Justice

Never say never, but I think this is the last time for a while I will mention JFK.  He has a couple of quotes I like but will only mention in passing.  I have gone on to a speech by Martin Luther King Jr and I really like some of the things he says as well.  A couple of JFK quotes I like: “when one man is enslaved, all are not free.”  “…lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow.”
Martin Luther King Jr’s speech seems to naturally follow on.  The one I am reading was the “I have a dream” speech delivered in 1963 at the culmination of the ‘March on Washington for jobs and freedom.’  He is very much talking about justice for the American negro.  He said “the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty, in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.”  Echoing JFK’s words speaking of the American Negro he said “a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.”
Justice to me is a biggy.  The story where I am told that whoever is guiltless can cast the first stone disqualifies me early.  I may have never murdered or emulated Ronald Biggs but I have hurt others needlessly and lied.  Actually I won’t go into my short comings, as you do not have time, and I do not have the inclination.  Needless to say I am not perfect (I know, I know that is like a “what the” moment for you, but it is true)
To me there is one sort of justice that is a gift, and all others need to be earned.  It seems the American Negro’s should not have needed to earn justice, but they did.  For me, every generation has to deal with injustices.
We occasionally watch air crash investigation.  Every time they examine what went wrong and try and put in place things to ensure it does not happen again (and rightly so).  Justice comes too late for those affected, but justice is done, and seen to be done.  It seems to me the plastic in our oceans is a justice issue.  It is not right and needs fixing.  To me wars, and neighbours not getting on, and hurting the ones I love needlessly, are justice issues (someone, including me, is found wanting when weighed in the balance).
I actually doubt humanity will ever be the cause of no more poverty or no more injustice.  Every generation strives for it (some people do anyway) but it seems to be one of those things that can never be grasped.  Still, like JFK and Martin Luther King Jr, I live in hope.
I, like millions of others, want to see an end to pain and misery.  It may be just for my own ends, or it may be for humanitarian reasons.  I do not think it is like some say about women “can’t live with em, can’t live without em.”  I could live without pain and suffering thank you very much.  However, the past seems to indicate that might be a bridge too far.