Justice and Injustice
Justice is a right that should be granted to all, but sadly, even in today’s society, it is not. Their have been many injustices in American history not the least of which are explained in Millers play, The Crucible.
The Salem witch trials as told in The Crucible is a chocking story of injustice. The courts themselves denied the freedom of speech, right to a fair trial and the right not to incriminate oneself,
“witchcraft is an invisible crime, therefore who
may be witness to it? The witch and the victim.
None other. Now we cannot hope that the witch will accuse
herself: granted? Therefore we must rely on the victims-and
they do testify, the children certainly do testify.”
This was not the first or the last injustice committed on American soil but it certainly was one of the most ridiculous. One must understand that true democracy had not yet come to the New England colonies and many of the rights we take for granted were denied them not only by their government but by their own religion. Religion in today’s society is not the same as it was during the 1600’s and more laws and regulations came from the church rather than the governing body. In the story, the setting is a strict Puritan community in which there is already a great suppression of one’s basic rights. Then, with the accusations against certain people as witches, that impeachment grew to an even stricter level. The universal fear of Satan coupled with the societies belief paved the way for injustice. Judges Danforth and Hathorne were granted with unlimited power and went unchecked because of the inextinguishable fears of Lucifer and the comfort they gave to the community. All injustice must at some point come to an end. History itself has proven that.
There have been many examples in history of discrimination and injustice. The Civil War and the fight against slavery,...