Disneyland Closes At 35

What is Social Justice?

My daughter attends a private Catholic High School for young women. She will graduate on May 30, spend the summer working to save spending money, and then enter college in mid August. She has always attended Catholic school and has always been exposed to Catholic theology.

She has taken required religion courses every semester for the past 12 years. This last semester she took a course entitled Social Justice. The exact meaning of the term is open to discussion; however, in the Catholic faith it generally is attached to the larger notion that the role of the church needs to expand to advocate for fairness, equity, and freedom for all people.

The church of course has its other-worldly concerns. Like members of many faiths we Catholics would one day like to get to heaven, yet more and more the church also has this-worldly concerns. My daughter was exposed to many of these latter concerns over the course of her last semester in high school.

One topic was the Arizona Immigration Law and immigration law in general. Who should be allowed into this country and under what conditions? What should be done with those immigrants who have entered the country illegally? What services should be available to those who are in the country illegally?

These are thorny questions. Some say that illegal immigrants are simply breaking the law, that laws should be enforced and that the Arizona law simply attempts to enforce federal law that the federal authorities will not enforce. They point almost exclusively to the negative aspects of non-enforcement of our immigration laws. They point to the crimes committed by illegal persons, the gangs and drug traffic administered by illegal aliens, whether they be Eastern European or South American or African, and the high cost of providing education, health care, and other services to those who do not pay taxes.

Others say that a moral society should never turn its back on those in need. They oppose the Arizona Law, and one would suppose federal immigration law in general.

What is Social Justice? Is our current immigration law mean-spirited or draconian? What would it take for instance to immigrate to New Zealand? If you are over 50 and possess no particular skills the answer is essentially it cannot be done. What would it take to live in New Zealand illegally? It would be very difficult and an illegal person would not be able to get a job.

What would it take to immigrate to Mexico. Check into the notion yourself and be prepared to be surprised.

Still, this is all perhaps irrelevant to the underlying moral issues. What is, is one thing, while what ought to be is quite another.

So, what ought to be? What is Social Justice?

I teach philosophy to college students. We often talk about all the notions and theories applicable to a just society.

Plato said that the just society should be governed by Philosopher Kings, specially trained and tested. He detested the very ideal of a democracy. He did not think that persons are born with equal capacities.

Karl Marx believed that all justice is tied to economics. Marx despised Capitalists. He advocated for a just government that would place workers in charge of the means of production.

John Stuart Mill believed that what is just is that which creates the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Many contemporary Utilitarians believe that anything an individual keeps for themselves above and beyond what they need to survive (roof over the head, food, etc.,) is unjust, unless and until everyone everywhere has the basics needed for survival.

The Harvard professor John Rawls believed that inequality in wealth is only justified when everyone in the society benefits from the inequality; thus, it might be moral for a neurosurgeon to earn an amount higher than a baker, but only if they both benefit. They might at some time. The baker might need the services of a neurosurgeon. But what about the CEO who earns 1000 times more than the average worker. What could justify such inequality. I think Rawls would say - nothing.

We will hear more and more about Social Justice. We all might need to do a  bit of homework before we decide what we feel is just.

On Dead Dogs and Dying Relationships

I wrote yesterday about our little dog Allie who passed away (died) unexpectedly, and I have now had more than one day to reflect upon that unhappy event.

Allie was approximately 77 years old in human years; thus, it was not unusual that she had some health problems. She was taking one medication that was designed to treat her Cushings' Syndrome. Even so, the veterinarian said that we could expect her to live for several more years. He was incorrect, but he can hardly be blamed. The condition that killed Allie had nothing to do with Cushings, and the vet had done a good job in treating her for the demonstable condition from which she suffered.

I had a good relationship with Allie. She sat by my side as I prepared my lectures for philosophy class. I spoke to her as if she were a student, or perhaps a professor. I took comfort in her company and she in mine. I imagined what her responses might have been to such questions as "do we have a mind or only a brain?" I would question her in these regards and make up her answer. It was fun and amusing.

I also posed these questions to my two cats, Iman Rachman Khan Abu Faisal, and Roonie Shelton. They too seem to be wise philosophers, although it is hard to prove that claim. Their elder statesman, Big Brain Lawson, died recently but bequeathed much of his wisom to them.

All this is to say that I take the example and wisdom of dogs and cats seriously. They seem always to be one step, or more, in front of human beings in their ability to be faithful friends and companions. My dog may be dead, and my cats old, but they have never betrayed me or my family. I cannot any longer say that for most humans that I have called friend at one time or the other.

I understand why the Saint chose animals rather than humans.

Mortality and the Death of a Dog

I served two tours of duty in Vietnam. I was not Audie Murphy and did not earn the Congressional Medal of Honor. I did my job and did my time and came home; however, I did not forget entirely. People were killed in Vietnam. I witnessed a considerable amount of misery, disease, hunger, poverty and death during the two years that I served in that country. It made me think about my mortality and it informed what I chose to do with my life, at least for a time.

Over time I forgot some of the lessons I had learned in the war in Vietnam. I call it a war. You may call it a conflict or an invasion or whatever you like. I forgot how badly it all really sucked. I tried to remember only the good times, and there were some. 

I worked for 30 years in Criminal Justice. I wasn't Jack Bauer, but I did my job, did my time, received promotions along the way. I witnessed a considerable amoung of misery, disease, addiction, poverty and hopelessness during those 30 years. It made me think about my mortality and it informed what I chose to do with my life for a long time.

My wife died in 2003 after suffering through 18 months of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, all to no avail. Her plight caused me to think of her mortality and mine and I have not forgotten one moment of that time.

I remarried in 2007. I brought 2 cats to the marriage. My wife brought one dog, a tiny Brussels Griffon named Allie. She weighed less than 6 pounds. She was sweet, timid and afraid of me; yet, she became one of my best friends. Those who say that animals do not have souls are sorely misinformed. She had a soul and it departed today. She was gone in little more than 24 hours. Her kidneys ceased to work and then her heart.

I've witnessed a good deal of death in my life. Once again I think of mortality and our little dog. Knowing her informed my life and helped give it purpose.

I will miss her.