Ostomy Memories of Justice

In this discussion
Replies
4
Views
369
HenryM

“MILITARY JUSTICE IS TO JUSTICE,” said Groucho Marx, “what military music is to music.”  I really can’t say how appropriate that analogy is, since my ostomy kept me out of the military.  But I can say that the subject at hand – justice – is not readily definable.  Perhaps, most simply stated, justice is what’s fair under the circumstances.  Yet, as we can see under today’s ultra-polarized society, one can expect different opinions about what is ‘fair’ and, most certainly, agreement on the ‘circumstances’ may be impossible to achieve.  Facts are not facts anymore, it seems.  People not only believe what they want to believe, they see only what they wish to see.  One’s bias affects one’s eyesight.  In today’s post-truth environment, empiricism falls prey to quackery.  The adversariness that used to be mostly limited to the courtroom has now spread into everyday life.  Minor disagreements and misunderstandings result in guns being pulled out and people are getting shot in fast food joints because they forgot to hold the onion on some idiot’s hamburger.  So, in the last analysis, there’s only one way to define JUSTICE:  justice is how you want the case to come out.  

Gray Logo for MeetAnOstoMate

Why Join MeetAnOstoMate?

First off, this is a pretty cool site with 33,089 members. Get inside and you will see.

We're not all about ostomy. Everything is being discussed in the forums.

It's a very special community, embracing all ages and backgrounds. People are honest and truly care.

Privacy is very important - the website has many features that are only visible to members.

Create an account and you will be amazed.

AlexT

An eye for and eye. Would we have alot of the issues today if there was actual justice? ‍ I do know what we have today isn't working.

Gray Logo for MeetAnOstoMate
Bill

Hello HenryM. 

This is another interesting and potentially controversial subject.

Some time ago I recall attending court trying to support a young lad with learning difficulties who was being prosecuted for an offence of stealing that, in my opinion, simply did not exist. 

(He took a poppy from a tray where it was clearly stated that they were 'not for sale but a 'donation' would be appreciated').

I realise that for some, this might be viewed as an act of 'theft', but in 'fact' it could not possibly be theft if the poppies were free of charge and donations were simply 'expected' (but not compulsory). 

Needless to say, the magistrates in the English judicial system, who generally speaking, are from the middle and upper classes and 'conservative' in their biases, found him guilty of theft.

When I protested, a friendly probation officer took me to one side and said:  " You are obviously looking for 'justice' - However, I can reassure you that, if it's 'justice' you want, you have come to the wrong place!" 

Best wishes

Bill

 

HenryM
Reply to Bill

I completely understand where you're coming from on this, Bill, as the facts which you describe certainty sound sympathetic.  But it occurs to me that, whenever I hear critiques of the criminal justice system, they always seem to be based upon individual horror stories.  Yet the system handles hundreds of thousands of cases that don't become horror stories, as the people at work within the process strive to do their best under stressful circumstances.  I'm no apologist for the injustices that invariably occur, but I don't think they are a basis for indicting the entire justice system.  Of course, maybe the fact that I slaved within it for fifty years makes me biased.  

Bill

Hello HenryM.

Thanks for coming back to me on this one, as I can quite understand the perspective from someone who has worked so long within any of the governmental ‘systems’.

My own bias comes from working in that same system, trying to help those who have been the ‘victims’ of it.
I do realise that there are lots of other cases where so-called ‘justice’ takes its course in following the letter of the laws. One of the many problems I have with this is when those laws have been drawn up over many years by a society run for and on behalf of the rich and powerful.

This bias may not be quite as identifiable in the USA as it is in a class-ridden society like the UK, so my own perspective might not be applicable elsewhere.

As a poet, I found it a particularly ‘interesting’ time during the ‘Thatcher’ era, where those biases towards supporting the rich and powerful came into sharp contrast with the biases against ordinary people. This type of issue has resurrected itself once again with our new Prime Minister ( seemingly a Thatcher clone),  making her first announcement that the rich will be given priority in these financially difficult times. This sort of announcement makes a change from the lies of the last Prime Minister, but nonetheless gives a clear indication of how this country is being managed/ruled.

Given this modern move to impose more inequalities and unfairness on the general population I am in mind to resurrect my rhyming verses from the ‘Thatcher’ years, which seem to have some resonance with what is presently happening.

