Becoming An Outstanding Person | Justice - Week 8 of 12 |

This article is part of the How To Become An Outstanding Person In Twelve Weeks series. I strongly urge that you read the first article in order to get a sense of what is going on here.

Justice (Week 8 of 12)

Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. Part of what made Benjamin Franklin so outstanding was that he took the well-being of other people into account. I can see how this must have lead to many difficult decisions for him as a politician. He must have constantly had to decide between doing good for the majority versus a minority of people. Sometimes there just isn’t a choice that seems right. What do you do then?

To tell you the truth, Justice is a very heavy subject, one that I do not claim to fully understand. In fact, Justice has been debated for thousands of years, by many brilliant philosophers and there is still no unanimous consensus on what is Just.

How I decide what is just

Is it ethical/moral
Is it legal
Am I treating someone the way I want to be treated
Am I treating someone the way they want to be treated

This is just part of the criteria that I use, but I think it suits me well. It’s important to remember that whatever actions you take will usually have someone out there that disapproves. You can’t let that stop you from doing what you think is right.

Question to the readers:

Do you believe that if everybody did what they truly thought was Just, there would be no wars?
What do you think it would take to make sure there were no more wars?

Becoming Outstanding Series

How To Become An Outstanding Person In Twelve Weeks
Week 01 - Temperance
Week 02 - Silence
Week 03 - Order
Week 04 - Resolution
Week 05 - Frugality
Week 06 - Industry
Week 07 - Sincerity
Week 08 - Justice
Week 09 - Moderation
Week 10 - Cleanliness
Week 11 - Tranquility
Week 12 - Chastity

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Kara-Leah Masina

Kara-Leah Masina said on April 25th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

War exists because duality exists.

You can not fight another when you recognise that other as Self.

How can I fight you when we are One?

Does the light fight the light?

And if you want to fight me… then I have a choice not to react. Not to fight back.

Because I see me in You.

And if you kill me, because I don’t fight back?

Then I am dead.

Is death to be feared?

Then there will be war.
Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman said on April 26th, 2007 at 7:53 am

Hey Kara-Leah!

Did you create this poem? I like it!

It reminds me of a spiritual cross between aikido, Buddhism and love. Am I close at all? Thanks for sharing this.
Kara-Leah Masina

Kara-Leah Masina said on April 26th, 2007 at 3:14 pm

Hey Alex,

Yes I wrote that… and I didn’t really think of it as a poem until you pointed it out and I read it back.

I don’t know what it’s a cross between, it’s just what I see…

I liked how you asked your readers two questions, good way to start a discussion and glean nuggets of wisdom from everyone.
Alex Shalman

Alex Shalman said on April 26th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

Thank you Kara-Leah. I like what you see… it resonates with me.

I really love my readers, and value your opinion. It is such a wonderful opportunity to be able to ask questions and learn from such a n amazing group of people.