanding justice.

Image Credit: thebureauinvestigate
Sometimes, to know what something is, you must first know what it is not. Justice is not cheating your neighbour; it is not taking what belongs to him because you have the power. Justice is not fighting for ‘God’; it is not purifying the land by shedding the blood of your enemies. It is not taking advantage of that young girl walking the streets alone, or leaving the one who would not compromise her stand, alone. If justice would get dressed, you wouldn’t find it wearing these shades.

You would find it in every corner of the society taking care of the helpless, serving as the voice of those who cannot speak. You would find it in places of worship preaching tolerance, acceptance, unity and love. You would find it in political structures campaigning transparency and accountability, you would find it among the masses serving leaflets bearing the words, ‘support your government’.

You would find it on Facebook wiping tears and giving comfort to people strong enough to share their stories. You would find it on Twitter blending the young and the old, the wise and the learning, those with a million followers and the one with just five followers.

You will find it between a man and his wife, a lady and her intended; you will find it in orphanages gluing hearts together in love, without competition, dishing ration without favours; you would find it in refugee camps sharing cloths, food, drinks, books; you would find it in the White house, pure without spots, find it in the UN, unbiased, find it in that Governor’s office governing the interest of the masses; you would find it eradicating poverty, unemployment, giving free health services, dealing with problems immediately making adequate use of available resources. If justice would get dressed, it would wear these shades.

Justice brings hope and confidence. Hope that evil will not trend forever; that the things that are wrong can be made right, that there will be acceptance without discrimination, that there can be peace between the masses and the government, between the individual and himself. It brings confidence in self and others, forging hearts in love and unity, destroying barriers and creating a free, equal, peaceful and rich world; one where these things too can be sustained. When we let justice prevail, we keep hope alive. Today, set right the things that are not right; give justice a chance to be heard.

1 comment:

  1. Justice seems to have so many beautiful rainbow colours yet... a child, girl, boy, man, woman who has never known love, experienced love, affection coupled with a polluted/diluted environment cannot know Justice because Where is the Justice in THAT! Its an UNFAIR world, but you, I, and the rest of the world, need to do more much more... thanks for reminding us our duty, let us Hope and Pray...

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