What Is Social Justice?
Well, you won't find out by reading the following, taken from a sign in the Ida B. Wells Social Justice Lounge in the student center of the university where I work:
Social justice is an actively promoted practical philosophy that guides our attitudes, behaviors, moral judgments, standards, interests and activism toward upholding and conforming to principles that reflect what is honorable, fair, compassionate, valid within the law, suitable, fitting and based on facts and sound reasoning, as we strive to partner with the rest of humanity in the quest for a harmonious quality of life in local, national and international contexts
I've suffered through my share of strategic planning sessions, and this appears to be the product of one. I suppose there can be worthwhile documents created by committee (e.g., the constitution), but they are certainly the exceptions. What, exactly, does this gaseous, run-on assemblage of banality mean?
On another wall are illustrations of a perfect rainbow coalition of social justice heroes: The Kings, Ida B. Wells, Bono (whose guitar is shaped like Africa), Rigoberta Menchu Tum (!), Elie Wiesel, Caesar Chavez, Harriet Tubman and Kofi Annan.
For what it's worth, as far as I can tell, there is nothing on the university's web site that references the Ida B. Wells Social Justice Lounge
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Oct '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
This is a communal form of psychobabble, "sociobabble". It is derived from the mystical aspect of the religion of humanity, whose purpose is to advance the "general will" as articulated by the high priesthood of intellectual elites. You are clearly standing on holy ground there in the Ida B.Wells Social Justice Lounge. Please remember to remove your shoes upon entering.
Dec '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Social Justice = "I just want to spread the wealth around." Sounds harmless enough, right?
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 11:56amFeb '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Social justice: 'It's society's fault. Not my personal fault. Y'a'll pay for the fact that I'm a shiftless, no-good, idiot who can't even keep his pants up.' Social Justice means never having to say 'I'm sorry'.
Oct '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
When I can get what I want on somebody else's dime, social justice will have been served.
Jul '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Social Justice: Any policy promoting or favoring any and all Human Beings except white men.
Jul '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
A Girraffe is a Horse that was Designed by a Committee.
Jul '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
I used to lead strategic planning teams and one of the toughest things about it was to craft a brief, decent mission statement. Everybody wanted their fingerprints on the thing and people were always too nice to insist on cutting anyone else' verbiage.
I cannot imagine how excruciating it would be to go through that exercise with the Ida Wells crowd.
Jan '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
You know, social justice is at the heart of private philanthopic efforts too. The difference is that when an individual gives away his own money, that is an act of charity. When an individual legislates giving away someone elses money in the name of social justice, that is an act of theft...and its covetous, but I suppose that's beside the point. Certainly, no one wants to let a little thing like the 10 Commandments get in the way of buying votes.
Jan '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
The Problem of Definition:
Suppose you asked me what a "chianti" was. Then, I answered that it ...
... you still wouldn't know what chianti is. It's a wine.
All of the phrases (and more) that I listed were qualities and opinions about the subject, but none of them actually defined the subject. My descriptions tell you a lot about how I feel about the topic, but none of them explain it.
What can you infer when the definition doesn't explain the term? That the "definer" doesn't know what the words mean.
Look at that "mission" statement about social justice. Same thing. All of the phrases and terms are about social justice without explaining it or defining it. They might as well have told you that social justice is good. But as for what it actually means, and how they intend to put it into practice, they're grasping at air.
The mission unintentionally communicates the real truth here: they don't know.
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 3:23pmDec '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Social justice = those who believe in Darwinian evolution fighting tooth and nail to combat its outcome.
Oct '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
KC Mulville summed it up, I think. What do they put in young Jesuits food to give them these kind of critical thinking skills?
Jeff, overpaying educators is big news these days, but whatever you're getting to put up with that level of silliness, it isn't enough.
Jan '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Does Ricochet have a mission statement? Perhaps they could read it at the beginning of every podcast? Hmm perhaps they do...
Feb '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
It's easy to hurl invective. But I think there's something interesting going on, that the Lounge and its critics can show us.