You will gather that I do not just have a dig at the judicial system, but see that as just one aspect of the coalition of ‘systems’ that make up an amoral society.

Below are my three past renditions to the tune of the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’:

Best wishes

Bill

 

 BATTLE HYMN OF THE 80’s.

 

Chorus: 
Glory, glory alleluia
Don’t you let ’em do it to yer.
Now I’m gonna sock-it too yer
WE MUST PUT RIGHT WHAT’S WRONG.

 

She has given to the rich 
and she has taken from the poor     (x3)
THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.

Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

She has closed down many hospitals

and schools she closed galore.          (x3)

THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

Millions unemployed
So she could keep the wages poor    (x3)

THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

She said we had no money 
Yet she took us all to war.                (x3)
THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

Police and army ‘gainst the people
is the same as civil war                      (x3)
THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

She’s against a ‘social charter’
Which could open many doors.       (x3
THIS SURELY MUST BE WRONG.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

Equal opportunities 
are not just empty words.                 (x3)
LET’S PUSH IT ON AND ON.
Chorus:-------------------------------------

 

 

                                                    B. WITHERS 1989

              (in:- ‘Evidence’ 1992.) 

 

 

BATTLE HYMN OF THE ‘90s.

 

Chorus: 
Tory stories do it to yer
try to make you feel peculiar
whilst they take advantage of yer
we won’t let this go on.

 

Get everyone to come along and listen to this song
then we’ll ask the people here to try to sing along.
Give them all a flavour of the things we think are wrong
NOW STAND UP AND BE STRONG.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

She’s taken from the poor and she has given to the rich.
Her broom is fast and stronger now than any other witch.
Let’s hope she overshoots her mark and ends up in the ditch.
GREAT BRITAIN’S GREATEST BITCH.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

Mine eyes may see the glory of the scrapping of the LORDS.
I hope to see the ending of those greedy, grabbing hoards.
I hope to see the worker’s take their rightful place on boards.
THIS WE WORK TOWARDS.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

M. T.’s promises are also empty too.
There’s little in her policies that would not make you spew.
She only does things for the rich and for the faithful few.
NOT FOR ME AND YOU.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

Pretending she’s so GREEN that it could really make you sick.
As for low-cost housing, well she wouldn’t give a brick.
Let’s rectify her policies and do it blinking quick.
SHE MUST THINK WE ARE THICK.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

M. T.’s legacy could take you to the grave.
Do you want your history to be a rich-mans’ slave?
Come now and fight with me and you may still be saved
FREEDOM’S FLAG TO WAVE.
Chorus: -------------------------------------------------------

 

                                                   

B. WITHERS 1989

(in:- ‘Evidence’ 1992.)

 

 

BATTLE HYMN OF THE INSTITUTIONS.

 

Chorus: 
Tory stories do it to yer
try to make you feel peculiar
whilst they take advantage of yer
we won’t let this go on.

 

The judges and the lawyers tend to work on their behalf.
‘Cos they’re very rarely chosen if they think like working class.
When FREEDOM and when JUSTICE is the flag on every mast
we can put this in our past!
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The CHURCH would have us all believe and follow in their way.
But I am very sceptical of what they do and say.
I wonder what their Christ would see if he were here today.
Conservatives at play!
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Top jobs in CIVIL-SERVICE are re-served for the ‘boys’.
Who did their bit at public school and didn’t make a noise.
The rest of us are used like pawns in games like other toys.
Discarded and destroyed.
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Army and the Navy and the Air-force is there too.
Point me to the heads of them and I will show to you
privilege and class-divide supporting just a few.
Never me and you!
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

We see some heads of industry are chosen not by name
But by their deeds of infamy and by their lack of shame.
I urge you all to fight so we have no more of the same.
We know who’s to blame!
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

They pull the strings so subtlety but tighter than a drum.
Controlling laws and industry and ways that things are run.
But now we have some clarity on just how this is done
FREEDOM CAN BE WON! 
Chorus:-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

                                                               B. WITHERS 1989

                                                                                                                         (in: ‘Evidence’ 1992.)     

 
How to Manage Ostomy Leaks with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister
All times are GMT - 5 Hours