Melanated Sanity

Justice:

a) The maintenance or administration of what is just, particularly through the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the allocation of merited rewards or punishments.

b) The administration of law, especially the establishment or determination of rights according to the principles of law or equity.

Peace:

a) Freedom from disturbance, tranquility, and quiet.

b) Freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.

Here are the textbook definitions of peace and justice according to Merriam Webster’s dictionary:

Peace: The absence of conflict or strife.

Justice: The quality of being fair and equitable.

However, the meanings of both justice and peace can be subjective and depend on individual perspectives. These perspectives are influenced by moral values, intellectual abilities, and life views.

Conventionally, interpretations of words can be subjective, making it challenging to definitively determine the correctness of any ideology. Therefore, for the sake of argument, I will assume that all words from this point forward are my own.

My perception of justice is the absence of incivility and discourse. Conversely, my perception of peace is multifaceted and encompasses a sense of complete satisfaction and utter fulfillment.

For either of these notions to exist in society, we must recognize their interdependence. One cannot prevail without losing its true essence. Injustice is the direct consequence of chaos and disorder.

Throughout our nation’s history, we have not been at peace. However, this statement is subjective and depends on one’s perspective. I will break down the understanding of this statement into two thought processes: military and civilian perspectives.

From a civilian perspective, peace is perceived as the absence of conflict and the ability to live a normal life without the burden of war or the disruption of mainstream media coverage. While all military personnel, both active and retired, may not have personally experienced combat, it is widely acknowledged that their sacrifices are universally understood.

Therefore, I pose the question: if our nation has existed for 239 years and has been at war for 222 years of those years (leaving 17 years of peace), how can we consider ourselves a beacon of hope for those seeking liberation and peace?