Justice

What does justice mean?

Justice means the quality of being just or fair. Justice can also mean uncorrupted. This is probably the reason why police call themselves "justic". To give justice is to punish or reward one in accordance to equity. This is the reason for laws and the judicial system; to deter crimes, maintain peace, and uphold what is morally right. But the controversy surrounding us is that, does the judicial system really bring out true justice, or is it too unforgiving?

I think that the law and judicial system does serve true justice in a form of punishment, which includes, caning, jailing, fining, and even death. Judicial punishment is used to inflict pain, such as caning, to give a lasting reminder to the offender not to repeat the same mistake. Judicial execution will also serve as a strong reminder to others to think of the consequences before acting. However, I feel that some of these methods are overused and unnecessary.

One such example would be the vandalism case on the MRT train. The swedish vandal apparently sneaked into the sprawling depot at Changi, despite an array of barriers, including fences topped with barbed wire. Once inside, he spray-painted elaborate graffiti on one side of a train, across one carriage. The Straits Times understands that the vandal, a 33-year-old Swiss national, cut through the fence of the depot along Xilin Avenue, in what is believed to be the first such case of vandalism here. (The Straits Times) Many swedish were shocked by the punishment, which is caning.

In Singapore, caning is a punishment often used for both minor and serious crimes, from murder and rape, to theft and vandalism. This has proven effective in many cases and Singapore's second-time offenders is significantly lower than some other countries. I feel that such punishments should be dealt to those who commit violent crimes without remorse or regret. Since they show no mercy, I think we should give them a taste of their own medicine. However, this might be unnecessary to smaller crimes such as vandalism.

Still, justice isn't only about the law. Justice can be in a form of retribution, giving those what they should deserve. Justice can also be used to balance harmony in a nation, where equilibrium balances peace. However, when there is justice, there is hard to have mercy. With mercy, one doesn't get his just deserts, creating an unbalanced scale and may cause unfairness. Thus, I feel that a peaceful society should have justice to keep the country stable, but also mercy to make it seem more humane.