The Black prophetic tradition claims that the life of a precious baby in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Lagos, Bototá, or anywhere else has the same value as a precious baby in the USA. The Black prophetic tradition accents the fightback of poor and working people... In short, the Black prophetic tradition is local in content and international in character. The deep hope shot through this dialogue is that Black prophetic fire never dies, that the Black prophetic tradition forever flourishes, and that the new wave of young brothers and sisters of all colors see and feel that is a beautiful thing to be on fire for justice and that there is no greater joy than inspiring and empowering others--especially the least of these, the precious and priceless wretched of the earth!
You, therefore, must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
There is very little relationship between who is locked up and the concept of justice. Americans don't understand that people in prison are often there because of where the policing was. What's more: White people need to start telling the truth about the way this justice system works. Because every white person--particularly middle and upper-class white people--knows that they are not as worried about their children becoming trapped in the system unjustly.
Overstep not the bounds of moderation, and deal justly with them that serve thee. Bestow upon them according to their needs and not to the extent that will enable them to lay up riches for themselves, to deck their persons, to embellish their homes, to acquire the things that are of no benefit unto them, and to be numbered with the extravagant. Deal with them with undeviating justice, so that none among them may either suffer want, or be pampered with luxuries. This is but manifest justice.
A conquest can be a praiseworthy thing, and there are times when war becomes the powerful basis of peace, and ruin the very means of reconstruction. If, for example, a high-minded sovereign marshals his troops to block the onset of the insurgent and the aggressor, or again, if he takes the field and distinguishes himself in a struggle to unify a divided state and people, if, in brief, he is waging war for a righteous purpose, then this seeming wrath is mercy itself, and this apparent tyranny the very substance of justice and this warfare the cornerstone of peace. Today, the task befitting great rulers is to establish universal peace, for in this lies the freedom of all peoples.
Strong rights protection is far from harmless. The proliferation of strong rights can frustrate the democratic will and erode the solidarity of communities… Rights can breed resentment…
Where perceived as absolute, rights take poorly to conflict. When recognizing our neighbor’s rights necessarily extinguishes our own, a survival instinct kicks in. Our opponent in the rights conflict becomes not simply a fellow citizen who disagrees with us, but an enemy out to destroy us. Law becomes reducible to winners and losers, to which side you are on, which tribe you affiliate with. With stakes this high, polarization should not just be expected but it is indeed the only sensible response. If only one side can win, it might as well be mine. Conflict over rights can encourage us to take aim at our political opponents instead of speaking to them. And we shoot to kill.
Grieve thou not over those that have busied themselves with the things of this world, and have forgotten the remembrance of God, the Most Great. By Him Who is the Eternal Truth! The day is approaching when the wrathful anger of the Almighty will have taken hold of them. He, verily, is the Omnipotent, the All-Subduing, the Most Powerful. He shall cleanse the earth from the defilement of their corruption, and shall give it for an heritage unto such of His servants as are nigh unto Him.
O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in my sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of another, shalt know by thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily, justice is my gift to thee and the sign of my loving kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.
Justice? -You get justice in the next world, in this world you have the law.
And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.
The body politic, however, must punish the oppressor, the murderer, and the assailant, to dissuade and deter others from committing similar crimes. But that which is essential is to so educate the masses that no crimes will be committed in the first place; for a people can be so educated as to shrink entirely from any crime, and indeed regard the crime itself as the greatest chastisement and the most grievous torment and punishment. Thus no crimes would occur in the first place such that punishments would be required.