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Forum Post: Social Justice

Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 20, 2011, 7:16 p.m. EST by davidHpdx (0)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Social Justice, enshrined as the idea of Equal Representation in the US Constitution, is the animating ideal of the Occupy Movement.

The march of Social Justice is a long one...

Hammurabi constrained his otherwise limitless power to simple, predictable responses to certain crimes, and created the presumption of innocence. His laws increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

The Magna Carta decreased the limitless, arbitrary power of the King, created the notion of due process, thus increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

The Declaration of Independence rejected British rule, reserved power to the many colonies, thus increased social by justice limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

The Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves, made them equal to their former masters, thus increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

Gandhi cast off a foreign monarchy, fathered a democratic country, thus increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

Martin Luther King, Jr. won civil rights for African Americans, thus increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

The Arab Spring is replacing dictators with democracies, thus is increasing social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

The Occupy Movement, one more step in the long march, seeks to increase social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite.

Yes, the details in each case differ, but in every case a more equitable, egalitarian distribution of power was achieved.

In every case, the wealthy, ruling elite could trot out endless speakers to defend the status quo, denigrate the powerless, and prove that any change to the status quo would result in the end of civilization, or at least end its most perfect form yet achieved. Yet here we are, debating the form of the next step.

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[-] 0 points by TIOUAISE (2526) 12 years ago

"Martin Luther King, Jr. won civil rights for African Americans, thus increased social justice by limiting the power of the wealthy, ruling elite."

AND he was gunned down because he was planning a "Poor People's March" - not just for African Americans - to Washington. The 1% FEARED AND LOATHED him... But OWS has picked up the torch and the Sacred Struggle continues!

As for the Constitution, its Preamble cites "establishing Justice" as THE FIRST PRIORITY of the government, well before "securing the Blessing of Liberty" ! (see below) With the passage of time, this got CONVENIENTLY MUDDLED by the wealthy elite,,,

So Dr. King and OWS are the true upholders of the Constitution, the quintessential American heroes.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity."