I’ve heard a lot about social justice lately. The far left demand social justice and the far right demonize it as socialism. Taken to the extremes, any great idea can get screwed up especially when politicians or the media get hold of it.
The website wisegeek.com defines it as “Concerned with equal justice, not just in the courts, but in all aspects of society. This concept demands that people have equal rights and opportunities; everyone, from the poorest person on the margins of society to the wealthiest deserves an even playing field.”
That sounds great, no one going to bed hungry, everyone having a roof over his head, healthcare, an even playing field and equal opportunities.
Then there is the other side of social justice defined as income or property redistribution. THAT doesn’t sound too great. Do I want someone taking part of what I have worked had for and handing it to others who are in need? Maybe BUT what if what I have worked hard for goes to some who refuse to do their fair share? Now that’s a little tougher to swallow.
Socialism tries to redistribute more fairly and capitalism concentrates the wealth among a small segment of society where often tactics of exploitation are used.
My problem is that I am torn between the two. My husband listens to Glenn Beck and I am a Rachael Maddow fan. We work hard and save our money and have a simple life that meets our needs with a little extra and that suits us fine. I have one foot planted in a capitalistic society and one planted the garden of social justice. My parents and some family and friends hammer me with right wing email forwards calling Obama a socialist and while I feel Obama has not been as effective as I had hoped, I don’t feel he is a socialist or a commie.
I love coming home to an air-conditioned house with cold water in the fridge and plenty of food on the table. I love watching one of 250 cable channels and each of us having our own car. Then I read about girls in Africa who cannot attend school because they walk a total of 6 hours a day to haul water for their families. I feel badly, I wish I could help but this and other problems are so huge and overwhelming, I do nothing.
I want social justice but on my terms and not to where it disrupts my life. I have every intention of helping others and I have a lot of great ideas but implementing them would bring that sadness and emotional roller coster into my “Disney life” so I do nothing. Perhaps I feel like a good person because I have good intentions I don’t know. I want more equality and social justice for others but let’s face it, I want these things without taking anything away from what I have. I think about helping the homeless but I don’t because frankly, it will make me sad and I am selfishly protecting my emotions. I think often about helping troubled teens but I guard my daughter’s lives and home and fear a troubled teen will spill over towards them and their lives too much.
Even writing this and admitting all of this makes me feel somewhat redeemed and smug because after all….I may be a selfish asshole but I am at least admitting it.
I watch CNN Heroes and marvel at the people who give their all for others. I believe in social justice and WANT social justice but…….I want it on my terms, terms that shelter my life and keep anything from affecting how I live. Perhaps others on the right who demonize social justice by calling it socialism are afraid too. Saddened by the plight of others and too afraid the plight will follow them home like an invasive species.
I wish I had the guts to follow through on all of the bold and socially responsible dreams I have for this world. I wish I could do something other than send a contribution of a goat to an organization overseas…..something that goes to a family I will never meet who will never invade my life with their sadness and poverty. I want to help the cause of social justice from afar and never see it’s face so I am no better than those who call it socialism. We are both NOT helping others, I am just writing about it and hoping someone else will do the hard part while I sit at my computer in my air conditioned home drinking lemonade and feeling smug about myself for even writing this article….what an ass I am. I am doing nothing just like everyone else.
