And so it goes – Fiat justitia ruat caelum: “Let justice be done, though the sky may fall.”

Born in 1958, I have every reason to believe that it was my good fortune to experience 30+ years of the most proliferating justice Americans ever experienced. The past 20+ years have heralded a sorrowful erosion of both justice - and/its partners truth and commitment to fair-mindedness – in interpersonal relations, opportunity and politics/political discourse.

The older I get, the more clearly I see that "justice" is the cornerstone of civilization. The uncivilized world is ruled by the oft cited "Law of the Jungle" wherein "might makes right" prevails over justice - whether the might of the caveman who wields a club most adeptly or the modern day man with the most power, money and resources. Justice assures the highest degree of fundamental fairness that people can achieve; the world may keep changing in many ways, but without pure allegiance to the pursuit of truth/justice it will always be uncivilized.

Social science reveals Liberals tend to think/care more about fairness and protecting people from harm. Conservatives tend to think/care much more about loyalty and patriotism.

Apparently – in modern political parlance - Justice on earth is a much more of a democratic notion than republican; I guess this makes sense given the conservative religious (the closest we have to Islamic Fundamentalism in the west) fervent desire/belief to punish or prayerfully turn all ills into the hands of the lord rather than actually doing something about them.

Whether G-d created the heavens and the earth and man in his image – or not - people and the purpose of mankind was and will always be ultimately shaped and defined by their ultimate choice of pursuit – whether towards self, clan/group or truth/Justice. Logic and history reveals that pursuit of allegiance to self - yields nothing; this is because allegiance to self, whether you or me, offers nothing because of the context of all that surrounds us. Allegiance to clan/group (the historical favorite) yields an illusion of support, belonging, safety, and security – whether that group be family or nation; evangelicals or Klansman, criminals or police officers, suits or tradesman – allegiance to clan/group yields the real purpose of supporting, maintaining and perpetuating a world that operates under law of the jungle and power/might makes right.

Allegiance to truth, justice, ethics and the greatest good – the stuff of Superman and the core of virtually every G-d based religion – yields ascendance from the jungle in favor of a truly noble purpose.

The powerful have no desire to leave the jungle; the weak, subjugated by the powerful and devoid of either confidence or hope, are prone to cling to the illusions rewards of allegiance to clan/group.

It’s a problem if/when the value of loyalty or power competes with the virtue of justice – Whether evangelicals or the KKK, honor amongst thieves or police Code of Silence - "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do." It's the tolerate those that do (even by those to whom I am loyal) that's the hard part - but a necessary part if there is to be true justice. There can be little justice in a world in which blind loyalty or honor of others impedes justice or – even more insidiously - supports injustice"

Corruption and Injustice demoralizes and incites people - and the silent or listless audience to it just further fuels the flames. If "man" is special - whether through deity or just pure cosmic chance - he is so for having the ability to supplant the law of the jungle (might makes right) with G-d’s spirt and/or Justice. This notion holds true whether atheist and/or religious – either way, man wasn't condemned to sin, but rather to seek to act with the spirit of G-d and find justice for himself. I look forward to the day in which people can see past the false allure of the jungle, turning to truth/honesty wherein justice prevails, lifting everyone into a truly civilized and ascendant path. What fools these mortals be – PUCK