1.
Write
a concluding paragraph explaining how this photograph expresses the Jewish
mitzvah/ value you selected.
2.
This
assignment must be constructed of 2 paragraphs and a picture.
You shall not render an unfair decision: do not favor the poor or show
deference to the rich; judge your kinsmen fairly (Lev. 19:15)
I chose this mitzvah because of the massive contradictions between it
and the interpretation of the ideal in our own legal system in America. In the
United States we pride ourselves in the fact that “justice is blind,” but in
reality this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many of our judges pride
themselves on their strong Christian convictions, but they’re decisions don’t
reflect that. Why is that Laura Bush, former First Lady of the White House, can
run a stop sign and kill someone without an arrest, or Caitlyn Jenner can kill
someone in a car accident on the highway and not even face charges, but police
kill Eric Garner for selling loose cigarettes? This clearly is not “judg[ing]
your kinsmen fairly.” These cases are definitely showing “deference to the
rich” and have effects on all of us as American citizens. We live in that
country. The law is laid out fairly concisely—there isn’t much to change. The
issue is following it. If I had to build a fence around it, I would create
punishments for not living the mitzvah. Perhaps an unfair judge should be put
to trial for that crime, or be shamed and ostracized from the community.
Breaking this commandment has serious consequences on the entire community—from
the defendant, to his family, to everyone who relies on him in some way. While
as minors we aren’t part of the legal system, we can still fulfill this mitzvah
by doing what we do best—complaining. I write lengthy complaints to my school
community about this kind of injustice every month in our paper. When we are
able to vote, should we wish, we can choose our judges and our legislators.
This is the picture I chose to express this commandment. Here, George
Zimmerman, who was tried for the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012, is acquitted
on Florida’s “stand your ground” laws, which dictate that allows people to use
deadly force to defend themselves. Zimmerman, on the neighborhood watch, had a
gun and Martin had a bag of skittles. This image shows the opposite of the
mitzvah. An injustice was carried out. By our laws, George Zimmerman should be
in prison; it’s a dark twist that he is not. Most obvious, our legal system
favors the rich and the white in our nation. This is a terrible crime in itself.
-Noah Arnold
The issue with the legal system in america is much more of a problem than just one comment can cover. But more relevant to this post is the power of the youth in America and how much they try and work to change the injustice. Last year at my school, we staged a protest with 500 of the students (as well as many teachers). We all sat down in the halls at school and did not talk or shout, except for people that would periodically stand and recite a poem or make a speech. a video of the protest, as well as a documentary made by a student of the Baltimore riots and a video of several African American students talking about their challenges even in our accepting public school system all went viral. Bottom line, I feel extremely passionate about this issue and I really admire your interpretation on it.
ReplyDeleteAmerica's legal system is flawed due to a couple hundred years of disobeying the mitzvot. Inherent biases in the American psyche stigmatize minorities and classify citizens based on wealth, which are actions, however involuntary, that have no place in a courtroom. The conflict created in the past year alone by unfairly decided verdicts in court cases primarily concerning policemen and African Americans is creating more and more division in the United States. As the Tanach says, one should love their neighbor as their self. This methodology will help to improve our legal system.
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