Look, a lot of this, let's face it, comes from the West's Christian legacy. Help the poor and helpless, and all that. These days of course that has become a cover story for racebaiters like Rev'n Jesse and Marxies like Rigobertu Menchu. But there's a core-story there, that explains the Lounge's existence, that we would do well to think about.
I see a conflict between Christianity's socialist tendencies---which probably helped produce modern socialism, along with leftwing contemporary Christian churches--- and other Western justice ideals, such as property rights. This is the source of much modern conflict.
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 10:16pmFeb '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
KC Mulville wrote:
Look at that "mission" statement about social justice. Same thing. All of the phrases and terms are about social justice without explaining it or defining it. They might as well have told you that social justice is good. But as for what it actually means, and how they intend to put it into practice, they're grasping at air.
The mission unintentionally communicates the real truth here: they don't know.
If the mission statement was written by a bunch of students, I would agree. If it had been written by Saul Alinsky (or his modern day descendents) I'd think "they do know, they just don't want to say."
Dec '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
John Doba: Look, a lot of this, let's face it, comes from the West's Christian legacy. Help the poor and helpless, and all that. I see a conflict between Christianity's socialist tendencies---which probably helped produce modern socialism, along with leftwing contemporary Christian churches--- and other Western justice ideals, such as property rights. This is the source of much modern conflict. · Mar 17 at 10:13pm
Edited on Mar 17 at 10:16 pm
You've missed the point that Christian doctrine insists on the motivation and the means being internal to each individual. Exercised in its proper form, Christian charity obviates socialist tendencies. It makes demands on no one but the self. As soon as the command to charity turns outward it is no longer Christianity and becomes socialism.
Oct '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
I think most of the statement is meaningless but the part about a harmonious quality of life comes closest to what social justice is really about. The starting point of social justice is that it the disparity of income/wealth in society is an injustice. They believe there's something wrong with the fact that there are people who have so much while there are others who are poor. And it's not just wealth, it's quality of life in general-talents, intelligence, academic achievement, etc. Social justice is about equalizing society through redistributive policies.
I'd recommend reading Thomas Sowell's "A Quest for Cosmic Justice."
Feb '11
Re: What Is Social Justice?
Rather than focus solely on redistribution of wealth as integral to social justice, why does no one propse the redistribution of labor as the best means to that end.
Oct '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
John Doba: I see a conflict between Christianity's socialist tendencies---which probably helped produce modern socialism, along with leftwing contemporary Christian churches--- and other Western justice ideals, such as property rights. This is the source of much modern conflict. · Mar 17 at 10:13pm
Edited on Mar 17 at 10:16 pm
A Christian also might reply: The left recognizes the importance of the imperative, but they don't realize the impossibility of achieving it without the transformation of the individual from within, only accomplished by the grace of God.
Non-Christian conservatives rightly recognize that the responsible individual is the foundation, the basic building block, of a properly functioning society. Which is largely, I agree, probably a legacy of our Judeo-Christian past. And the Christians borrowed from the Greeks, or at least thought along similar lines.But blaming Christianity for being the fount of socialism seems misguided. I think socialism was created by elevating a couple of ideas, fairness and material charity, above all others and granting responsibility and enforcement of them to the collective, a clear bastardization of the original.
Sep '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
When coupled with some good old Benthamist Utilitarianism what part of the definition would keep them from sending who they want to the Gulag?
Social Justice reminds me of the Pelagian Herasy, people are not inherently sinful, if we all just believe a certain way and act a ceratin way we can create a heaven on our own. But each time the required beliefs are inflicted on society a hell on earth results for those who will not submit.
Jun '10
Re: What Is Social Justice?
From what I gather, the Catholic Church's social teaching would demand one thing from government: justice. Meaning, the dignity of equal opportunity and equal respect. What it demands from individuals is: love in action. Meaning, voluntary gifts of time and money to people in need, making God's love and mercy something tangible for all.