Justice

 What is justice? Is it getting the right outcome in a trial? Is it passing laws to combat discrimination? Is it protesting till authorities take action against unjust practices? Those are all part of it, but it is more. For one thing it is more than just structures and laws, it is the encouragement of fair and equitable processes. It is the equal sharing of resources and opportunities with all. It is changing from requiring mandates to a mindset of doing right because it is the right thing to do, not just because you have to do it. 

A recent example is hospital visitation, specifically the ICU. The usual rule for patients in the ICU is that visitation is limited to immediate family members. For many hospitals with a religious foundation have ruled out visits by same sex partners, even married ones. There has been legislation to address this problem, forcing hospitals to change policies. But why is a law required to prompt institutions to do the right thing? How can those who are in the healing professionals deny comfort to those hurting, based on some dogma when the visit would help and not hurt anyone? Isn't the first rule of the Hippocratic oath "do no harm"?

Sometimes I think we see ourselves separate from justice. We formalize justice into a system and forget that we need to be administrating and demonstrating justice in our daily lives. We can't and don't have to wait for justice to be done, we need to be doing it ourselves, with the lives around us that we can help.

As the Old Testament admonition goes "Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly" It is not just something that is done, but something we all do - or should.